**Executive Summary**
This circular, dated December 08, 2025, clarifies SEBI's digital accessibility requirements for Regulated Entities (REs) concerning digital platforms. It specifies a revised deadline for compliance reporting, details the inclusion of investor rights in investor charters, and outlines procedures for handling accessibility-related complaints via SCORES. The deadline for submitting the readiness report is March 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital Accessibility Compliance:**
* SEBI issues clarification on digital accessibility requirements for REs' digital platforms.
* The "Investors' Right to have digital accessibility" will be included in Investor Charters applicable to REs.
* **Revised Compliance Reporting:**
* REs must submit a status report on their readiness and compliance with accessibility requirements by March 31, 2026, instead of appointing an accessibility auditor by December 14, 2025.
* Status reports must be submitted to designated reporting authorities (Annexure A) and shared via email at digital_acc@sebi.gov.in.
* REs can refer to Annexure B for the reporting format.
* **Handling Accessibility Complaints:**
* Investors can lodge accessibility-related complaints against REs on SCORES.
* A complaint category related to "Accessibility" is available on SCORES.
* REs must remediate accessibility issues related to complaints for closure.
* **Accessibility Audits:**
* REs shall conduct periodic accessibility audits through certified accessibility professionals.
* **Authority & Availability**
* This circular is issued under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
* The circular is available on the SEBI website under "Legal" and "Circulars".
**Impact Analysis**
**Regulated Entities (REs)**
* **Impact:** Must comply with the clarified digital accessibility requirements for their digital platforms. They are also subject to investor complaints via SCORES and must conduct periodic accessibility audits.
* **Action Required:** Prepare and submit a status report by March 31, 2026, detailing readiness and compliance with digital accessibility requirements. Remediate accessibility issues raised through SCORES complaints. Conduct accessibility audits.
**Investors**
* **Impact:** Enhanced digital accessibility on REs' platforms and a formalized right to accessible digital services. They now have a specific channel (SCORES) to lodge complaints regarding accessibility issues.
* **Action Required:** Utilize SCORES to report any accessibility issues encountered on REs' digital platforms.
**Reporting Authorities (Stock Exchanges, Depositories, BSE Ltd., SEBI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for receiving and processing the status reports from REs.
* **Action Required:** Establish mechanisms for receiving, reviewing, and tracking the status reports submitted by REs, as outlined in Annexure A.
Key Entities Referenced
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): The primary regulatory body overseeing securities markets and related entities in India. This circular provides clarifications on digital accessibility requirements for regulated entities.
Regulated Entities (REs): Entities regulated by SEBI, such as stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, and intermediaries, that are subject to digital accessibility requirements outlined in this circular.
Securities and Exchange of India Act, 1992: The Act under which SEBI derives its powers, and which is cited as the legal basis for issuing this circular concerning investor protection and market regulation.
SCORES: A platform where investors can lodge complaints. The circular mentions accessibility related complaints and their resolution.
Investors' Right to have digital accessibility: A key concept emphasized in the circular, to be included in Investor Charters applicable to various REs.
CIRCULAR
HO/13/19/13(2)2025-ITD-1_VIAP/I/187/2025 December 08, 2025
To,
All Recognised Stock Exchanges
All Recognised Clearing Corporations
All Registered Depositories
All Registered Intermediaries
Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)
Association of Portfolio Managers in India (APMI)
BSE Limited (Investment Adviser Administration and supervisory body-IAASB)
BSE Limited (Research Analysts Administration and supervisory body-RAASB)
Reference:
S/N Circular No. Issue Date
1 SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/ 2025/111 July 31, 2025
2 SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/121 August 29, 2025
3 SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/131 September 25, 2025
Sir/Madam,
Subject: Clarification on the Digital Accessibility circulars of SEBI
1. Clarification is hereby issued on the above referenced SEBI circulars on Digital
accessibility requirements in Digital Platforms of Regulated Entities(REs).
2. The “Investors’ Right to have digital accessibility” will be included in the
respective Investor Charters applicable to various REs, published by SEBI.
3. REs are required to carry out the following compliance:
a. Instead of meeting the compliance requirement for appointment of
accessibility auditor by December 14, 2025, REs shall submit a status of
their readiness and compliance to the accessibility requirements for
Page 1 of 4each of their digital platforms latest by March 31, 2026 to the specified
reporting authorities (refer Annexure A). The REs reporting to SEBI
shall share the status on the email id digital_acc@sebi.gov.in.
b. REs may refer to Annexure B for format of submitting a status of
readiness and compliance to the accessibility requirements for each of
their investor facing digital platforms.
c. Any investor facing accessibility related issues on digital platforms of
REs, shall be able to lodge accessibility related complaints against REs
on SCORES. A complaint category related to “Accessibility” is already
provisioned in SCORES. In response to the accessibility related
complaint, the RE shall remediate the accessibility related issue for the
closure of the complaint.
d. All REs shall conduct periodic accessibility audits of their digital
platforms including websites, mobile apps and portals through certified
accessibility professionals
4. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11
(1) of the Securities and Exchange of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of
investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the
securities market.
5. This circular is issued with the approval of Competent Authority.
6. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the
category “Legal” and drop “Circulars”.
Yours faithfully,
Deepankar Chatterjee
Deputy General Manager
Phone: 022-26449643
Email: deepankarc@sebi.gov.in
Page 2 of 4Annexure A
Specified reporting authorities
Table 1: Specified reporting authorities for REs
S/N Regulated Entity Reporting Authority
1 Stock Brokers/ Depository Stock
Participants Exchanges/Depositories
2 Investment Advisor (“IAs”) and Research BSE Ltd.
Analysts (“RAs”)
3 MIIs and rest of the REs SEBI
Table 2: List of REs submitting compliance directly to SEBI
S/N REs submitting compliance directly to Concerned
SEBI Departments
1 Alternative Investment Funds(AIFs) AFD
2 Bankers to an Issue (BTI) and Self Certified CFD
Syndicate Banks (SCSBs)
3 Clearing Corporations MRD
4 Collective Investment Schemes(CIS) IMD
5 Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) DDHS
6 Custodians AFD
7 Debenture Trustees (DTs) DDHS
8 Depositories MRD
9 KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs) MIRSD
10 Merchant Bankers (MBs) CFD
11 Mutual Funds (MFs)/ Asset Management IMD
Companies (AMCs)
12 Portfolio Managers IMD
13 Registrar to an Issue and Share Transfer MIRSD
Agents (RTAs)
14 Stock Exchanges MRD
15 Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) AFD
Page 3 of 4Annexure B
Format of submitting a status of readiness and compliance to the accessibility
requirements for digital platforms – Applicable to all REs.
Subject: [RE Registration No.]-[RE name]-[RE category] -Submission of status
of readiness and compliance to the accessibility requirements for digital
platforms
Body:
Table 1: Digital platform wise accessibility
Sl. URL of digital platform Is minimum Remarks on Status of
No. level of readiness and
accessibility compliance to the
at AA level accessibility
as per latest requirements
WCAG
guidelines
(Yes / No)
1
2
3
4
5
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