परिपत्र / CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/111 31.07.2025
To,
1. सभी मान्यताप्राप्त स्टॉक एक्सचेंज 1. All Recognised Stock Exchanges
2. सभी मान्यताप्राप्त समाशोधन ननगम 2. All Recognised Clearing
(क्लीयरिगिं कािपोिेशन) Corporations
3. सभी िजजस्टि डिपॉजिटिी (ननक्षेपागाि) 3. All Registered Depositories
4. सभी िजजस्टि इिंटिमीडियिी (मध्यवती) 4. All Registered Intermediaries
5. असोससएशन ऑफ म्यूचुअल फिंड्स इन 5. Association of Mutual Funds in India
इिंडिया (एएमएफआई) (AMFI)
6. असोससएशन ऑफ पोटटफोसलयो मैनेजस ट 6. Association of Portfolio Managers in
इन इिंडिया (एपीएमआई) India (APMI)
7. बीएसई एिसमननस्रेशन एिंि सुपिवविन 7. BSE Administration & Supervision
(बीएएसएल) Limited (BASL)
Madam/Sir,
महोदया / महोदय,
Subject: Rights of Persons with
ववषय: ददवयािंगजन अधधकाि अधधननयम,
Disabilities Act, 2016 and rules made
2016 औि उसके तहत बनाए गए ननयमों
thereunder- mandatory compliance
का सभी ववननयसमत (िेग्यूलेदटि) एिंदटदटयों
by all Regulated Entities.
द्वािा अननवाय ट तौि पि पालन ककए जाने के
सिंबिंध में
1. दिव्यंगजनों के अधिकयरों की रक्षय व 1. To protect the rights and dignity of
persons with disabilities and ensure
उनके मयन-सम्मयन की खयतिर ्ह
their full and effective participation in
जरूरी है कक उन्हें भी ससक््ूररटीज़
securities market, it is necessary to
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 1 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 1 of 10
provide for their access to Digital
मयकेट (प्रतिभूति बयजयर) में शरीक
Platforms of SEBI Regulated
होने कय पूरय अवसर समले िथय सेबी
Entities.
द्वयरय ववतन्समि (रेग््ूलेदटड)
एंदटदट्ों के डडजजटल प्लेटफॉम म पर
पूरी एक्सेस समले ।
2. इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के प्र्ोजनयथ,म 2. For the purpose of this Circular, the
term “Regulated Entity or RE1” shall
शब्िों “ववतन्समि (रेग््ूलेदटड) एंदटटी
refer to SEBI registered/ recognised
्य आरई1” कय अथ म है - सेबी से
intermediaries (for example
रजजस्टर / सेबी द्वयरय मयन््ियप्रयप्ि stockbrokers, mutual funds, KYC
Registration Agencies, QRTAs,
इंटरमीडड्री (मध््विी) [जैसे कक
etc.) and Market Infrastructure
स्टॉक िलयल (ब्रोकर), म््ूचअु ल फंड,
Institutions (Stock Exchanges,
केवयईसी (अपने ग्रयहक को जयतनए)
Depositories and Clearing
संबंिी रजजस्रीकरण एजेंसस्याँ, Corporations) regulated by SEBI.
क््ूआरटीए, आदि) और बयजयर की
बुतन्यिी संस्थयएाँ (एमआईआई)
[स्टॉक एक्सचेंज, डडपॉजज़टरी
(तनक्षेपयगयर) और क्ली्ररगं
कयरपोरेशन (समयशोिन तनगम)],
जजन्हें सेबी रेग््ूलेट करिय है ।
3. उपरोक्ियनुसयर व्वस्थय करने के सलए 3. In order to facilitate such
accessibility, it is mandated that all
्ह जरूरी है कक आरई के सभी
Digital Platforms of REs shall be
डडजजटल प्लेटफॉम म पर दिव्यंगजन
compliant with the provisions of the
अधिकयर अधितन्म, 2016 के Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Act, 2016 (“RPwD Act, 2016”) and
प्रयवियनों और उसके िहि बनयए गए
corresponding rules, specifically
तन्मों के प्रयवियनों (सम्-सम् पर
with regard to the following
्थय संशोधिि) के अनुरूप समस्ि
1 प्रतिभूति संवविय (ववतन्मन) अधितन्म 1956, सेबी अधितन्म 1992, और तनक्षेपयगयर अधितन्म 1996
के प्रयवियनों के अनुसयर सेबी के िय्रे में आने वयली एंदटदट्याँ ।
Entities within SEBI’s purview, refer to Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act 1956, SEBI Act 1992,
and Depositories Act 1996.
