The financial industry just got a serious reality check.

On July 31st, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued SEBI issued Circular No. SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/111, that changed the way financial services operate in the digital world.

From now on, digital accessibility is no longer optional; it is a regulatory requirement for all SEBI-regulated entities. That includes stock exchanges, mutual funds, depositories, brokers, investment advisors, and every other player under SEBI’s umbrella. On 29 August 2025, SEBI followed up with Circular No. SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/121, which extended timelines for Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs) and updated the reporting authority for these categories. For all other REs, the original deadlines remain unchanged.

This article seeks to explain the mandates implemented in both these circulars and what it means for your organisation.

What does SEBI’s mandate mean?

In simple terms:

If your organisation offers any digital platform, website, mobile app, portal, or online service, it must be accessible to people with disabilities.

This means meeting global and national accessibility standards so that people with visual, hearing, cognitive, and mobility impairments can use your services without barriers.

What this means for your business?

Your websites, apps, and investor touchpoints must now meet accessibility standards like:

WCAG 2.1 Level AA (or latest version)
GIGW Guidelines (Government of India Web Guidelines)
IS 17802 (India’s digital accessibility standard)
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
For more information, check out our article on the overview of Indian Digital Accessibility Laws.

What SEBI’s Circulars require your organisation to do?

The SEBI circulars clearly outline compliance expectations for regulated entities:

Adherence to Standards: All digital platforms must comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, relevant rules, and IS 17802. All Registered Entities are expected to conform to WCAG 2.1 (or latest version) Level AA as the baseline for accessibility.
Scope of Coverage: The requirement applies to websites, mobile applications, investor portals, trading platforms, market disclosures, documents, and multimedia content published by regulated entities.

Operational Requirements

Appoint a senior nodal officer responsible for accessibility compliance.
Establish a grievance redressal mechanism for accessibility issues.
Conduct regular accessibility audits (covering websites, apps, and digital documents).
Maintain compliance records such as Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) / VPATs.
Ensure third-party tools, services, and procured technology are accessible by default.

Content-Specific Accessibility

Documents (PDF, Word, Excel): must be tagged and follow accessible formats.
Videos & Webcasts: require captions, transcripts, and where possible, Indian Sign Language (ISL) support.
Images & Charts: must include descriptive alt text.
User Interfaces: must support keyboard navigation, semantic markup, and screen reader compatibility.

Reporting Obligations

Regulated entities must submit compliance confirmations, accessibility audit reports, and nodal officer details to the relevant reporting authority. The Aug 29 circular has granted extension to certain compliance deadlines and updated the authority for IAs and RAs specifically.

Key Dates for SEBI Digital Accessibility Compliance

Deadline	Requirement / Submission	What It Means
Jul 31, 2025	SEBI issues digital accessibility mandate	Mandatory compliance under the RPwD Act
Sept 30, 2025	Submit list of digital platforms & compliance report	Initial inventory and action taken confirmation
Mar 31, 2026	Submit Readiness & Compliance Status Report *	The first round of accessibility audits must be completed
Apr 30, 2026	Conduct digital accessibility audits	Submit a list of digital platforms & compliance report
Jul 31, 2026	Remediation and compliance confirmation	Issues identified in audits should be fixed
Apr 30, 2027	Annual accessibility reporting begins	Ongoing, yearly audit and compliance report due

*The March 31, 2026 deadline introduced through SEBI’s December 2025 clarification is not a full compliance or audit completion deadline. Instead, it is a readiness and status reporting requirement.

By this date, SEBI expects regulated entities to submit a platform-wise Digital Accessibility Readiness and Compliance Status Report outlining where they currently stand in their accessibility journey. This includes details such as the list of investor-facing digital platforms, whether accessibility audits have been initiated or completed, key issues identified, remediation plans, and expected timelines for achieving compliance.

Importantly, this requirement replaces the earlier rigid deadline to appoint IAAP-certified accessibility auditors. SEBI has intentionally shifted the focus from a checkbox-based auditor appointment to demonstrable progress, governance, and intent to comply.

The reporting authority for IAs and RAs has also been modified from BASL and SEBI respectively, to BSE Ltd. for both IAs and RAs. The updated reporting authorities for compliance with the Digital Accessibility circular are as follows:

Regulated Entity	Reporting Authority
Stock Brokers/ Depository Participants	Stock Exchanges / Depositories
Investment Advisor (“IAs”) and Research Analysts (“RAs”)	BSE Ltd.
MIIs and the rest of the REs	SEBI

Why is this a big deal?

Until now, digital accessibility in India’s financial sector was largely a good-to-have.

Some forward-thinking institutions took steps to make their platforms inclusive, but there was no legal push.

That changes today.

SEBI’s circular officially moves accessibility from voluntary to mandatory, bringing India in line with global trends where regulators in the US, UK, EU, and Australia already enforce digital accessibility laws.

For millions of investors with disabilities, inaccessible platforms create unnecessary barriers to participation in financial markets.

SEBI’s directive ensures:

Equal access to market data, trading tools, and investment opportunities.
Compliance with national law (RPwD Act 2016) and recognition of accessibility as a right.
Improved brand reputation and trust for regulated entities that demonstrate inclusivity.
Reduced legal and regulatory risk by aligning with mandatory accessibility standards.

Who does this impact?

SEBI regulates a massive ecosystem:

Stock exchanges
Mutual funds and asset management companies
Brokers, investment advisors, and portfolio managers
Credit rating agencies
Depositories
Clearing corporations
Research analysts
And more…

If you are regulated by SEBI, your digital presence must comply.

What’s at stake if you ignore this?

Regulatory penalties: Failing to comply could result in warnings, fines, or other SEBI enforcement actions.
Loss of customers: People with disabilities (and their families) form a huge part of your customer base. They will move to accessible competitors.
Loss of investor trust and Reputation damage: Accessibility lawsuits and bad press can erode brand trust faster than you think.
Reputation damage: Accessibility lawsuits and bad press can erode brand trust faster than you think.
Missed opportunities: Accessibility also improves usability for all customers, including older adults, people on slow networks, or those using assistive technology.

What you should do NOW

Audit your platforms: Websites, mobile apps, portals, trading platforms, check them against WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA standards.
Fix critical barriers: Prioritise issues that block basic access for people with disabilities.
Train your teams: Your developers, designers, and content teams need accessibility know-how.
Embed accessibility into your processes: Make it part of your design, development, and procurement workflows.
Governance: Appoint a nodal officer, publish their contact details, and enable a grievance reporting channel for accessibility issues.
Document compliance: Keep records, VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates), and audit reports ready for SEBI or other authorities.

Final thoughts

This SEBI mandate is not just about ticking a compliance box; it’s about making the financial system inclusive for everyone.

Accessibility isn’t charity.

It’s smart business, it’s good UX, and now, it is the law.

If your organisation hasn’t started its accessibility journey yet, this is your wake-up call.

The clock is ticking. Act now, or risk being left behind.

Need help making your platforms accessible?

At DigitalA11Y, we’ve helped financial institutions meet WCAG standards, pass regulatory audits, and improve the customer experience for everyone.

Let’s make your platforms compliant and inclusive.

Make your website or app accessible to everyone.

Contact DigitalA11Y today for a free quote!

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One Comment

Bureau Toegankelijkheid says:
September 30, 2025 at 4:28 am
Great breakdown! It’s clear that SEBI is finally putting accessibility front and center. This isn’t just compliance, it’s a big step towards more inclusive finance in India.

SEBI Mandates Digital Accessibility Across Financial Industry in India

What does SEBI’s mandate mean?

What this means for your business?