परिपत्र / Circular
SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD/P/CIR/2025/81 02-06-2025
To,
All Research Analysts
Research Analyst Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB)
Madam / Sir,
Sub: Investor Charter for Research Analysts
1. SEBI, vide Circular no. SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-II CIS/P/CIR/2021/0685 dated December 13,
2021 (hereinafter mentioned as ‘Circular’) and Clause 5 of Master Circular for Research
Analyst dated May 21, 2024 (hereinafter mentioned as ‘Master Circular’), inter alia, issued
Investor charter for Research Analysts.
2. In a move to enhance financial consumer protection alongside enhanced financial
inclusion and financial literacy and in view of the recent developments in the securities
market including introduction of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform and SCORES
2.0, it has been decided to modify the investor charter for Research Analysts.
3. In view of the above and based on consultation with Industry Standards Forum (ISF) for
Research Analysts, updated investor charter for Research Analysts is placed at Annexure
A.
4. In this regard, BSE Limited (presently recognized as RAASB) is directed to advise
Research Analysts to bring the Investor Charter to the notice of their clients (existing as
well as new clients) through disclosing the Investor Charter on their respective websites
and mobile applications (if any), making them available at prominent places in the office,
provide a copy of Investor Charter as a part of client on-boarding process, through e-mails/
letters etc.
5. Additionally, in order to ensure transparency in the Investor Grievance Redressal
Mechanism, all the Research Analysts shall continue to disclose on their respective
websites and mobile applications (if any), the data on complaints received against them or
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against issues dealt by them and redressal thereof, latest by 7th of succeeding month, as
per the format enclosed at Annexure ‘B’ to this circular.
6. The provisions of this circular shall come into force with immediate effect.
7. With the issuance of this circular, SEBI, Circular No. SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-II
CIS/P/CIR/2021/0685 dated December 13, 2021 stands rescinded and Clause 5 of Master
Circular for Research Analysts dated May 21, 2024 stands amended as per this circular.
8. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of Chapter IV
of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulation 24(9) of the
SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014 to protect the interests of investors in
securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities markets and
shall come into effect from the date of this circular.
9. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the category: ‘Legal
→ Circulars
भवदीय | Yours faithfully,
आराधना वर्ा ा | Aradhana Verma
र्हाप्रबंधक | General Manager
दरू भाष | Telephone: +91-22-26449633
ईर्ेल | E-mail: aradhanad@sebi.gov.in
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ANNEXURE A
INVESTOR CHARTER IN RESPECT OF RAs
A. Vision and Mission Statements for investors
 Vision
Invest with knowledge & safety.
 Mission
Every investor should be able to invest in right investment products based on their
needs, manage and monitor them to meet their goals, access reports and enjoy
financial wellness.
B. Details of business transacted by the Research Analyst with respect to the
investors
 To publish research report based on the research activities of the RA
 To provide an independent unbiased view on securities.
 To offer unbiased recommendation, disclosing the financial interests in
recommended securities.
 To provide research recommendation, based on analysis of publicly available
information and known observations.
 To conduct audit annually
 To ensure that all advertisements are in adherence to the provisions of the
Advertisement Code for Research Analysts.
 To maintain records of interactions, with all clients including prospective clients
(prior to onboarding), where any conversation related to the research services has
taken place.
C. Details of services provided to investors (No Indicative Timelines)
 Onboarding of Clients
o Sharing of terms and conditions of research services
o Completing KYC of fee paying clients
 Disclosure to Clients:
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o To disclose, information that is material for the client to make an informed
decision, including details of its business activity, disciplinary history, the terms
and conditions of research services, details of associates, risks and conflicts
of interest, if any
o To disclose the extent of use of Artificial Intelligence tools in providing research
services
o To disclose, while distributing a third party research report, any material
conflict of interest of such third party research provider or provide web address
that directs a recipient to the relevant disclosures
o To disclose any conflict of interest of the activities of providing research
services with other activities of the research analyst.
 To distribute research reports and recommendations to the clients without
discrimination.
 To maintain confidentiality w.r.t publication of the research report until made
available in the public domain.
 To respect data privacy rights of clients and take measures to protect unauthorized
use of their confidential information
 To disclose the timelines for the services provided by the research analyst to clients
and ensure adherence to the said timelines
 To provide clear guidance and adequate caution notice to clients when providing
recommendations for dealing in complex and high-risk financial products/services
 To treat all clients with honesty and integrity
 To ensure confidentiality of information shared by clients unless such information
is required to be provided in furtherance of discharging legal obligations or a client
has provided specific consent to share such information.
D. Details of grievance redressal mechanism and how to access it
1. Investor can lodge complaint/grievance against Research Analyst in the following
ways:
Mode of filing the complaint with research analyst
In case of any grievance / complaint, an investor may approach the concerned
Research Analyst who shall strive to redress the grievance immediately, but not
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later than 21 days of the receipt of the grievance.
