Sebi Issues New Guidelines To Make KYC Process More Accessible For Persons With Disabilities

Sebi KYC Norms: Market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) announced that it has released new information regarding KYC norms to ensure equal access to the services of its registered intermediaries for persons with disabilities, including persons with visual impairments.

The market regulator said in a release that it has updated the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) on account opening for people with disabilities.

“SEBI is committed to the cause of enabling equal access of services of its registered intermediaries to persons with disabilities, including persons with visual impairments and to make the digital KYC process inclusive and accessible, FAQ on account opening by persons with disabilities has been revised,” Sebi said.

Notably, the revision of FAQs follows a Supreme Court judgment dated April 30, 2025, in which the apex court emphasised the need for equal and accessible inclusion of people with disabilities in availing financial services. The court also directed Sebi to ensure that the digital KYC process for demat account opening is made accessible to persons with disabilities.

The regulator, in turn, has urged market intermediaries to follow the FAQs released by it. In the FAQs, Sebi has said that an account-based relationship can be performed in the name of persons with disabilities. The market regulator also said that people with disabilities who are unable to sign for themselves will be allowed to open their accounts with the signature of their legal guardian.

Other key measures aimed at increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities include the extension of the provision of online KYC to persons with disabilities. The market regulator has said that if the client requests, the market intermediary can extend their assistance for video capturing in a live environment to ease the digital KYC process for people with disabilities.

Sebi has also extended the option of signing by way of thumb impression for digital KYC to persons with disabilities. The market regulator mentioned in the FAQs that documents along with the wet or cropped signature have to be e-signed and uploaded as a part of the KYC process. Notably, the thumb impression of the investor can also be accepted in a similar manner for the digital KYC process, provided the page is e-signed along with all documents.