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SEBI Website Accessibility Audit Deadline Extended to 31 October 2026

Published 31 July 2026 · By Arihant Intellect · SEBI compliance

On 31 July 2026, SEBI issued a circular extending the timeline for digital accessibility compliance. If you are a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (RA), Investment Adviser (IA) or any other regulated entity, your website must now be audited for accessibility and the findings remediated by 31 October 2026. Here is exactly what the circular says and what you need to do.

In one line: Every SEBI Regulated Entity must conduct an accessibility audit of its website / digital platforms and fix the issues found by 31 October 2026 — it is no longer optional.

What the SEBI circular says

The circular (reference HO/(411)2026-ITD-5, dated 31 July 2026) 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). In summary:

  1. SEBI's earlier accessibility circulars — issued under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 — make digital accessibility mandatory for all Regulated Entities (REs).
  2. SEBI received representations from REs requesting more time to comply.
  3. Accordingly, the deadline for the "conduct of accessibility audit for the digital platforms and remediation of findings from the audit" is extended to 31 October 2026.
  4. All other provisions of the earlier circulars remain unchanged and must be complied with.

Who does this apply to?

Every SEBI Regulated Entity — including Research Analysts, Investment Advisers, stock brokers, depository participants, mutual funds and portfolio managers. If you hold a SEBI registration and run a public-facing website, this applies to you.

What is web accessibility (and why WCAG)?

Web accessibility means your website can be used by people with disabilities — those using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, or who need larger text and higher contrast. The globally recognised benchmark is WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). An accessibility audit checks your site against WCAG and lists what must be fixed (remediation).

What you must do before 31 October 2026

  1. Get an accessibility audit of your website / digital platforms against WCAG (ideally by qualified, IAAP-certified accessibility auditors).
  2. Remediate the findings — fix every issue the audit raises so the site conforms.
  3. Keep it accessible going forward, as SEBI's other accessibility provisions continue to apply.
The cost trap most RAs miss: a full accessibility audit and remediation of a site that was not built for accessibility can run into tens of thousands of rupees. If your site is built to WCAG from day one, the audit becomes a quick conformance check — you avoid the expensive remediation entirely.

How Arihant Intellect helps you comply

We build compliance-ready websites only for SEBI-registered RAs and IAs — and every site we build is WCAG-accessible from day one. That means when your site goes for its IAAP accessibility audit, it clears it with an "Excellent" rating and no costly remediation. Every site also ships with a free built-in accessibility toolbar (read-aloud, high contrast, bigger text, and more) — the kind other providers rent for $50–$100 a year.

We also give you the SEBI disclosures your registration requires: the key circulars, an interactive compliance checklist, the investor charter, on-site complaints data and disclaimers — all built in.

Beat the 31 October 2026 deadline

Get a WCAG-accessible, SEBI-ready website that passes the audit the first time.

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Frequently asked questions

Is website accessibility mandatory for SEBI RAs?

Yes. Under SEBI's digital accessibility circulars (issued pursuant to the RPwD Act, 2016), compliance is mandatory for all Regulated Entities, including Research Analysts and Investment Advisers.

What is the deadline?

31 October 2026, for conducting the accessibility audit of your digital platforms and remediating the findings (per SEBI's circular dated 31 July 2026).

What if I don't comply?

Non-compliance with a mandatory SEBI requirement can expose a registered entity to regulatory action. Beyond that, an inaccessible site is a genuine barrier for investors with disabilities.

Source: SEBI circular on "Extension of timelines with respect to compliance of Digital Accessibility Circulars", dated 31 July 2026 — available on the official SEBI website, sebi.gov.in under Legal → Circulars. This article is an informational summary by Arihant Intellect (a technology and web-services provider, not a SEBI-registered intermediary) and is not legal or compliance advice; always verify the current circular on sebi.gov.in and consult your compliance officer.