NSE Circular: Submission of Initial Accessibility Audit Report for Digital Platforms

Description

NSE directs all Trading Members to submit their Initial Accessibility Audit Report for digital platforms on the ENIT portal by April 30, 2026, in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Summary

NSE has directed all Trading Members to submit their Initial Accessibility Audit Report for digital platforms by April 30, 2026, via the ENIT portal. This is in compliance with SEBI Circular No. SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/131 (dated September 25, 2025) and Exchange Circular NSE/COMP/70464 (dated September 26, 2025) relating to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

Key Points

• All Trading Members must submit the Initial Accessibility Audit Report for digital platforms to NSE by April 30, 2026.
• Submission must be made on the ENIT portal under: ENIT → NEW-Compliance → Compliance → Compliance with RPwD Act, 2016 → RPwD Submission.
• The audit must be conducted by an IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) Certified Accessibility Professional or Firm.
• The consolidated signed audit report must be uploaded in PDF format (max 100 MB).
• Key Findings, Action Plan/Timelines for Remediation, and Digital Platforms Covered are mandatory fields.
• For support, members can contact helpdesk at 1800 266 0050 (IVR option 3) or email memcompliance_support@nse.co.in.

Regulatory Changes

This circular implements requirements from:

• SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/ITD-1/ITD_VIAP/P/CIR/2025/131 dated September 25, 2025 — mandating compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 for all SEBI-regulated entities.
• Exchange Circular NSE/COMP/70464 dated September 26, 2025 — NSE’s original communication on RPwD Act compliance requirements for Trading Members.

Compliance Requirements

Trading Members are required to:

1. Log in to the ENIT Member Portal and navigate to: ENIT → NEW-Compliance → Compliance → Compliance with RPwD Act, 2016 → RPwD Submission.
2. Select Financial Year 2025-2026.
3. Under the ‘Initial Accessibility Audit Report for Digital Platforms’ tab, select Yes and fill in the following mandatory fields:
   • Name of IAAP Certified Accessibility Professional or Firm.
   • Date of Completion of Audit.
   • Digital Platforms Covered (Websites, Mobile Apps, Portals, etc.) — upload PDF with terms of reference and scope (file name: MemberCode_DDMMYYYY, max 100 MB).
   • Key Findings/Observations (summary from auditor, max 5000 words).
   • Consolidated signed audit report in PDF (max 100 MB).
   • Action Plan/Timelines for Remediation (max 5000 words).
4. Click Submit Request to complete the submission.

Important Dates

Impact Assessment

This circular has a moderate operational impact on all Trading Members. Every member with digital platforms (websites, mobile apps, portals) must engage an IAAP-certified professional to conduct an accessibility audit and submit findings by April 30, 2026. Non-compliance may attract regulatory action under the RPwD Act, 2016. The requirement is part of a broader SEBI initiative to ensure that financial market infrastructure is accessible to persons with disabilities. There is no direct market or price impact, but all Trading Members face an imminent compliance deadline with significant documentation and portal submission requirements.

Impact Justification

Mandatory compliance deadline (April 30, 2026) affecting all Trading Members for digital accessibility audits under the RPwD Act, 2016. Operationally significant but not market-moving.