Discuss the various powers and functions of SEBI under SEBI Act, 1992.

Powers and Functions of SEBI under SEBI Act, 1992 Chapter IV of SEBI Act, 1992 deals with the powers and functions of SEBI. Section 11 of the Act lays down that it shall be the duty of SEBI to protect the interests of the investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities markets by such measures as it thinks fit. Section 11(2) provides that these measures would include: regulating the business in stock exchanges and any other securities markets; registering and regulating the working of stock brokers, sub-brokers, share transfer agents, bankers to an issue, trustees of trust deeds, registrars to an issue, merchant bankers, underwriters, portfolio managers, investment advisers and such other intermediaries who may be associated with securities markets in any manner; registering and regulating the working of the depositories, participants, custodians of securities, foreign institutional investors, credit rating agencies and such other intermediaries as SEBI may, by notification, specify in this behalf; registering and regulating the working of venture capital funds and collective investment schemes, including mutual funds; promoting and regulating self-regulatory organisations; prohibiting fraudulent and unfair trade practices relating to securities markets; promoting investors' education and training of intermediaries of securities markets; prohibiting insider trading in securities; regulating substantial acquisition of shares and takeover of companies; calling for information from, undertaking inspection, conducting inquiries and audits of the stock exchanges, mutual funds, other persons associated with the securities market, intermediaries and self-regulatory organisations in the securities market; calling for information and records from any person including any bank or any authority or board or corporation established or constituted by or under any central or state Act, which in the opinion of SEBI, shall be relevant to any investigation or inquiry by SEBI in respect of any transaction in securities; calling for information from or furnishing information to other authorities. Whether in India, or outside India having functions similar to those of SEBI, in the matters relating to the prevention or detection of violation in respect of securities laws, subject to the provisions of other laws for the time being in force in this regard; performing such functions and exercising such powers under the provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, as may be delegated to it by the Central Government; levying fees or other charges for carrying out the purposes of this section; conducting research for the above purposes; calling from or furnishing to any such agencies, as may be specified by SEBI, such information as may be considered necessary by it for the efficient discharge of its functions; performing such other functions as may be prescribed.