**Executive Summary**
This circular, issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on January 30, 2026, announces a special window for the transfer and dematerialization ("demat") of physical securities, which were sold/purchased prior to April 01, 2019. The window will be open from February 05, 2026, to February 04, 2027, and also applies to transfer requests previously rejected due to deficiencies. The goal is to facilitate ease of investing for investors and to secure their rights in the securities purchased by them.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Special Window for Transfer and Dematerialization:**
* A special window is opened for the transfer and dematerialization of physical securities sold/purchased before April 01, 2019.
* The special window is open from February 05, 2026, to February 04, 2027.
* Previously rejected/returned transfer requests can be resubmitted.
* **Securities Transfer Conditions:**
* Transferred securities will be mandatorily credited to the transferee's demat account.
* Securities will be under a one-year lock-in period from the date of registration of transfer, and cannot be transferred/lien-marked/pledged during this period.
* The below matrix defines the eligibility:
* Execution Date of Transfer Deed: Before April 01, 2019; Lodged for transfer before April 01, 2019: No (it is fresh lodgement); Original Security Certificate Available: Yes; Eligible to lodge in the current window: Yes.
* Execution Date of Transfer Deed: Before April 01, 2019; Lodged for transfer before April 01, 2019: Yes (it was rejected/ returned earlier); Original Security Certificate Available: Yes; Eligible to lodge in the current window: Yes.
* Execution Date of Transfer Deed: Before April 01, 2019; Lodged for transfer before April 01, 2019: Yes; Original Security Certificate Available: No; Eligible to lodge in the current window: No.
* Execution Date of Transfer Deed: Before April 01, 2019; Lodged for transfer before April 01, 2019: No; Original Security Certificate Available: No; Eligible to lodge in the current window: No.
* **Required Documents for Transferee:**
* Original security certificate(s).
* Transfer deed executed prior to April 01, 2019.
* Proof of purchase by transferee (if available).
* KYC documents of the transferee.
* Latest Client Master List of demat account, not older than 2 months.
* Undertaking cum Indemnity as per Annexure-A.
* **Other Information:**
* Disputes between transferor and transferee will not be considered and must be settled separately.
* Securities transferred to Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) are not eligible.
* Listed Companies/RTAs must verify the identity of transferors and transferees, and follow specific procedures for name mismatches and signature verification.
* If objection memos can’t be delivered or documents are unavailable, an advertisement must be published in a national English newspaper and a regional language newspaper, and posted on the listed company's website.
* A minimal fee may be charged by the listed company from the investor towards such advertisement.
* Transfer shall be effected only after the expiry of 30 days from the newspaper advertisement.
* In case of death of transferee as per the executed transfer deed, legal heir(s) can claim the securities with all required documents as per the specified transmission procedure.
* Listed companies/RTAs must inform the depository about the one-year lock-in period.
* If fraud is detected, the lock-in continues until further notice and securities can only be released by court order.
* Listed companies/RTAs must process transfer requests within 70 days of receiving complete documentation.
* Listed companies, RTAs, and Stock Exchanges must publicize the special window every two months.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: All Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs), All Recognised Stock Exchanges, All Listed Companies.**
**Impact:** They are responsible for implementing and publicizing the special window, processing transfer requests, verifying identities, and ensuring compliance with the new guidelines.
**Action Required:** Publicize the opening of the window, update processes to comply with the circular, and process transfer requests within 70 days of receiving all required documentation.
**Stakeholder: Investors Holding Physical Securities**
**Impact:** This provides an opportunity to dematerialize and transfer physical securities, enhancing their accessibility and security.
**Action Required:** Gather required documentation (security certificates, transfer deeds, KYC, etc.) and submit transfer requests within the specified window period (February 05, 2026, to February 04, 2027) to the relevant RTA or Listed Company.
Key Entities Referenced
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992: The act under which the powers are exercised to issue this circular.
Ease of Doing Investment - Special Window for Transfer and Dematerialisation of Physical Securities: The special window scheme to facilitate the transfer and dematerialization of physical securities.
SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015: Referenced regulations for signature verification procedures.
Securities and Exchange Board of India: The regulator issuing the circular.
Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF): Fund to which securities, if transferred, are not eligible under this window.
CIRCULAR
HO/38/13/11(2)2026-MIRSD-POD/ I/3750/2026 January 30, 2026
To,
All Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs)
All Recognised Stock Exchanges
All Listed Companies
Madam / Sir,
Sub: Ease of Doing Investment – Special Window for Transfer and
Dematerialisation of Physical Securities
1. To facilitate ease of investing for investors and to secure their rights in the
securities purchased by them, vide Circular dated July 02, 2025, a special window
was opened for re-lodgement of transfer deeds of physical securities.
2. In order to further facilitate the investors to get rightful access to their securities,
the Board has decided to open another special window for transfer and
dematerialisation (“demat”) of physical securities which were sold/purchased prior
to April 01, 2019.
3. This special window shall be open for a period of one year from February 05, 2026
to February 04, 2027.
4. The special window shall also be available for such transfer requests which were
submitted earlier and were rejected/returned/not attended to due to deficiency in
the documents/process/or otherwise.
5. The securities so transferred shall be mandatorily credited to the transferee only in
demat mode and shall be under lock-in for a period of one year from the date of
Page 1 of 8registration of transfer. Such securities shall not be transferred/lien-
marked/pledged during the said lock-in period.
6. For clarity with regard to applicability of this window, below matrix may be referred
to:
Original Eligible to
Execution Date of Lodged for transfer Security lodge in the
Transfer Deed before April 01, 2019? Certificate current
Available? window?
No
Before April 01, 2019 Yes ✔
(it is fresh lodgement)
Yes
Before April 01, 2019 (it was rejected/ Yes ✔
returned earlier)
Before April 01, 2019 Yes No ✘
Before April 01, 2019 No No ✘
7. Conditions to be fulfilled by the investor/transferee
The transferee shall be mandatorily required to submit the following documents:
a. Original security certificate(s);
b. Transfer deed executed prior to April 01, 2019;
c. Proof of purchase by transferee, as may be available;
d. KYC documents of the transferee (as per ISR forms);
e. Latest Client Master List (‘CML’), not older than 2 months, of the demat
account of the transferee, duly attested by the Depository Participant; and
f. Undertaking cum Indemnity as per the format at Annexure-A.
Page 2 of 88. Cases involving disputes between transferor and transferee will not be considered
in this window and may be settled by transferor and transferee through court/NCLT
process.
9. Further, securities which have been transferred to Investor Education and
Protection Fund (IEPF) shall not be considered under this window for processing.
10. Obligations on Listed Companies/RTAs/Depositories
(A) Identity verification:
i) PAN, identity proof and address proof of the transferee(s) and
transferor(s) shall be mandatorily verified.
ii) In case of mismatch of name in PAN card vis-à-vis name on transfer
deed, transfer shall be registered on submission of additional documents
explaining the difference in names viz. copy of any Officially Valid
Document or copy of gazette notification regarding change in name.
(B) Signature verification:
Procedure as laid down in Para (B) of Schedule VII of SEBI (Listing
Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 shall be
followed for difference or non-availability of signature of the transferor(s).
(C) Non-delivery of objection memo to the transferor / non-availability of
any document required for transfer:
i) In case of non-delivery of the objection memo to the transferor, non-
cooperation by / inability / non-traceability of the transferor / non-
availability of any document required for transfer as per Para A above,
an advertisement shall be published in at least:
a. one English language national daily newspaper having
nationwide circulation; and
Page 3 of 8b. one regional language daily newspaper published in the place of
last known address of the transferor available in the records of the
listed entity,
giving notice of the proposed transfer and seeking objection, if any, to
the same within a period of 30 days from the date of advertisement. A
copy of the advertisement shall also be posted on the listed company’s
website.
ii) As a measure of ease to the investor, only a minimal fee may be charged
by the listed company from the investor towards such advertisement.
iii) Transfer shall be effected only after the expiry of 30 days from the
newspaper advertisement.
(D) In case of death of transferee as per the executed transfer deed, legal heir(s)
can claim the securities with all required documents as per the specified
transmission procedure.
(E) While giving credit of securities in the demat account of the transferee, listed
company/RTA shall intimate the depository regarding one-year lock-in of the
securities.