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 2 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 2 of 10
provisions (as amended or modified
जरूरी व्वस्थयएाँ हों, खयसकर नीच े
or substituted from time to time):
दिए गए प्रयवियनों के अनुरूप:
क. ददवयािंगजन अधधकाि अधधननयम,
a. Section 40 of RPwD Act, 2016-
Accessibility
2016 की धािा 40 – जो
एक्सेससबबसलटी से संबंधिि है
ख. ददवयािंगजन अधधकाि अधधननयम,
b. Section 42 of RPwD Act, 2016-
Access to information and
2016 की धािा 42 – जो जयनकयरी
communication technology.
पयने हेिु हर जरूरी एक्सेस व सुववियएाँ
प्रियन करने से संबंधिि है
ग. ददवयािंगजन अधधकाि अधधननयम,
c. Section 46 of RPwD Act, 2016-
Time limit for accessibility by service
2016 की धािा 46 – जो सेवय
providers.
प्रियियओं (सववसम प्रोवयइडर) द्वयरय
एक्सेस व सुववियएाँ प्रियन ककए जयने
हेिु तनियमररि की गई सम्-सीमय से
संबंधिि है
घ. ददवयािंगजन अधधकाि ननयम, 2017
d. Rule 15(1)(c) of the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Rules,
का ननयम 15(1)(ग) – जो
2017- Rules for Accessibility
एक्सेससबबसलटी से संबंधिि है
4. दिव्यंगजनों के सलए डडजजटल एक्सेस 4. REs shall refer to Annexure I for
detailed directions on ensuring
से संबंधिि प्रयवियनों कय पयलन
compliance with Digital Accessibility
सुतनजचचि करने हेिु, आरई
requirement for Persons with
सिंलग्नक-I में दिए गए तनिेशों कय Disabilities.
पयलन करेंगी ।
5. इन डडजजटल प्लेटफॉमम पर एक्सेस 5. REs shall provide updates on the
status of implementation of
प्रियन ककए जयने से संबंधिि प्रयवियनों
accessibility provisions on all this
कय पयलन कक्य ग्य ्य नहीं इसकी
Digital Platforms, specifically in
जस्थति से आरई अवगि करवयएंगी accordance to the following
milestones:
(खयसकर तनम्नसलखखि के संिभ म में):
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 3 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 3 of 10
क्र. सिं. समय-सीमा / Timeline क्या-क्या किना है / Milestone
Sl. No.
1 इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के जयरी 1. आरई अपने उन सभी डडजजटल प्लेटफॉम म
होने की ियरीख से 1 महीने के की सूची प्रस्िुि करेंगी, जो उन्होंन े
भीिर तनवेशकों के सलए उपलब्ि करवयए हुए हों।
Within 1 month of the REs shall submit a list of digital
issuance of circular platforms provided by them for the
investors.
2. आरई ्ह ररपोटम प्रस्िुि करेंगी कक उन्होंने
इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) में दिए गए तनिेशों
कय पयलन कक्य ्य नहीं, ्यतन कक व े
पयलन संबंिी ररपोटम / की गई कयरमवयई स े
संबंधिि ररपोटम प्रस्िुि करेंगी ।
REs shall submit a compliance/ action
taken report pertaining to the clauses
of this circular.
2
इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के जयरी आईएएपी से प्रमयखणि ‘एक्सेससबबसलटी
होने की ियरीख से 45 दिनों के प्रोफेशनल’ को ऑडडटर के रूप में तन्ुक्ि
भीिर कक्य जयएगय ।
Within 45 days of the Appointment of IAAP certified
issuance of circular accessibility professionals as Auditor.
3
इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के जयरी डडजजटल प्लेटफॉम म पर एक्सेससबबसलटी हेिु
होने की ियरीख स े 3 महीनों प्यमप्ि व्वस्थय की गई है ्य नहीं, इसकय
के भीिर ऑडडट करवय्य जयएगय ।
Within 3 month of issuance Conduct of Accessibility Audit for the
of the circular digital platforms.
4
इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के जयरी ऑडडट में पयई गई खयसम्ों को सुियरने हेि ु
होने की ियरीख स े 6 महीनों प्यमप्ि किम उठयए जयएाँगे और इस पररपत्र
के भीिर (सकुमलर) में दिए गए तनिेशों कय पयलन
Within 6 months of
सुतनजचचि कक्य जयएगय ।
issuance of circular
Remediation of findings from the audit
and ensuring compliance with this
circular.
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6. इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) में दिए गए 6. The compliance reporting for this
circular shall be done on annual
तनिेशों आदि कय पयलन ककए जयने से
basis within 30 days from the end of
संबंधिि ररपोटम वयवषकम आियर पर,
each financial year in accordance
प्रत््ेक ववत्िी् वष म के समयप्ि होन े with the following manner:
की ियरीख से 30 दिनों के भीिर,
तनम्नयनुसयर प्रस्िुि करनी होगी:
क्र. ववननयसमत (िेग्यूलेदटि) रिपोदटिंग प्राधधकािी
Reporting authority
सिं. एिंदटटी
Sl. Regulated Entity
No.
