SEBI Mandates Social Media Disclosure of Registration Details to Curb Unregistered Content

By Circular dated 26 February 2026, SEBI mandated that all entities regulated under Section 12 of the SEBI Act, 1992 and their agents must prominently disclose their registered name and SEBI registration number on social media platforms (SMPs) when posting securities market-related content. The requirement applies to stock brokers, depository participants, RTAs, investment advisers, research analysts, mutual funds, AIFs, portfolio managers, REITs, InvITs, CIS and other regulated persons. Entities with single registration must display their registered name and number on the home page and at the beginning of each relevant content piece. Entities with multiple registrations must provide a web link listing all registrations on their home page and disclose the relevant registration at the beginning of specific content. Agents must disclose both the principal entity’s and their own registration details. The circular, issued under Section 11(1), takes effect from May 1, 2026 to enhance transparency and investor protection.

Securities and Exchange Board of India

Circular No. HO/ (79)2026-MIRSD-PODMMC 26-02-2026

To,
All Stock Brokers (SBs)
All depository Participants (DPs)
All Registrar to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs)
All Investment Advisers (IAs)
All Research Analysts (RAs)
All Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)
All Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
All Small and Medium REITs (SMREITs)
All Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
All Portfolio Managers (PMs)
All Collective Investment Scheme (CIS)
All Mutual Funds (MFs)/Asset Management Companies (AMCs)/AMFI
All Portfolio Managers/ APMI
All persons regulated by the Board

Madam/ Sir,

Sub: Ease of Doing Investment (EoDI)- Disclosure of registered name and registration number by SEBI regulated entities and their agents on Social Media Platforms (SMPs)

1. All intermediaries registered under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 are required to abide by the code of conduct provided under respective regulations.

2. With the rapid increase in the use and acceptance of social media, a need is felt to distinguish contents related to securities market uploaded/posted by the persons regulated by the Board (hereafter referred to as ‘regulated entities’) and their agents on SMPs, from the contents uploaded/posted by other unregistered persons. This would enable the investor to identify that the content on the SMP(s) is uploaded by a SEBI regulated entity or its agent. Thus, ensuring ease of investments for investors in the securities market.

3. For the purpose of this circular:

a. persons regulated by the Board’ shall have the same meaning as defined under Chapter IIIA- Explanation 1 of Regulation 16A, of SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations, 2008.

b. content (which relates to the securities market) uploaded on SMPs includes content/videos published/broadcasted/uploaded/posted on any SMP (whether in closed groups or publicly available groups) like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Linked In, Threads, Telegram, Reddit etc.

4. In order to strengthen the conduct of regulated entities, increase transparency and strengthen investor protection in the securities market, it has been decided that the regulated entities and their agents shall ensure compliance with the following, with respect to uploading/posting content on SMPs:

4.1 Information/disclosures in the social media content:

i. Regulated entities and their agents (mutual fund distributors, distributors of portfolio management services etc.) shall prominently disclose their registered name and registration number on the home page of their social media handles as well as at the beginning of each of the videos/content (which relate to the securities market) uploaded by them.

Regulated entities:

ii. In case of an entity having single registration with SEBI:

a. The SEBI registered name and registration number shall be stated on the home page near the name of the social media handle on the SMP which is being used for hosting/broadcasting/ publishing/ uploading/posting contents (related to the securities market) as well as in the beginning of each video/shorts/content etc. uploaded by them on their handles.

ii. In case of an entity having multiple registrations with SEBI:

a. On the home page of their handles- A weblink directing to the website of the registered intermediary listing all the SEBI registered names and registration numbers shall be provided.

b. In the beginning of each video/ content uploaded by the entity- SEBI registered name and registration number of the entity in the capacity in which it is hosting/ broadcasting/ publishing/ uploading/posting the video/ contents, is required to be disclosed.

Agents of Regulated entities:

iv. In case of an agent of a SEBI regulated entity having single registration as an agent (related to the securities market):

a. In case of an agent of SEBI regulated entity (ies) (authorized participants, mutual fund distributors, distributors of portfolio management services etc.), SEBI registration name and registration number of the principal entity followed by the agent’s own registered name and registered number shall be stated on the home page near the name of the social media handle as well as in the beginning of each video/ content uploaded by it.

v. In case of an agent of a SEBI regulated entity having multiple registrations as an agent (related to the securities market):

a. On the home page of their handles- A weblink directing to the website of the agent listing the SEBI registration names and registration number(s) of the principal entities followed by it’s own registered names, registration numbers and the capacities in which it is registered shall be provided.

b. In the beginning of each video/ content uploaded by the agent-SEBI registered name and registration number of the principal entity to whom the content relates followed by its own registered name and registered number, shall be disclosed.

vi. For ease of understanding, the following matrix may be referred to:

*For instance:

a. In case ABC Ltd. is registered as a Stock Broker, Investment Advisor, Mutual Fund etc. it would be considered as a regulated entity with multiple registrations. ABC Ltd. would have to provide a web link (which directs to its website) listing all the SEBI registered names and registration numbers, on the home page of its social media handle. Further, in case it uploads content pertaining to its Investment Advisory business on its social media handle it shall provide its SEBI registered name and registration number as an Investment Advisor, in the beginning of the content.

b. In case QRS Ltd. is registered as a mutual fund distributor, an authorized participant, investment advisor etc, it would be considered as an agent having multiple registrations. QRS Ltd. would have to provide a web link on the home page of its social media handle, listing the SEBI registered names and registration numbers of all its principal entities followed by its own registered name(s), registration numbers and the capacities in which it is registered. In case it uploads content in the capacity of a mutual fund distributor, it shall provide the SEBI registered name and registration number of the principal Mutual Fund (to whom the content relates) followed by its own registered name and registered number, in the beginning of the content.

4. The provisions of this circular shall come into effect from May 1, 2026 for all contents uploaded on/after the effective date.

5. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

6. This Circular is available at www.sebi.gov.in under the category “Legal >Circulars”

Yours faithfully,

Sanjukta Mahala
Deputy General Manager
Tel. No. 022-26449288
E-mail: sanjuktam@sebi.gov.in