On Sep. 21, 2026, IND NSD clarified, in consultation with IND SEBI, that all DPs' digital platforms are subject to an accessibility audit by an IAAP-certified professional.
For investor-facing platforms used for DP operations without customization affecting accessibility, DPs may rely on their vendor's accessibility audit report/certificate.
If the DP relies on the vendor’s report, the vendor must issue a covering letter with platform details, auditor details, and a copy of the report.
DPs may submit the vendor’s report with the status of audit findings; where applicable, the system audit must check that a vendor certificate covers the standard platform version without relevant customization.
For platforms unique or customized to a DP, the DP must independently commission its own accessibility audit through an IAAP-certified professional.
Vendors face no regulatory obligation to provide an audit report; DPs may also choose not to rely on a vendor's report and commission their own instead.
Ultimate compliance responsibility rests solely with the DP, regardless of whether the platform is developed in-house or procured from a vendor.
DPs must submit both the initial audit report and the final report covering remediation of findings to IND NSD by Oct. 31, 2026.
Document dated Sep. 21, 2026, received from IND NSD Sep. 22, summarized on Sep. 24.
On Jul. 31, IND SEBI said compliance mandatory for regulated entities.
IND SEBI published circular on Rights of persons with disabilities act, 2016 (RPwD act, 2016) and mandatory compliance with rules required for all regulated entities.
Follows IND SEBI May 2025, circular on digital KYC for the disabled, see #255775.
Compliance with PwD Rules
To protect rights of persons with disabilities and ensure their full participation in securities market, they must have access to regulated entities' digital platforms.
Regulated entity (RE) refers to IND SEBI-registered intermediaries such as stockbrokers, mutual funds, KYC registration agencies, and market infrastructure institutions.
All digital platforms must comply with RPwD act provisions and corresponding rules.
Applies to specific sections: S 40 accessibility; S 42 access to information and communication technology; S 46 time limit for accessibility by service providers; plus rule 15(1)(c) Rights of persons with disabilities rules, 2017 - rules for accessibility.
Circular contains an annexure on compliance directions; compliance reporting under provisions is on an annual basis within 30 days from the end of each financial year.
REs shall provide updates on the status of implementation of accessibility provisions on all their digital platforms, specifically in accordance to the milestones stipulated.
Effectiveness
Applies to all regulated entities from the date of circular, i.e., on Jul. 31, 2025.
Aug. 2025 Extension of Timeline
On Aug. 29, 2025, IND SEBI extended compliance timelines, update of reporting authority for investment advisers (IAs) and research analysts (RAs).
Regulated entities have until Sep. 30, 2025 to submit compliance reports and lists of digital platforms, and until Dec. 14, 2025 to appoint International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)-certified accessibility auditors.
They have until Apr. 30, 2026 to conduct accessibility audits, and until Jul. 31, 2026 to remediate findings; annual compliance deadline has been shifted to Apr. 30, 2027.
Stock brokers and depository participants (DPs) will report to their respective exchanges or depositories, investment advisers and research analysts will report to IND BSE, and all other entities will continue reporting to IND SEBI.
Sep. 2025 Compliance Guidelines
On Sep. 25, 2025, IND SEBI issued circular outlining compliance guidelines for digital accessibility as per the circular on Rights of persons with disabilities act, 2016 above.
These compliance guidelines are applicable to all the REs that are required to directly submit compliance to IND SEBI.
Dec. 2025 Digital Accessibility Requirements
On Dec. 8, 2025, IND SEBI issued a circular clarifying the digital accessibility of its circulars in digital platforms of REs.
An investor’s right to have digital accessibility will be included in the respective investor charters applicable to various REs.
A submission of a status of readiness and compliance to the accessibility requirements must be submitted by Mar. 31, 2026.
Investors facing accessibility-related issues on digital platforms of REs should lodge complaints against REs on IND SEBI complaints redress system (SCORES).
All REs shall conduct periodic accessibility audits of their digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps, and portals through certified accessibility professionals.
Mar. 9, 2026 IND CDSL Submission Instructions
On Mar. 9, 2026, IND CDSL advised DPs to submit the status of their readiness and compliance with the accessibility requirements for their digital platforms by Mar. 31, 2026.
The detailed procedure for submission is provided in annexure A.
Mar. 24, 2026 IND CDSL Clarification
On Mar. 24, 2026, IND CDSL issued a clarification on the scope and manner of submission.
Wherever a supporting document is uploaded, it shall comprise of a report duly signed by a certified accessibility professional.
DPs may edit or delete the row referred to in clause 7 of annexure A, including modification or deletion of the supporting document, as applicable.
Apr. 28, 2026 IND CDSL Report Submission
On Apr. 28, 2026, IND CDSL issued a circular reminding DPs to submit the initial accessibility audit report for digital platforms to the depository by Apr. 30, 2026.
These should be submitted through the AuditWeb portal.
DPs must note the compliance requirement and ensure timely submission.
Apr. 28, 2026 IND NSD Report Submission
On Apr. 28, 2026, IND NSD reminded participants to submit the initial accessibility audit report for digital platforms to IND NSD by Apr. 30, 2026.
Participants are advised to submit the report by email in the prescribed format enclosed as Annexure A of the circular.
Participants shall ensure that the accessibility auditor comprehensively covers all applicable digital platforms within the scope of the audit.
The auditor's certification details (IAAP ID / certificate number) as well as the auditor’s contact information in the signed audit report must also be included.
Document dated Apr. 28, 2026, received from IND NSD Apr. 29, summarized on May 4.
