ARTICLE
28 July 2026

SEBI Revises ‘Fit And Proper’ Criteria For Intermediaries

AP
AZB & Partners

Contributor

AZB & Partners is one of India's premier law firms with 500+ lawyers and offices across the country. The firm was founded in 2004 with a clear purpose to provide reliable, practical and full–service advice to clients, across all sectors. Having grown steadily since its inception, AZB & Partners now has offices across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune and Chennai. We are recognized by most international publications for our legal expertise.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has introduced significant amendments to the 'fit and proper person' criteria for market intermediaries, fundamentally altering how disqualifications are determined and applied. The revised framework shifts from automatic disqualifications based on pending charges to a more nuanced approach centered on actual convictions, while introducing new procedural safeguards and disclosure requirements.
India Corporate/Commercial Law
AZB & Partners are most popular:
  • within Strategy, Environment and Antitrust/Competition Law topic(s)
  • with readers working within the Accounting & Consultancy and Law Firm industries

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (‘SEBI’) has notified the SEBI (Intermediaries) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, revising the ‘fit and proper person’ criteria with effect from April 16, 2026. Key changes include: (i) removal of automatic disqualification for pending criminal complaints, First Information Reports, or charge sheets relating to economic offences; (ii) expansion of conviction-based disqualification to cover economic offences and securities law violations; (iii) mandatory 15-working-day disclosure of disqualifying events by intermediaries; (iv) requirement to grant opportunity of being heard before declaring a person not fit and proper; and (v) removal of the default five-year prohibition on fresh registration applications.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More