GV Ramakrishna - affectionately known as GVR - was a 1952-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre who passed away , leaving behind an awe-inspiring legacy. During his tenure as Petroleum Secretary, he famously resisted pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office in the controversial HBJ pipeline project, taking on powerful interests to ensure a clean and transparent tender process.

But his most enduring impact came as Chairman of SEBI from 1990 to 1994, during its formative years. With the stock market in disarray—rife with broker control, shady settlements, and rampant defaults—GVR introduced bold reforms. He championed investor protection, disclosure, and accountability, even though SEBI initially had limited powers. He enforced mandatory registration of market intermediaries, publicly named companies with the most investor complaints, and banned the speculative 'badla' trading system. These actions laid the foundation for today's robust regulatory architecture.

When the Harshad Mehta securities scam shook the nation, GVR led SEBI through a critical cleanup, strengthening its statutory status under the SEBI Act of 1992.

GVR’s steadfast integrity, unwavering resolve, and regulatory brilliance left an indelible mark on India's capital markets - and his legacy lives on in every fair trade that happens today.