India’s market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), is weighing new measures that could bring family offices under its direct oversight as the country’s billionaire class expands its influence in financial markets. According to Bloomberg, officials are exploring how these private wealth vehicles might be more closely monitored given their growing scale and role in investments.
For the first time, SEBI is considering requiring family offices to formally disclose details such as their entities, asset holdings, and investment returns. Regulators are also debating whether to establish a dedicated category for family offices within its framework, which would create clearer rules for their operation and accountability.
Earlier this year, SEBI held meetings with some of India’s largest family offices and subsequently asked them to submit written feedback. However, the specifics of what new regulations might look like—or when they could be implemented—remain uncertain.
India’s wealthiest families, including those of Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Wipro founder Azim Premji, already use family offices as powerful investment arms. These vehicles have become active participants not only in listed equities but also in private equity deals and IPOs. In addition, SEBI is reportedly considering whether to allow family offices to qualify as institutional buyers in share sales, a move that would further formalise their role in capital markets.