1
स्टॉक िलयल (ब्रोकर) / स्टॉक एक्सचेंज / डडपॉजज़टरी (तनक्षेपयगयर)
Stock Exchanges / Depositories.
डडपॉजज़टरी पयदटमससपेंट्स
(तनक्षेपयगयर सहभयगी)
Stock Brokers/ Depository
Participants
2
तनवेश सलयहकयर बीएसई एडसमतनसरेशन एंड सुपरववज़न
Investment Advisor (“IAs”)
सलसमटेड (बीएएसएल)
BSE Administration & Supervision
Limited (“BASL”).
3
एमआईआई (बयजयर की भयरिी् प्रतिभूति और ववतनम् बोड म (सेबी)
SEBI
बुतन्यिी संस्थयएाँ) और अन््
सभी आरई
MIIs and rest of the REs
7. इस पररपत्र (सकुमलर) के प्रयवियन ्ह 7. Applicability: The provisions of this
circular shall be applicable to all
पररपत्र जयरी ककए जयने की ियरीख से
REs with effect from the date of this
सभी आरई के मयमले में लयगू होंगे ।
circular.
8. ्ह पररपत्र (सकुमलर) भयरिी् 8. This circular is being issued in
exercise of the powers under
प्रतिभूति और ववतनम् बोड म
Section 11(1) of the Securities and
अधितन्म, 1992 (सेबी एक्ट,
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992,
1992) की ियरय 11(1) [जो to protect the interests of investors
in securities and to promote the
प्रतिभूति्ों (ससक््ूररटीज़) में तनवेश
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 5 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 5 of 10
development of, and to regulate the
करने वयले तनवेशकों के दहिों कय
securities market.
संरक्षण करने और ससक््ूररटीज
मयकेट (प्रतिभूति बयजयर) के ववकयस
को बढ़यवय िेने और उसे ववतन्समि
(रेग््ूलेट) करने से संबंधिि है] के
िहि प्रियन की गई शजक्ि्ों कय
प्र्ोग करिे हुए जयरी कक्य जय रहय
है ।
9. ्ह पररपत्र सेबी की वेबसयइट 9. This circular is available at
www.sebi.gov.in under the link
(www.sebi.gov.in) पर इन शीषकम ों
“Legal → Circulars”.
के अिं गिम दि्य हुआ है: “कयनूनी
ढयाँचय – पररपत्र” ।
भवदीय / Yours faithfully,
दीपािंकि चटजी / Deepankar Chatterjee
उप महाप्रबिंधक / Deputy General Manager
फोन / Phone: 022-26449643
ई-मेल / Email: deepankarc@sebi.gov.in
सलं ग्न / Encl.: उपरोक्ियनसु यर / As above
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Annexure-I
Directions on Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
A. Executive Summary
Recently, writ petitions were filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to
formulate appropriate rules and guidelines for conducting Digital Know Your Client
(“KYC”) /e-KYC/video KYC (Know Your Customer) process through alternative
methods with a view to ensuring that the process is more inclusive and accessible
to all persons with disabilities in accordance with the provisions of the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (“RPwD Act, 2016”) and rules made
thereunder.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in its judgment dated April 30, 2025, in the matter of
Pragya Prasun & Ors. Vs. Union of India and Ors. [WP(C)/289/2024] and Amar
Jain vs. Union of India & Ors. [WP(C)/49/2025] pertaining to Digital Accessibility
for persons with disabilities, has inter alia held that the right to Digital Access is
an intrinsic component of right to life and personal liberty.
In line with the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated April 30, 2025, SEBI
has directed its efforts towards strengthening the accessibility of Digital Platforms
in the securities market.
In order to promote an inclusive digital ecosystem in the Indian Securities Market,
this Annexure outlines a set of actionable directions to ensure digital accessibility.
These directions are divided into thematic sections for better comprehension and
execution by SEBI Regulated Entities (REs).
Hereafter, the term “Digital Accessibility” shall inherently be understood as “Digital
Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities” in order to prioritize digital accessibility
for all persons with disabilities – including but not limited to acid attack survivors
suffering from permanent facial/eye disfigurement, persons with blindness and low
vision, and other similarly placed individuals.
B. Scope
All REs shall ensure that their Digital Platforms and content published on the
digital platform shall strictly adhere to the accessibility standards and guidelines,
including:
1. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.1 or latest version.
2. Accessibility guidelines as described in the latest version of Guidelines for
Indian Government Websites (“GIGW”).
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 7 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 7 of 10
3. IS 17802: Indian Standards on Accessibility Requirements for Information and
Communication Technology (“ICT”) Products and Services.
4. Provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and
corresponding rules for digital accessibility mentioned in this Circular.
