Building Trust in India’s Valuation Profession
Nowadays, businesses are growing, merging, and adapting at lightning speed. In this direction, a key profession plays a crucial but often overlooked role: the profession of valuation. Whether it is assessing the worth of a company before a merger, determining the fair price of land and property, or understanding the value of machinery used in industries, valuation is the backbone of financial transparency and decision-making that can not just impact cost-cutting but also the overall efficiency of a business operation.
This is where the IOV Registered Valuers Foundation (IOV RVF®) pitches in to make a value system. Formed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, and governed by a Board of Directors, IOV RVF® is a recognized Registered Valuers Organisation (RVO) by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). It is a subsidiary of the Institution of Valuers (IOV), a pioneering institution founded in 1968 by Shri P. C. Goel, often remembered as the “Father of Indian Valuers.” By combining decades of legacy with a forward-looking approach, IOV RVF® has become a trusted name in training, certifying, and nurturing professional valuers in India.
Why is valuation important for the modern business landscape?
Before diving into the role of IOV RVF®, it’s important to understand why valuation is such a critical activity. At its core, valuation means estimating the worth of an asset, be it land, buildings, machinery, financial instruments, or an entire company. Some real-life examples where valuation becomes essential include:
- Buying or selling property: To avoid disputes and ensure fairness, property buyers and sellers need accurate valuations.
- Mergers & Acquisitions: When two companies merge, an independent valuation ensures that both parties understand the true value of the businesses.
- Bank loans & mortgages: Banks rely on professional valuers to assess the value of assets before lending money.
- Legal and taxation purposes: Courts, regulators, and tax authorities often require valuations to settle cases or levy the right taxes.
- Insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings: When a company is struggling financially, valuations help decide how its assets can be fairly distributed.
Clearly, valuation affects businesses, individuals, banks, and even the government. For this reason, Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 makes it mandatory that only trained professionals certified by recognized bodies can conduct valuations. This ensures accuracy, fairness, and reliability.
The Role of IOV RVF®
IOV RVF® came into existence in order to meet this exact requirement. Its primary goal is to train, certify, and support professional valuers who can provide accurate and reliable valuation services across India. The organization is backed by the credibility of the Institution of Valuers (IOV), which has been at the forefront of developing the valuation profession in India since 1968. With this legacy, IOV RVF® has been recognized by the IBBI as one of the leading RVOs in the country.
The leading edge of the valuation courses
IOV RVF has launched specialized valuation courses, approved by the IBBI. These courses are designed not just to meet regulatory requirements but also to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills they need in the real world.
Valuation professionals can specialize in three distinct categories:
1. Land & Building (L&B): This course prepares professionals to evaluate residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Given India’s booming real estate market and infrastructure growth, certified valuers in this field are always in demand.
2. Plant & Machinery (P&M): Industrial growth depends on large-scale machinery and equipment. This specialization helps valuers assess the current and future value of machinery — whether it’s for loans, insurance, or sale.
3. Securities or Financial Assets (SFA): In a world where companies are traded on stock exchanges and investments flow across borders, this specialization allows professionals to value shares, bonds, and other financial assets with precision.
Building a Professional Ecosystem
Beyond just training, IOV RVF® is building a complete ecosystem for valuation professionals. Some of its key contributions include:
- Standardized Training: Courses are structured to meet global standards while aligning with Indian laws and practices.
- Certification & Recognition: Only those who successfully complete the training and exams are certified, ensuring credibility in the market.
- Continuous Learning: The organization encourages ongoing professional development, so valuers remain updated with the latest trends, regulations, and methods.
- Ethics & Governance: By embedding ethical practices into training, IOV RVF® ensures that valuers act with integrity and independence.
This ecosystem strengthens not only individual careers but also boosts trust in India’s financial and business systems.
Legacy of Shri P. C. Goel – The Father of Indian Valuers
No discussion about IOV RVF® is complete without remembering its foundation and legacy. The Institution of Valuers (IOV), the parent body, was established in 1968 by Shri P. C. Goel. He believed that India needed a strong community of valuation professionals who could bring fairness and transparency to financial and business dealings. His vision gave rise to IOV, which grew into the largest and most respected professional body of valuers in India. IOV RVF® carries forward this legacy, blending it with modern-day needs under the regulatory framework of IBBI.
Impact on Society and Economy
The contribution of IOV RVF® goes far beyond classrooms and training sessions. By producing skilled valuers, the organization directly impacts businesses to understand their true worth before making strategic decisions, investors to ensure fairness and transparency in financial markets, banks and financial institutions to enable them to lend responsibly and reduce risks, common people by giving property owners, homebuyers, and entrepreneurs confidence in fair valuations and eventually the nation’s economy by building trust, which is essential for growth, investment, and stability. In short, the work of IOV RVF® contributes to economic transparency and nation-building.
Aiming for a higher goal
As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy, the role of valuers is only set to grow. The demand for certified professionals in land & building, plant & machinery, and securities/financial assets will continue to rise with increasing real estate development, industrialization, and financial market growth. IOV RVF® is well-positioned to lead this transformation. By maintaining high standards of training and ethics, it will ensure that India’s valuation profession not only meets domestic needs but also aligns with global best practices.
The journey of the IOV Registered Valuers Foundation is a story of legacy, responsibility, and progress. From its roots in the vision of Shri P. C. Goel to its recognition by IBBI, the organization has consistently upheld the importance of professionalism in valuation. For the common man, this means that whenever a property is sold, a loan is approved, or a company is valued, there are trained experts behind the scenes ensuring fairness and accuracy.
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