Mode of filing the complaint on SCORES or with Research Analyst
Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB)
i. SCORES 2.0 (a web based centralized grievance redressal system of SEBI
for facilitating effective grievance redressal in time-bound manner)
(https://scores.sebi.gov.in)
Two level review for complaint/grievance against Research Analyst:
 First review done by designated body (RAASB)
 Second review done by SEBI
ii. Email to designated email ID of RAASB
2. If the Investor is not satisfied with the resolution provided by the Market
Participants, then the Investor has the option to file the complaint/ grievance on
SMARTODR platform for its resolution through online conciliation or arbitration.
With regard to physical complaints, investors may send their complaints to:
Office of Investor Assistance and Education,
Securities and Exchange Board of India,
SEBI Bhavan, Plot No. C4-A, ‘G’ Block,
Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E),
Mumbai - 400 051
E. Rights of investors
 Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
 Right to Transparent Practices
 Right to fair and Equitable Treatment
 Right to Adequate Information
 Right to Initial and Continuing Disclosure
-Right to receive information about all the statutory and regulatory disclosures
 Right to Fair & True Advertisement
 Right to Awareness about Service Parameters and Turnaround Times
 Right to be informed of the timelines for each service
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 Right to be Heard and Satisfactory Grievance Redressal
 Right to have timely redressal
 Right to Exit from Financial product or service in accordance with the terms and
conditions agreed with the research analyst
 Right to receive clear guidance and caution notice when dealing in Complex and
High-Risk Financial Products and Services
 Additional Rights to vulnerable consumers
- Right to get access to services in a suitable manner even if differently abled
 Right to provide feedback on the financial products and services used
 Right against coercive, unfair, and one-sided clauses in financial agreements
F. Expectations from the investors (Responsibilities of investors)
 Do’s
i. Always deal with SEBI registered Research Analyst.
ii. Ensure that the Research Analyst has a valid registration certificate.
iii. Check for SEBI registration number.
Please refer to the list of all SEBI registered Research Analyst which is
available on SEBI website in the following link:
https://www.sebi.gov.in/sebiweb/other/OtherAction.do?doRecognisedFpi
=yes&intmId=14)
iv. Always pay attention towards disclosures made in the research reports before
investing.
v. Pay your Research Analyst through banking channels only and maintain duly
signed receipts mentioning the details of your payments. You may make
payment of fees through Centralized Fee Collection Mechanism (CeFCoM) of
RAASB if research analyst has opted for the mechanism. (Applicable for fee
paying clients only)
vi. Before buying/ selling securities or applying in public offer, check for the
research recommendation provided by your Research Analyst.
vii. Ask all relevant questions and clear your doubts with your Research Analyst
before acting on recommendation.
viii. Seek clarifications and guidance on research recommendations from your
Research Analyst, especially if it involves complex and high risk financial
products and services.
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ix. Always be aware that you have the right to stop availing the service of a
Research Analyst as per the terms of service agreed between you and your
Research Analyst.
x. Always be aware that you have the right to provide feedback to your
Research Analyst in respect of the services received.
xi. Always be aware that you will not be bound by any clause, prescribed by the
research analyst, which is contravening any regulatory provisions.
xii. Inform SEBI about Research Analyst offering assured or guaranteed returns.
 Don’ts
i. Do not provide funds for investment to the Research Analyst.
ii. Don’t fall prey to luring advertisements or market rumors.
iii. Do not get attracted to limited period discount or other incentive, gifts, etc.
offered by Research Analyst.
iv. Do not share login credential and password of your trading, demat or bank
accounts with the Research Analyst.
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Annexure – B
COMPLAINT DATA TO BE DISPLAYED BY RAs
Formats for investors complaints data to be disclosed monthly by RAs on their
website/mobile application:
Data for the month ending -_____________
Sr. Received Pending Received Resolved Total Pending Average
No. from at the * Pending complaints Resolution
end of # > 3months time^ (in
last days)
month
1 Directly from
Investors
2 SEBI
(SCORES)
3 Other
Sources (if
any)
Grand Total
Number of complaints received during month against the RA due to impersonation by
some other entity:
Note: In case of any complaints received against the RA due to impersonation of the RA
by some other entity, the RA may adjust the number of such complaints from total number
of received/resolved complaints while preparing the above table. Further, RA must close
such impersonation related complaints after following the due process as specified by SEBI/
RAASB.
* Inclusive of complaints of previous months resolved in the current month.
# Inclusive of complaints pending as on the last day of the month.
^ Average Resolution time is the sum total of time taken to resolve each complaint, in
days, in the current month divided by total number of complaints resolved in the current
month.
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Trend of monthly disposal of complaints
Sr. Month Carried forward from Received Resolved* Pending#
No. previous month
1 April, YYYY
2 May, YYYY
3 June, YYYY
4 ……………..
5 March, YYYY
Grand Total
* Inclusive of complaints of previous months resolved in the current month.
# Inclusive of complaints pending as on the last day of the month.
Trend of annual disposal of complaints
Sr. Year Carried forward Received Resolved* Pending#
No. from previous year
1 2021-22
2 2022-23
3 2023-24
4 20XX-XX
Grand Total
* Inclusive of complaints of previous years resolved in the current year.
# Inclusive of complaints pending as on the last day of the year.
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