These standards shall serve as the baseline for compliance under this circular
and must be referred to in all digital initiatives.
C. Directions for ensuring Digital Accessibility
Section 1: Institutional Arrangement
1.1. The compliance with this circular shall be reviewed and approved by
Managing Director or the Managing Partner or the Proprietor of the REs,
as may be applicable. REs shall designate any senior officer as the Nodal
Officer for digital accessibility compliance. In the absence of an officially
designated Nodal Officer, the Compliance Officer or the Proprietor shall be
deemed to be the Nodal Officer for ensuring digital accessibility
compliance.
1.2. The major roles and responsibilities of the Nodal Officer shall be to ensure
digital accessibility for every investor by ensuring that activities, including
but not limited to conducting accessibility audits, mitigation of accessibility
audit findings, implementation of accessibility guidelines, and timely
redressal of grievance. The Nodal Officer shall serve as the contact point
for SEBI in any matter pertaining to digital accessibility.
1.3. A grievance redressal mechanism specific to accessibility issues shall be
institutionalized within the REs. Channels such as email, helpline, and web
forms must be user-friendly for PwDs. The system must include provisions
for escalation to senior officers.
1.4. The reporting of compliance with respect to this circular shall be done by
the REs to their respective authority(ies) as per the reporting mentioned in
this Circular.
Section 2: Web and Document Accessibility
2.1. The Digital Platforms of the REs shall include features such as Indian Sign
Language (ISL) videos, closed captioning, descriptive audio, and alternate
text for images. For instance, an explainer video on KYC must include
captions and ISL interpretation.
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2.2. All circulars, notices, and investor documents published on the Digital
Platforms of the RE’s (website, mobile application, etc.) in PDF or other
formats must follow accessible document standards—such as tagged
PDFs, logical reading order, proper use of headings, and alt text. The RE
shall follow the PDF techniques (https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-
TECHS/pdf) covered in WCAG 2.1 for the same. If a revised standard for
accessibility of Text documents is published by W3C (World Wide Web
Consortium, the owner of WCAG standards) the compliance to the venue
standard should be ensured.
Section 3: Training and Awareness
3.1. Training modules that give detailed understanding on digital accessibility
(website, mobile application, etc.) shall be part of all internal training
programs for staff and third-party service providers who are developing and
publishing content for dissemination via Digital Platforms. The Digital
Platform shall be “accessible by design”. Trainings should emphasize on
design wise digital accessibility. The trainings should cover behavioural
training, assistive tools, and inclusive experience for normal as well as
differently abled users.
Section 4: Registration and e-KYC
4.1. All REs shall ensure that digital KYC, e-KYC, and video KYC processes
include alternatives to accommodate differently abled users/clients. For
example, human-assisted video KYC, allowing scanned document
uploads, or voice-assisted KYC for visually impaired users.
4.2. KYC and client registration forms shall include a mandatory field to indicate
disability status and options to select specific provisions such as helpdesk
call back for assistance. Any application of a client with disability shall be
rejected by the REs only after a review by a designated human officer and
the said officer shall be empowered to override automated rejections and
approve applications on a case by case basis, thereby ensuring equitable
access to services of the REs for persons with disabilities.
Section 5: Digital Accessibility Audits and Remediation
5.1. All REs shall initiate a comprehensive accessibility audit of their digital
platforms including websites, mobile apps, portals through International
Association of Accessibility Professionals (“IAAP”). The audit shall follow
पष्ृ ठ स.ं 9 (कुल पष्ृ ठ 10) Page 9 of 10
the latest WCAG, GIGW guidelines and RPwD Act and sules made
thereunder and also SEBI from time to time. The said accessibility audit
shall include usability testing by persons with disabilities.
5.2. Based on the audit findings, REs shall prepare and implement a plan for
remediation of audit observations.
5.3. Existing digital platforms must be upgraded to meet accessibility standards
within the transition timeline.
5.4. All REs shall conduct annual accessibility audits of their digital platforms
including websites, mobile apps, portals through IAAP certified accessibility
professionals and reports shall be submitted as per the mechanism
specified in direction 1.4 in Section 1 of this Annexure.
Section 6: Procurement and Technical Compliance
6.1. All newly developed/procured digital solutions shall conform to latest
WCAG, IS17802, GIGW guidelines and the provisions of the RPwD Act,
2016 and rules made thereunder. In case of Software as a Service
(“SaaS”)/ customised SaaS products, vendors must seek conformance
with the accessibility guidelines by conducting audit of their product/service
in accordance to WCAG 2.1 (or latest) accessibility guidelines. The
responsibility to ensure the accessibility of a Digital Platform shall lie with
the REs.
6.2. Accessibility requirements shall be part of all Request for Proposals
(“RFPs”) and procurement contracts of the REs and evaluation criteria of
the REs shall assign due weightage to accessibility readiness.
-------x x x-------
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