What is 'SCORES', as referenced in the SEBI investor grievance redress framework for complaints against registered intermediaries?

[ A ]SEBI Complaints Redress System — the centralized online platform for investors to lodge complaints against SEBI-registered intermediaries[ CORRECT ]

[ B ]A credit-scoring system used to rate the risk of mutual fund schemes

[ C ]A stock exchange circuit-breaker mechanism that halts trading during extreme volatility

[ D ]An AMFI-administered certification exam for mutual fund distributors

Takeaway

Option A is correct: SCORES is SEBI's Complaints Redress System.

Derivation

SCORES (SEBI Complaints Redress System) is the centralized, web-based platform through which an investor can lodge a complaint against any SEBI-registered market intermediary — including Investment Advisers, brokers, mutual funds, and portfolio managers. The system allows the investor to track the status of the complaint online and requires the intermediary to respond within a prescribed timeline, escalating to SEBI directly if the intermediary fails to resolve it satisfactorily.

Why the others fail

B — A credit-scoring system used to rate the risk of mutual fund schemes

Mutual fund risk categorization uses SEBI's separate riskometer framework, not a system called SCORES.

C — A stock exchange circuit-breaker mechanism that halts trading during extreme volatility

Exchange-level trading halts are governed by circuit filter rules, an unrelated market-structure mechanism.

D — An AMFI-administered certification exam for mutual fund distributors

Distributor certification is conducted via NISM examinations, not a platform called SCORES.