Nearly 81% of surveyed Indians have invested in the stock market, signalling a significant rise in market participation, according to the Investor Behaviour Index (IBI) 2025, released by StockGro in collaboration with 1Lattice. The survey, conducted as part of RBI’s Financial Literacy Week 2025, gathered insights from 50,000 respondents, highlighting a shift in investment preferences. Among young investors under 35, 45% now prioritise stocks over traditional savings instruments, driven by increased financial awareness and easy access to digital investment tools. However, financial literacy remains a major challenge, with 42% of non-investors citing a lack of knowledge as a key barrier, while 44% of aspiring investors seek structured guidance. Digital platforms have become crucial in this shift, with 68% of investors preferring online resources for financial learning, and nearly half of beginners opting for virtual trading before making real investments.
“The Investor Behaviour Index 2025 highlights a remarkable transformation in India’s retail investment landscape. With young investors leading the shift towards equities and education-first digital platforms, the need for financial literacy has never been more urgent. At StockGro, we are committed to bridging the knowledge gap by creating a bridge between learners & SEBI Registered investment advisors who can empower individuals to make informed investment decisions. This is the foundation for a financially savvy and resilient investor base in India.” Ajay Lakhotia, founder and CEO, StockGro, said.
Despite the growing enthusiasm for investing, gender disparity remains a concern, as only 10.1% of identified investors were women. However, there is a positive trend, with 34% of female respondents planning to increase their exposure to equity markets in the coming year. Market volatility is another major concern, with 51% of investors expressing fears of market crashes, and 36% of active investors having less than a year of experience, highlighting the need for structured financial education. The survey also found that 41% of non-investors would be willing to start investing if provided with free initial guidance, reinforcing the demand for accessible financial education programs to bridge knowledge gaps and encourage wider participation in stock markets.
“The Indian stock markets have witnessed massive investor interest and participation in recent times, with 40% of investors being under the age of 30 years and 1 in 4 new investors being women. Equity investments are truly being recognised as an excellent wealth creation and passive income generation tool. This report helps unearth the pulse of the Indian investor and puts the spotlight on the importance of financial education by regulators, market participants, and players to ensure the Indian equity market remains buoyant and healthy. At 1Lattice, we aim to empower industry stakeholders with strategic intelligence about markets, consumers, and products for actionable solutions, and in that true spirit, this report provides a lens to founders, operators, and investors building capital market products to target the untapped customer base effectively.” Amar Choudhary, CEO, 1Lattice, commented.