SEBI has released five circulars on digital accessibility compliance so far, with the latest issued on December 8, 2025. Under this framework, regulated entities must submit their accessibility readiness status by March 31, 2026.
India’s financial ecosystem has undergone rapid digital transformation over the past decade. Investors now open accounts, complete KYC, access research reports, and trade securities almost entirely through digital platforms. Yet for millions of Indians, these services remain difficult to access.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 16% of the global population lives with some form of disability, while India has over 26 million persons with disabilities, according to Census data. Many rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or voice navigation to access digital services.
Recognizing these barriers, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced a series of digital accessibility circulars in 2025 to ensure that investor-facing platforms are accessible to persons with disabilities.
This article explains the five SEBI digital accessibility circulars chronologically, outlines the compliance requirements for regulated entities, and highlights what organizations must do to align with SEBI’s accessibility mandate.
Key Takeaways
SEBI’s digital accessibility circulars collectively establish a new regulatory framework for the securities market.
Key takeaways include:
- Digital accessibility is now a regulatory requirement for SEBI-regulated entities
- Investor-facing digital platforms must comply with recognized accessibility standards
- Accessibility audits must be conducted by certified professionals
- Organizations must remediate accessibility barriers within defined timelines
- Accessibility complaints can now be raised through the SCORES platform
- Annual accessibility audits will become part of ongoing compliance
- March 31st, 2026, is the last date to submit the compliance status.
Why SEBI Introduced Digital Accessibility Regulations
The push toward digital accessibility in the securities market is rooted in both legal developments and broader digital inclusion goals.
A major catalyst came from a Supreme Court of India judgment dated April 30, 2025, which emphasized that digital access forms an intrinsic component of the right to life and personal liberty. The judgment reinforced the need for regulators to ensure that digital services across sectors are accessible to persons with disabilities.
SEBI’s regulatory response reflects this evolving understanding of accessibility as a fundamental right.
The framework aligns financial services with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), and global accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
For the securities market, this means that accessibility is no longer treated as a purely technical design consideration. Instead, it has become part of investor protection and regulatory governance.
The Five SEBI Digital Accessibility Circulars Explained Chronologically
SEBI’s accessibility framework evolved through five circulars issued throughout 2025. Each circular expanded the regulatory approach and clarified the compliance expectations for regulated entities.
1. May 2025: Accessibility and Inclusiveness of Digital KYC
The first step in SEBI’s accessibility initiative focused on digital onboarding and account opening processes.
In May 2025, SEBI issued a circular addressing accessibility in digital KYC processes.
Digital KYC is the gateway to financial participation. If onboarding processes are inaccessible, individuals with disabilities may be unable to open trading or demat accounts independently.
SEBI, therefore, directed intermediaries to ensure that digital KYC processes are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. Intermediaries were also guided to follow revised instructions on account opening for individuals with disabilities available on the SEBI website.
This circular marked the beginning of SEBI’s effort to remove structural barriers that could prevent persons with disabilities from accessing financial services.
2. July 2025: Mandatory Digital Accessibility Compliance
The most significant regulatory development came in July 2025 when SEBI issued a comprehensive circular mandating digital accessibility compliance across the securities ecosystem.
The circular requires all SEBI-regulated entities (REs) to ensure that their digital platforms comply with provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Regulated entities include:
- Stock brokers
- Mutual funds and asset management companies
- Portfolio managers
- Depositories
- Clearing corporations
- KYC registration agencies
- Market infrastructure institutions
- Other SEBI-registered intermediaries
The circular also identifies the accessibility standards that digital platforms must follow.
These include:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 or the latest version
- Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW)
- IS 17802 accessibility standards for ICT products and services
- Provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
In addition to technical compliance, SEBI introduced governance requirements for accessibility.
Regulated entities must designate a Nodal Officer responsible for digital accessibility compliance. This officer oversees accessibility audits, remediation efforts, and accessibility-related grievance redressal.
The circular also requires entities to ensure that digital documents such as notices, circulars, and investor communications are accessible. Accessible document standards include tagged PDFs, logical reading order, and appropriate alternative text for images.
Accessibility is therefore treated as a system-wide responsibility rather than a one-time design improvement.
3. August 2025: Timeline Extensions and Reporting Authority Updates
Following the July circular, SEBI received representations from regulated entities requesting additional time to implement the new requirements.
In August 2025, SEBI issued a circular extending several compliance deadlines and clarifying reporting mechanisms.
The revised compliance timeline includes the following milestones:
- Submission of the list of digital platforms: September 30, 2025
- Appointment of IAAP-certified accessibility auditors: December 14, 2025
- Completion of accessibility audits: April 30, 2026
- Remediation of accessibility issues: July 31, 2026
The circular also clarified reporting authorities.
