Kolkata, Oct. 31 -- Only about 9.5 per cent of Indian households participate in the securities market despite 63 per cent being aware of at least one investment product, highlighting a wide gap between financial awareness and actual participation, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday.

Speaking at two separate events in Kolkata, Pandey emphasised the need to improve investor knowledge and strengthen investor protection even as India's capital markets continue to expand.

Addressing a Regional Investor Seminar for Awareness organised by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Pandey cited SEBI's Investor Survey, which also found that only 36 per cent of investors had moderate or high knowled...