Description

SEBI circular requiring all regulated entities and their agents to prominently disclose their registered name and SEBI registration number on social media platform handles and at the beginning of all securities market content uploaded online.

Summary

SEBI has issued circular HO/(79)2026-MIRSD-PODMMC dated February 26, 2026 under the Ease of Doing Investment (EoDI) initiative. It mandates that all SEBI-regulated entities and their agents disclose their registered name and SEBI registration number prominently on their social media platform (SMP) handles and at the start of every piece of securities market-related content they upload or post online.

Key Points

  • All SEBI-regulated entities must display their registered name and registration number on the home page of their social media handles (e.g., YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, Threads, Telegram, Reddit).
  • Registration details must also appear at the beginning of each video, short, or content piece uploaded that relates to the securities market.
  • Entities with a single SEBI registration must state the registered name and number directly on their social media handle home page.
  • Entities with multiple SEBI registrations must provide a weblink on their home page directing to their website listing all registered names and numbers; each individual piece of content must disclose the specific capacity in which it is being posted.
  • Agents of regulated entities (e.g., mutual fund distributors, PMS distributors) are also covered and must disclose their own registration details similarly.
  • This applies to content in both closed groups and publicly available groups on any SMP.

Regulatory Changes

  • New compliance obligation introduced under the EoDI framework for social media conduct by SEBI-regulated entities.
  • Builds upon the existing code of conduct under respective SEBI regulations (Section 12 of the SEBI Act, 1992).
  • Definition of ‘persons regulated by the Board’ references Chapter IIIA - Explanation 1, Regulation 16A of SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations, 2008.

Compliance Requirements

  • Stock Brokers (SBs), Depository Participants (DPs), RTAs, Investment Advisers (IAs), Research Analysts (RAs), InvITs, REITs, SMREITs, AIFs, Portfolio Managers (PMs), CIS, Mutual Funds/AMCs/AMFI, and all other SEBI-regulated persons must:
    1. Display SEBI registered name and registration number on the home page of all social media handles used for securities market content.
    2. Include the same at the beginning of every video/content/short uploaded on those handles.
  • Entities with multiple registrations must maintain a dedicated webpage listing all registrations and link to it from social media handles.
  • Agents acting on behalf of regulated entities must similarly disclose their own agent registration credentials.

Important Dates

  • Circular date: February 26, 2026.
  • No explicit future deadline stated in the extracted content; entities should review the full circular for any implementation timeline.

Impact Assessment

  • Operational impact: Wide-ranging across the entire ecosystem of SEBI-regulated intermediaries with a social media presence. Entities will need to update profile pages, video templates, and content workflows.
  • Investor protection: Enables retail investors to verify that content creators are legitimate SEBI-registered entities, reducing risk from unregistered advice or fraudulent impersonation.
  • Market impact: No direct trading or market microstructure impact; purely a conduct and disclosure requirement.
  • Compliance risk: Failure to comply could constitute a breach of the applicable code of conduct under SEBI regulations.

Impact Justification

Broad compliance directive affecting all SEBI-regulated intermediaries active on social media; no immediate market or trading impact, but requires operational changes to social media practices across a wide set of entities.