SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) was constituted in 1988 as the apex regulatory body for securities markets in India. It regulates the securities markets, including the stock exchanges. SEBI has its headquarters in Mumbai and regional offices in major cities across India. It is composed of a chairman and other full-time and part-time members appointed by the central government of India. SEBI was established to protect investors, ensure orderly development of the securities market, and regulate securities exchanges. It performs various regulatory, developmental and protective functions towards these objectives, such as prohibiting insider trading and price manipulation.