Jun. 2026 Reminder of Deadline
On Jun. 4, 2026, IND CDSL reminded that the deadline to ensure remediation of findings from the audit and ensuring compliance with IND SEBI circular dated Jul. 31, 2025 above is Jul. 31, 2026.
Jul. 1, 2026 Submission of Final Accessibility Audit
On Jul. 1, 2026, IND CDSL reminded DPs to submit the final accessibility audit report for each digital platform through the AuditWeb portal by Jul. 31, 2026.
DPs shall ensure that the accessibility auditor covers all applicable digital platforms within the audit including websites, mobile applications, portals, and similar interfaces.
DPs are advised to include the accessibility auditor's certification details along with the auditor's contact information in the signed audit report.
Document dated Jul. 1, 2026, received from IND CDSL Jul. 2, summarized Jul. 7.
Jul. 9, 2026 System Enhancements
On Jul. 9, 2026, IND CDSL announced additional system enhancements to capture details of mentally disabled persons, tentatively effective on Jul. 31, 2026.
On Jul. 17, 2026, IND BSE clarified that all digital platforms of trading members (TMs) shall be subject to an accessibility audit.
For standard/shared platforms used across multiple TMs without customization, TMs may coordinate with the respective platform/application vendors to obtain the requisite accessibility audit report/certificate from an IAAP-certified accessibility professional.
Vendors shall provide a covering letter and a copy of the accessibility audit report to TM who shall submit the accessibility audit report in accordance with IND SEBI's circular.
For customized digital platforms/applications, TMs must independently commission their own accessibility audit through an IAAP-certified accessibility professional.
Ultimate compliance responsibility stays with the TMs.
TMs shall submit the final accessibility audit report by Jul. 31, 2026.
Document dated Jul. 17, 2026, received from IND BSE Jul. 21, summarized Jul. 24.
Jul. 29, 2026 IND CDSL UDIFF Catalog Changes
On Jul. 29, 2026, IND CDSL issued a communique on changes to the UDIFF catalog (version 3.0.1.2), advising DPs to incorporate necessary changes in their back-office software.
The "Mental Disability" field has been renamed "Disability" and a new standard value introduced, effective Jul. 31, 2026; file format changes have been postponed to Aug. 28, 2026.
The communique also covers other back-office (BO) upload and client master report catalog changes, including new fields and field renamings, most effective Aug. 28, 2026.
It also covers transaction upload and related system changes, including new fields and field renamings, most effective Aug. 28, 2026.
Jul. 31, 2026 Extended Timelines
On Jul. 31, 2026, IND SEBI issued circular extending timelines for compliance with digital accessibility circulars under the Rights of persons with disabilities act, 2016.
The timeline for REs to conduct accessibility audits for digital platforms and remediate audit findings is extended to Oct. 31, 2026.
Sep. 18, 2026 IND CDSL Compliance Guidelines
On Sep. 18, 2026, IND CDSL clarified that all digital platforms of DPs are subject to an accessibility audit conducted by an IAAP-certified accessibility auditor.
For investor facing digital platforms used to conduct DP operations, DPs may coordinate with application vendors to obtain the requisite accessibility audit report.
For unique or customized digital platforms, DPs shall continue to undertake an independent accessibility audit through an IAAP-certified auditor to ensure compliance.
DPs may choose not to rely upon the vendor's accessibility audit report and may instead engage an IAAP-certified auditor of its own choice.
The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with relevant rules and regulations shall solely vest with the concerned DPs.
DPs shall submit both initial and final accessibility audit reports by Oct. 31, 2026.
Sep. 21, 2026 IND NSD Vendor Audit Clarification
On Sep. 21, 2026, IND NSD clarified, in consultation with IND SEBI, that all DPs' digital platforms are subject to an accessibility audit by an IAAP-certified professional.
For investor-facing platforms used for DP operations without customization affecting accessibility, DPs may rely on their vendor's accessibility audit report/certificate.
If the DP relies on the vendor’s report, the vendor must issue a covering letter with platform details, auditor details, and a copy of the report.
DPs may submit the vendor’s report with the status of audit findings; where applicable, the system audit must check that a vendor certificate covers the standard platform version without relevant customization.
For platforms unique or customized to a DP, the DP must independently commission its own accessibility audit through an IAAP-certified professional.
Vendors face no regulatory obligation to provide an audit report; DPs may also choose not to rely on a vendor's report and commission their own instead.
Ultimate compliance responsibility rests solely with the DP, regardless of whether the platform is developed in-house or procured from a vendor.
DPs must submit both the initial audit report and the final report covering remediation of findings to IND NSD by Oct. 31, 2026.
Document dated Sep. 21, 2026, received from IND NSD Sep. 22, summarized on Sep. 24.
Regulators
IND BSE; IND CDSL; IND NSD; IND SEBI
Entity Types
Auditor; B/D; Depo; Exch; IA; Inv Co
Reference
NSDL/POLICY/2026/0137, 9/21/2026; Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/648, 9/18/2026; Cir HO/(411)2026-ITD-5_DIV2/I/17922/2026, 7/31/2026; Com CDSL/OPS/DP/POLCY/2026/511, 7/29/2026; Nt 20260717-1, 7/17/2026; Com CDSL/OPS/DP/POLCY/2026/461, 7/9/2026; (Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/440, 7/1/2026; Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/376, 6/4/2026; Com NSDL/POLICY/2026/0065, Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/287 4/28/2026; Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/206, 3/24/2026; Com CDSL/AUDIT/DP/POLCY/2026/162, 3/9/2026; Cir HO/13/19/13(2)2025-ITD-1_VIAP/I/187/2025, 12/8/2025; Cir SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/131, 9/25/2025; Cir SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/121, 8/29/2025; Cir SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/111, 7/31/2025; ESG;
