Speaking at the event, Pandey said escalating tensions in West Asia are disrupting oil and gas supplies, with potential knock-on effects for the global economy.
He noted that artificial intelligence is testing the operational limits of companies, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.
On corporate governance, Pandey likened it to the nervous system of an organisation, cautioning that firms with weak governance structures may appear strong externally but often respond more slowly to internal and external pressures.
He pointed to progress made in strengthening governance frameworks, reducing information asymmetry, and emphasizing the independence of corporate boards.
The SEBI Chairman stressed the critical role of independent directors in improving boardroom decision-making and indicated that significant efforts are underway to enhance their skills and effectiveness.
In a separate development, SEBI on Thursday (April 2) proposed reintroducing buybacks of shares through stock exchanges, following changes in the taxation framework. The mechanism, discontinued from April 1, 2025, due to concerns over equitable shareholder treatment and tax implications, would now provide companies an additional route to repurchase shares.
Under the revised framework, buyback proceeds will be taxed as capital gains in the hands of shareholders, effective April 1, 2026, addressing previous concerns of unequal tax treatment.
SEBI said the open market route is widely used globally and can aid continuous price discovery, improve liquidity, and ensure efficient capital allocation.
The regulator has invited public comments on the proposal until April 23.
First Published:Â Apr 6, 2026 1:41 PM IST
