Published: October 30, 2026
Category: SEBI Compliance | AIF Compliance
Regulatory Update: SEBI Circular dated October 30, 2026
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), through its circular dated October 30, 2026, has extended the timeline for certain digital accessibility compliance requirements applicable to SEBI-regulated entities.
The revised deadline is January 31, 2027, providing regulated entities additional time to appoint qualified accessibility auditors, conduct accessibility audits of their digital platforms and implement corrective measures arising from those audits.
1. What Has SEBI Announced?
SEBI has received representations from regulated entities requesting additional time to comply with the digital accessibility requirements introduced under its earlier circulars concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the rules made thereunder.
After reviewing the representations and compliance status, SEBI has granted an extension for the following activities:
Appointment of IAAP Auditor: Appointment of an accessibility auditor associated with the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
Conduct of Accessibility Audit: Completion of accessibility audits covering the digital platforms of regulated entities.
Remediation of Audit Findings: Rectification of accessibility issues and deficiencies identified during the audit.
All three activities must now be completed by January 31, 2027.
2. Does the Extension Apply to AIF Managers?
The circular is addressed to registered intermediaries and other regulated entities. AIF managers should assess their applicability under the underlying SEBI digital accessibility circulars and their regulatory classification.
For applicable entities, digital platforms used for investor-facing and other regulated activities should be evaluated for accessibility compliance.
This may include:
Official fund and investment manager websites.
Investor portals and digital interfaces.
Online investor onboarding workflows.
Digital documentation and communication interfaces.
3. What Remains Unchanged?
An important clarification in the October 30 circular is that all other provisions of the earlier digital accessibility circulars remain unchanged.
The extension is limited to the appointment of the IAAP auditor, conducting accessibility audits and remediation of audit findings.
Regulated entities should therefore not interpret this extension as a blanket postponement of all digital accessibility obligations.
4. Recommended Action Plan for AIF Managers
AIF managers and other applicable regulated entities should use the extended timeline to establish a structured compliance programme.
ActivityRecommended actionApplicability assessmentIdentify applicable digital accessibility obligationsPlatform assessmentIdentify websites and digital platforms requiring evaluationAuditor appointmentEngage an appropriately qualified IAAP auditorAccessibility auditConduct the required auditGap assessmentDocument accessibility deficienciesRemediationRectify findings identified during the auditCompliance documentationMaintain audit reports and supporting evidence
Entities should plan their implementation well ahead of the January 31, 2027 deadline.
5. Reference: SEBI Circular
Circular Number: HO/53/12/13(2)2026-ITD5-M2IPC/I/24856/2026
Date: October 30, 2026
Subject: Extension of timeline with respect to compliance of Digital Accessibility Circulars.
The circular refers to the following earlier SEBI communications:
July 31, 2025
August 29, 2025
September 25, 2025
December 8, 2025
July 31, 2026
Conclusion
The extension until January 31, 2027 provides SEBI-regulated entities additional time to complete their digital accessibility audits and remediation.
However, the extension should not be viewed as a reason to delay compliance planning. AIF managers and other applicable regulated entities should begin their assessments, auditor engagement and remediation activities to ensure timely compliance.
Need assistance with SEBI Digital Accessibility Compliance?
AIF Services assists AIF managers and regulated entities with digital accessibility compliance, accessibility assessments, audit coordination, documentation and remediation support.
Contact AIF Services to understand the applicable requirements and plan your compliance roadmap.