Sensex at 40: BSE reflects on 4 decades of growth; SEBI flags AI push for market safety

India’s benchmark equity index, the BSE Sensex, marked a historic milestone in India’s capital market history, as it completed 40 years of its existence. To commemorate the achievement, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) organised a huge celebration which was attended by the most important persons from the Indian business and financial worlds.

Sensex has grown by 163 per cent in 40 years: BSE CEO

During the celebration, the BSE Managing Director and CEO, Sundararaman Ramamurthy, spoke about the structural strength and long-term performance of the Sensex. He mentioned that the index consists of 30 stocks that span across 11 major sectors of the Indian economy, which makes it a very accurate reflection of the diversity in the market.

Over the last four decades, the Sensex has delivered a 163 per cent growth, outperforming traditional assets such as gold and silver since its early years.

Speaking of current market trends, he mentioned that the year 2025 was a tough year for stocks, but the Sensex still got a big milestone in November with the 86,000 peak mark that indicated strong investor support. He also said that the index is a home for both the traditional and the new-age companies, and thus it is a reflection of the Indian economy's makeover.

SEBI focuses on investor protection and technology

Addressing the gathering, SEBI Chairman reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to investor protection while encouraging innovation. He said SEBI’s priority is to ensure that data is used responsibly and effectively to safeguard market integrity.

The chairman drew attention to 'Sudarshan', SEBI's AI-infused instrument, which detects and marks fake assertions and misleading information by constantly watching social media platforms. Besides, he mentioned SEBI Radar, a tech-savvy mechanism that scrutinises ads to ensure they comply with the advertising code of conduct.

SEBI is also working on a technology roadmap for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to strengthen surveillance, compliance, and operational efficiency.

AI tools to strengthen market surveillance: SEBI

Further elaborating on SEBI’s tech initiatives, the chairman said the regulator has developed tools that analyse corporate announcements, categorising disclosures into material and non-material information.

Timely alerts are generated by these systems, which makes it possible to monitor listed firms more closely and to take regulatory action quickly if necessary.

A milestone for Indian capital markets

The festival of the event, which is a milestone in the history of the Sensex, presents the 40-year journey of the index and the growth, development, and global recognition of the Indian stock markets. The Sensex, from its birth to its current status as one of the most watched indices globally, is still the main representative of India's economic development and investors' trust.