International Research Journal of Education and Technology

India's financial landscape has undergone a quiet but significant transformation young people have started investing in large numbers, driven by smartphone-based platforms and an explosion of social media finance content. This study examines the investment behaviour of young investors in Bengaluru city, exploring their awareness levels, preferred instruments, motivations, risk perception, digital platform usage, and barriers to more active participation. Primary data was collected from 59 respondents aged 18 to 26 through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation. Key findings reveal that 81.4% of respondents are aware of investment options and 76.3% are currently investing; mutual funds and fixed deposits are the most preferred instruments; Zerodha and Groww dominate the digital investment landscape; and wealth creation is the primary investment goal. However, moderate-to-low risk tolerance is pervasive, only 15.3% invest with a long-term horizon, and fear of risk along with lack of knowledge remain the foremost barriers. Critically, social media is the dominant source of investment education for this cohort a finding with serious implications for decision quality. The study concludes that digital access has outpaced financial literacy, and that structured education, in-platform learning tools, and mentorship programs are urgently needed to help young investors move from awareness to informed, consistent action.

Keywords: Investment Behaviour, Young Investors, Financial Literacy, Risk Tolerance, Digital Investment Platforms, Bengaluru, Behavioural Finance