(F) After the transfer, if a fraud is detected during the one-year lock-in period,
the lock-in shall continue on the related securities till further intimation. In
such cases, securities so locked-in shall be released only in favour of the
claimant as per order from competent court for release of securities.
11. The listed companies / RTAs shall process the transfer requests within 70 days
from the date of receipt of request from the transferee with complete
documentation.
12. Listed companies, RTAs and Stock Exchanges shall publicize the opening of this
special window through various media including print and social media, once every
two months during the one-year period.
Page 4 of 813. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1)
of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with regulation 101
of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015
and Regulation 37 and 38 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Registrars
to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents) Regulations, 2025 to protect the interests
of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the
securities market.
14. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the
category: ‘Legal → Circulars’.
Yours faithfully,
Aradhana Verma
General Manager
Tel. No. 022-26449633
E-mail: aradhanad@sebi.gov.in
Page 5 of 8Annexure-A
(To be reproduced on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper or franked with equivalent amount
and duly notarized)
Undertaking -cum- Indemnity bond
This Undertaking-cum-Indemnity Bond is made and executed on _____, at ____
By
Mr. / Ms.____________ son / daughter / wife of ________________ and Mr./Ms.
_________________________ son / daughter / wife of
___________________________________residing at
__________________________________ having permanent address at
________(hereinafter called as “Indemnifier”, which expression unless it be repugnant
to the context or meaning thereof, mean and include my / our legal heirs, successors,
administrators and assigns) of the one Part
In favour of
M/s_________________, a Company duly incorporated under the provisions of
Companies Act, 1956 (since replaced by the Companies Act, 2013) and having its
Registered Office at ______________________, (hereinafter called as “Indemnified”
/ the Company which expression unless it be repugnant to the context or meaning
thereof, mean and include its successors, administrators and assigns) of the Other
Part and
WHEREAS:
I / We have purchased / acquired the following securities from the seller (s) /
transferor(s) Mr./ Ms / M/s. ______________ and ______________ for a
consideration amount of Rs._______________
Page 6 of 8Folio No:
Certificate No:
Distinctive Nos:
I / We have lodged duly executed Instrument of Transfer (Form 7B) / Securities
Transfer (Form - SH4) along with the original certificates for the aforesaid securities
with the Company / RTA for transfer of the securities in my / our favour, as provided
in circular issued by SEBI dated ___________.
In consideration of the Company approving the transfer of the aforesaid
securities in my / our favour:
I / We shall indemnify and keep indemnified and saved, harmless _____________the
Company, its management, officers, staff, the RTA M/s__________________, its
management, officials, staff from and against (i) any harm, loss, damage or injury, (ii)
any claim or demand and (iii) any suit, action, litigation or other proceedings
whatsoever, that the Company / RTA management, officers, staff, may suffer or incur
or may be called upon to suffer or incur (including all costs, charges and expenses
incurred or required to be incurred on prosecuting or defending any suit, action
litigation and/or proceedings) by reason of or as a consequence of the Company
transferring the securities to my / our name(s) the ________
I / We accept that the request made by me / us for the transfer of securities, referred
above will be subject to the regulations and circulars issued by SEBI from time to time.
I / We also confirm that the securities so transferred shall be under the lock-in period
of One Year after the securities are credited into my/our Demat Account.
I / We acknowledge, understand, accept and admit that this Undertaking-cum-
Indemnity Bond shall be equivalent to the value of the securities at prevailing market
price with all the benefits accrued on the transacted securities and it shall be binding
upon my / our legal heirs, successors, administrators and assigns.
Page 7 of 8Signed by the Indemnifier in the presence of the Magistrate / Notary Public and
following witnesses on the date and place first written herein above;
Indemnifier(s) First named transferee:
Indemnifier(s) Second named transferee:
Witnesses:
1. Name: __________
Add:
Sign:
2. Name: __________
Add:
Sign:
Name and full address of Magistrate / Notary Public (Affix Official Seal and Notarial /
Court Fee Stamp, as applicable)
Registration No.
Notary Register at Book No. -------------- Serial No. ---------------
Page 8 of 8