Stock brokers and depository participants must submit compliance reports through stock exchanges or depositories. Investment advisers and research analysts report through BSE Ltd., while most other regulated entities submit compliance information directly to SEBI.
These updates ensured that organizations had clear timelines and reporting channels for accessibility compliance.
4. September 2025: Compliance Guidelines and Reporting Formats
In September 2025, SEBI issued another circular providing detailed operational guidance for compliance submissions.
This circular introduced structured reporting formats to standardize how regulated entities submit accessibility compliance information.
Regulated entities must submit several categories of information, including:
- A list of investor-facing digital platforms
- Details of IAAP-certified accessibility auditors
- Initial accessibility audit reports
- Final accessibility audit reports following remediation
The circular also specifies documentation formats, including tables capturing platform details, audit scope, audit findings, remediation timelines, and supporting evidence.
Accessibility audits must be conducted by International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) certified professionals, ensuring that evaluations are performed by qualified specialists to ensure proper compliance with SEBI circulars.
This circular effectively operationalized the accessibility framework by defining how compliance should be documented and reported.
5. December 2025: Clarifications and Accessibility Complaint Mechanism
The final circular issued in December 2025 provided additional clarifications and refinements to the regulatory framework.
One of the most significant developments was the inclusion of digital accessibility within Investor Charters. This formally recognizes accessibility as an investor right rather than a purely technical requirement.
The circular also introduced a requirement for regulated entities to submit a status report on their readiness and compliance with accessibility requirements by March 31, 2026.
Another important update concerns grievance handling.
Investors can now raise accessibility-related complaints through SEBI’s SCORES platform, and regulated entities must resolve these issues as part of the complaint closure process.
The circular also reiterates that accessibility audits must be conducted periodically through certified accessibility professionals.
What Regulated Entities Must Do to Comply
Organizations regulated by SEBI should begin preparing for accessibility compliance through a structured implementation approach.
Key steps include:
- Inventory all digital platforms: Entities must identify all investor-facing digital platforms, including websites, mobile applications, trading portals, and investor dashboards.
- Conduct accessibility audits: Accessibility assessments should evaluate compliance with WCAG guidelines and other applicable standards.
- Implement remediation plans: Audit findings must be addressed through design improvements, code updates, and accessible document remediation.
- Establish accessibility governance: Entities must appoint nodal officers, create accessibility grievance mechanisms, and integrate accessibility into internal policies.
- Ensure accessible content and documents: Investor documents, disclosures, and notices must follow accessible document standards.
Accessibility should ultimately become part of an organization’s digital development lifecycle.
Accessibility Standards Referenced by SEBI
SEBI’s framework references several key accessibility standards.
These include:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Global standards defining how digital content should be made accessible.
- Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW): Indian government standards for usability and accessibility.
- IS 17802 Accessibility Standards: Indian technical standards for accessible ICT products and services.
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: India’s primary legislation governing accessibility rights.
Together, these standards form the technical and legal foundation for digital accessibility compliance in the securities market.
The Role of Accessibility Experts
Implementing accessibility compliance across complex digital platforms often requires specialized expertise.
Accessibility service providers such as Pivotal Accessibility support organizations by conducting accessibility audits, implementing WCAG-compliant design and development practices, remediating inaccessible documents, and guiding organizations through regulatory compliance processes.
Working with experienced accessibility professionals can help regulated entities efficiently navigate SEBI’s compliance requirements while improving the usability and inclusiveness of their digital platforms.
Why Digital Accessibility Matters for the Securities Market
Digital accessibility is not merely a compliance obligation. It is also a critical component of inclusive financial participation.
Accessible digital platforms allow individuals with disabilities to independently access financial services, open investment accounts, and participate in the securities market.
For regulators, accessibility aligns with SEBI’s mandate to protect investor interests and promote fair access to financial services.
For organizations, accessibility improves usability for a broader range of users, including older investors and individuals using assistive technologies.
Ultimately, accessible design contributes to a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem.
How Organizations Can Prepare for SEBI Circulars
As digital services continue to expand across the financial sector, accessibility compliance will play an increasingly important role in regulatory governance.
Organizations that proactively invest in accessibility today will not only meet regulatory expectations but also improve user experience and expand access to financial services.
If your organization is preparing for SEBI digital accessibility compliance, working with experienced accessibility professionals can help streamline the process.
Pivotal Accessibility supports regulated entities with accessibility audits, WCAG compliance implementation, accessible document remediation, and regulatory readiness assessments.
To learn more about how your organization can prepare for SEBI accessibility compliance, reach out to us by filling out this contact us form, and we will get back to you.