Markets regulator SEBI on Friday, July 31, 2026, issued a new circular extending the deadline for regulated entities to complete digital accessibility audits and resolve platform issues until October 31, 2026. The circular (reference HO/(411)2026-ITD-5) was issued to all recognised stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, registered intermediaries, AMFI, APMI, and BSE Limited in its role as the Research Analyst Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB) and Investment Adviser Administration and Supervisory Body (IAASB). This latest extension builds upon the original deadline of April 30, 2026, with the remediation timeline now set for October 31, 2026. The extension specifically covers conducting the Accessibility Audit of digital platforms and remediating the findings from that audit, while all other provisions across the four referenced circulars remain in force on their original timeline.
SEBI has also granted a new extension for investment advisers and research analysts regarding their enrollment with the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA). The regulator extended the deadline from August 3, 2026 to September 3, 2026, allowing participants more time to finalize their registrations and facilitating a more seamless rollout of the performance data framework. Under SEBI's framework, investment advisers and research analysts wishing to communicate certified past performance data to existing or prospective clients are required to enroll with PaRRVA. Those failing to enroll within the prescribed period would not be permitted to communicate certified past performance data to clients. PaRRVA became operational on May 4, 2025, and SEBI had stipulated in October 2025 that IAs and RAs seeking to communicate such performance data must enroll within three months of its operationalisation. The extension follows representations from industry participants and PaRRVA seeking more time for enrollment, with SEBI stating after due consideration, it decided to extend the timeline until September 3, 2026 with the objective of facilitating a smooth and seamless implementation of the framework.
In July 2025, SEBI issued a circular mandating all regulated entities to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to persons with disabilities. The regulatory framework requires entities to complete comprehensive digital accessibility audits and implement necessary remediation measures to achieve full compliance with disability access requirements. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, compliance is mandatory for all regulated entities, including Research Analysts, Investment Advisers, stock brokers, depository participants, mutual funds and portfolio managers. Non-compliance with mandatory SEBI requirements can expose registered entities to regulatory action, while inaccessible sites create genuine barriers for investors with disabilities. SEBI's push to make market-facing digital platforms compliant with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 has been building since mid-2025, across a series of four circulars. The move was aimed at fostering inclusivity in financial services and ensuring investors with disabilities have equal access to market infrastructure.
The extension was announced following formal requests from industry stakeholders who required more time to meet the legal requirements of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. The circular specifically applies to all SEBI-registered entities including Research Analysts, Investment Advisers, stock brokers, depository participants, mutual funds and portfolio managers. This extended timeline provides the industry with additional time to ensure compliance with the regulatory mandate for disability-friendly digital platforms, with the October 31, 2026 deadline applying specifically to conducting the Accessibility Audit and remediating audit findings. SEBI received representations from regulated entities asking for more time, reviewed where compliance actually stood, and has now granted a targeted extension — not a blanket one, acknowledging that audits plus remediation, done properly, take longer than the original schedule assumed, especially for entities auditing platforms they didn't originally design with accessibility standards in mind.
