Dear Reader,

SEBI’s July 2025 circular has made digital accessibility compliance mandatory for all regulated entities under the RPwD Act, 2016. This spans everything from corporate websites to mobile apps, onboarding journeys, investor dashboards, reports, and even third-party integrated systems.

As the deadlines approach, entities must ensure not only accessibility but also audit-grade documentation, PwD usability testing, and strict adherence to timelines.

🚨 Upcoming Critical Deadline: 14th December 2025 – IAAP Auditor Appointment

As per the latest extensions in SEBI’s compliance schedule:

• IAAP-certified Accessibility Auditor Appointment
  Original Date: Sept 14, 2025
  Extended Date: Dec 14, 2025

This means 14th December is the final deadline to submit your IAAP Engagement Letter to SEBI.

👉 If you haven’t appointed an IAAP-certified auditor yet, this is your last window to comply.
👉 We can assist you end-to-end through our partnered IAAP auditors and ensure your engagement letter is in the correct SEBI-acceptable format.

🔍 What Does SEBI Require? – A Quick Snapshot

SEBI mandates a strict sequence of filings:

1. Initial Disclosure (Within 1 Month)

List of all investor-facing digital platforms + compliance statement.

2. IAAP Auditor Appointment (Within 45 Days / New deadline: 14 Dec)

Submission of appointment letter / contract of an IAAP-certified professional.

3. Accessibility Audit (Within 3 Months → Extended to Apr 30, 2026)

Audit must include:

• WCAG 2.1

• GIGW

• IS 17802

• RPwD Act

• PwD usability testing evidence.

4. Remediation & Proof (Within 6 Months → July 31, 2026)

Before/after screenshots, test logs, remediation evidence.

5. Annual Reporting (Next FY → Apr 30, 2027)

Submission to Stock Exchanges / BASL / SEBI.

📌 What Platforms Fall Under SEBI's Digital Accessibility Scope?

SEBI explicitly includes:

A. Corporate Websites

Homepages, investor relations, downloadable PDFs, forms, disclosures.

B. Investor Onboarding & KYC

e-KYC, video-KYC, registration portals, self-service KYC.

C. Transactions & Portfolio Journeys

Client login, dashboards, NAV/performance, online transactions.

D. Mobile Apps (iOS/Android)

Portfolio view, statements, support, helpdesk.

E. Digital Reports & Communication

Online grievance forms, investor notices, annual/semi-annual reports.

F. Third-Party Integrations

KRA agencies, custodians, payment gateways, SaaS tools.

⚠️ Why This Matters: Penalties & Regulatory Scrutiny

• Courts have fined 96+ entities for non-compliance with online norms.

• 155+ establishments have already been penalized for failing digital accessibility standards.

• Supreme Court has mandated strict enforcement of accessibility provisions.

Non-compliance risks include:

• SEBI scrutiny

• Monetary penalties

• Public orders

• Reputational impact

• Exclusion of investors with disabilities (5–10% of users)

🤖 How OnFinance AI Ensures 100% SEBI-Grade Compliance

We’ve built India’s first BFSI-focused Compliance AI Co-Pilot – NeoGPT, acting as an automated Accessibility Compliance Officer for your organisation.

Our Capabilities Include:

✔ Automated Platform Scans

AI crawls websites, apps, portals to detect accessibility gaps instantly.

✔ SEBI Deadline Checklist Engine

All SEBI milestones (1m, 45d, 3m, 6m, annual) mapped into actionable tasks.

✔ Standards Mapping

WCAG 2.1 + GIGW + IS 17802 + RPwD Act alignment.

✔ Audit Evidence Pack Builder

Generates before/after screenshots, PwD test logs, remediation proof.

✔ PwD Usability Integration

Structured feedback from real users with disabilities.

✔ Compliance Dashboard

Org-wide SEBI compliance status across all digital properties.

✔ Task Management & Escalations

Auto-tracking deadlines, reminders, and escalations to ensure nothing slips.

⏳ What You Should Do Now

Here’s your priority list for the week:

1️⃣ Finalise your IAAP-certified accessibility auditor

Deadline: 14 December 2025 (mandatory, non-negotiable)

2️⃣ Submit the IAAP Engagement Letter to SEBI

3️⃣ Begin Scoping the Full Accessibility Audit

Across all platforms listed earlier.

4️⃣ Use OnFinance AI’s Compliance Agent to automate 75% of the effort

We provide:

• IAAP auditor partnership

• SEBI-compliant templates

• Automated audit assistance

• Remediation tracking

• PwD usability workflows

📞 Need Help? We're Here.

We can fast-track your IAAP engagement letter, appoint an auditor within 24 hours, and initiate the SEBI-mandated audit process immediately.

📧 [email protected]
📞 +91 7233089282