Strengthens awareness of financial markets and responsible investing
Bhopal, Sep 19 – 20, 2026: The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), successfully conducted the Central Regional Round of the National Financial Literacy Quiz (NFLQ) 2026 at Sant Hirdaram Institute of Management for Women (SHIM), Bhopal on September 19 and 20, 2026. The two-day event brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh who competed in an interactive format covering financial markets, investment principles, investor protection and responsible financial practices.
The Bhopal round is the sixth regional round of NFLQ 2026, which follows the North Eastern Eastern regional round in Guwahati, Eastern regional round in Kolkata, Western Regional Round in Mumbai, Northern Regional Round in New Delhi and Southern Regional Round in Bengaluru. The nationwide initiative received participation from more than 4 lakh students in the college and online qualifying rounds. Based on their performance, leading teams progressed to the regional rounds being held across the Eastern, Southern, Northern, Central, Western and North-Eastern regions of India.
Addressing the participants, Shri Kunj Bansal, Senior General Manager, National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), said, “Financial knowledge is not just knowledge; it is the foundation for self-reliance and a secure future. Initiatives such as the National Financial Literacy Quiz provide students with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of financial matters while encouraging them to share that knowledge with others.”
Shri Susanta Kumar Das, Chief General Manager, SEBI, said, “While the number of investors participating in India’s securities market has grown significantly, it is equally important to ensure that new investors have the requisite knowledge to make informed and responsible investment decisions. Initiatives such as the National Financial Literacy Quiz play an important role in building financial awareness among young people and preparing them to navigate the securities market with a clear understanding of risk and their own risk appetite. I am encouraged by the growing participation in the quiz and hope to see even greater engagement in the years ahead.”
NFLQ 2026 is part of NISM’s broader outreach programme aimed at strengthening students’ understanding of the securities market and encouraging informed financial decision-making. The quiz covers areas including financial products, market mechanisms, investor rights, regulations and the role of market intermediaries, helping participants develop practical knowledge of India’s financial ecosystem. The initiative is being conducted from July to September 2026, with regional rounds scheduled across Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Guwahati and Kolkata. The top-performing teams from these rounds will advance to the National Finale in November 2026, where they will compete for national honors at the NISM Campus, Patalganga, Rasayani, Maharashtra.
The Grand Finale will be held at NISM Campus, Patalganga, Rasayani, Maharashtra, where the top-performing teams from across the country will compete for national honors.
Prizes for the top three winners in each category of the regional rounds:
Undergraduate Category
- 1st Prize – Rs. 40,000/-: B.Tech and BBA, VIT Bhopal University
- 2nd Prize – Rs. 30,000/-: Department of Commerce, Vindhya Institute of Technology and Science
- 3rd Prize – Rs. 20,000/-: Survey Department (LLB), Amity School of Law
Postgraduate Category
- 1st Prize – Rs. 40,000/-: Department of Finance and Accounts, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur
- 2nd Prize – Rs. 30,000/-: Department of Management, International Institute of Professional Studies
- 3rd Prize – Rs. 20,000/-: Department of Commerce, Maharaja Agrasen International College
Additionally, 12 UG colleges from the Central Zone qualified to advance to the National Rounds. The list of selected institutions is as follows:
| Rank | College Name |
| 1. | B.Tech and BBA, VIT Bhopal University |
| 2. | Department of Commerce, Vindhya Institute of Technology and Science |
| 3. | Survey Department (LLB), Amity School of Law |
| 4. | Department of Arts, Commerce and Science, Saifia Science College |
| 5. | Department of Commerce, St. Aloysius’ College, Jabalpur |
| 6. | Department of Management, Shri Vaishnav Institute of Management & Science |
| 7. | Department of Business Administration, Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore |
| 8. | Department of Commerce and Management, SAM Girls College |
| 9. | Faculty of Management Studies, Medi-Caps University |
| 10. | Faculty of Management, Jagran Lakecity Business School, Bhopal |
| 11. | Department of Management, School of Management of Jindal University |
| 12. | Department of Commerce and Management, Lakshmi Narain College of Technology |
There were 12 PG colleges from the Central Zone qualified to advance to the National Rounds. The list of selected institutions is as follows:
| Rank | College Name |
| 1. | Department of Finance and Accounts, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur |
| 2. | Department of Management, International Institute of Professional Studies |
| 3. | Department of Commerce, Maharaja Agrasen International College |
| 4. | Department of Finance and Accounting, Jaipuria Institute of Management |
| 5. | MBA, Sant Hiradaram Institute of Management, Bhopal |
| 6. | Department of Management, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya |
| 7. | MBA, Amity Business School, Amity University |
| 8. | School of Economics, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya |
| 9. | MBA, Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore |
| 10. | MBA, Vindhya Institute of Technology and Science |
| 11. | MBA, SAGE University Bhopal |
| 12. | Studies, Shri Shankaracharya Technical Campus |