SEBI Now Mandates Registration Disclosure On Social Media: What Every SEBI-Regulated Entity Must Do Before May 1, 2026

Social media has transformed how financial advice reaches ordinary investors in India. From YouTube channels and Instagram reels to Telegram groups and X (Twitter) threads, millions of retail investors today consume securities market content online — often without knowing whether the person behind the advice is a registered, regulated professional or simply an unverified voice.

SEBI has been watching this trend closely, and its response has been measured but increasingly firm. After taking action against illegal ‘finfluencers’ in 2024 and tightening advertisement rules in March 2025, the regulator has now taken its most direct step yet: a circular issued on February 26, 2026, requiring every SEBI-regulated entity and its agents to prominently disclose their registered name and registration number on all social media platforms where they post securities-related content.

The rule takes effect from May 1, 2026. This blog unpacks everything you need to know — whether you are a stockbroker, investment adviser, research analyst, mutual fund distributor, or AMC running a content channel.

Key message in one line: From May 1, 2026, if you are SEBI-registered and posting market content online, your registration identity must be visible on your profile and at the start of every post or video.

Overview of the Circular

SEBI’s February 2026 circular is issued under its ‘Ease of Doing Investment’ (EoDI) framework — the same investor-first initiative under which the regulator has been simplifying processes across the securities market ecosystem. The circular’s primary objective is to draw a clear, visible line between content shared by SEBI-registered, regulated market participants and content posted by unregistered individuals who may be providing illegal financial advice.

The logic is straightforward: if a registered entity or its agent interacts with investors on social media, investors have a right to know who they are dealing with and whether that person is accountable under the applicable regulatory framework. Currently, there is no standardised way for investors to verify this at a glance.

By mandating registration disclosures directly in the content itself — both on social media profiles and at the start of every post or video — SEBI ensures that investors can verify credentials instantly, without having to search external databases.

The circular was preceded by a public consultation paper issued in November 2025, which flagged the rapid rise in securities-related fraud and misleading content on social media as a key concern. The February 2026 circular finalises the framework outlined in that consultation.

Key Highlights of the Circular

Effective Date: All content uploaded on or after May 1, 2026, must comply. Existing content posted before this date is not mandated to be retroactively updated, but re-shares of old content after May 1 must be structured to comply.
Profile Disclosure: Every SEBI-regulated entity and its agents must display their registered name and SEBI registration number on the home page (profile page) of each social media handle used for securities-related content.
Per-Content Disclosure: The registered name and registration number must also appear at the beginning of each post, video, reel, or other content piece related to the securities market.
Multiple Registrations: Entities holding more than one SEBI registration must provide a weblink on their social media profile pointing to a webpage that lists all their SEBI-registered names and registration numbers. For individual posts, only the registration relevant to the specific content needs to be mentioned.
Agents Must Disclose Principal’s Details Too: Agents (such as mutual fund distributors and portfolio management service distributors) must disclose both their own registration details and those of the principal entity they represent.
Scope Includes All Major Social Media: The requirement covers platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Telegram, and any other platform used to share securities market-related content.
Applies to All Content Formats: Videos, written posts, stories, reels, infographics, and any other content format are all covered.
Background in SEBI’s Finfluencer Crackdown: This circular builds on the September 2024 directive, where SEBI barred regulated entities from associating with unregistered financial influencers, and the March 2025 order requiring registered intermediaries to use SEBI portal-registered contact details when signing up for advertising on social platforms.

What Has Changed?

Before this circular, there was no standardised, mandatory requirement for SEBI-regulated entities to disclose their registration credentials within social media content itself. While SEBI’s SCORES portal and the intermediary registry were publicly available for verification, the onus was entirely on the investor to look up credentials independently.

The following key changes come into effect from May 1, 2026:

Social Media Profile Pages: All handles used for securities-related content must now carry the entity’s SEBI-registered name and registration number on the profile/bio/home page.
Content-Level Disclosure: Unlike previous requirements that focused on broader conduct norms, this circular mandates visible disclosure within each individual piece of content — at the very start of videos, and prominently within written posts.
Activity-Based Disclosure for Multi-Registered Entities: A more nuanced ‘activity-based’ model now applies. If an entity holds multiple SEBI registrations (e.g., as both a stock broker and an investment adviser), it does not have to list all registrations in every post. Instead, it must disclose only the registration that is relevant to the specific activity being discussed in that content.
Agent Accountability: Agents such as MFDs have always been required to disclose their own ARVN details, but this circular adds a requirement to also display the principal entity’s registration details — creating a two-layer transparency framework.
Retroactive Re-sharing: While existing content does not need to be retrofitted, any old content that is re-shared or re-posted after May 1, 2026, must be structured to comply with the new norms.

Who Will Be Impacted?

SEBI-Regulated Entities

The circular explicitly covers all intermediaries registered under Section 12 of the SEBI Act, 1992, and all persons regulated under SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations, 2008. This includes:

Stock Brokers and Sub-Brokers
Depository Participants (DPs)
Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs)
Investment Advisers (IAs)
Research Analysts (RAs)
Portfolio Managers
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and their Investment Managers
Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and their Investment Managers
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs and SM REITs) and their Managers
Mutual Funds and their Asset Management Companies (AMCs)
Collective Investment Schemes (CIS)
Any other SEBI-regulated intermediary that posts securities market content on social media

Agents of Regulated Entities

The circular has a particularly significant impact on the distributor and agent community:

Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs): MFDs with ARN registrations who run YouTube channels, WhatsApp groups, or Instagram pages for investor education or fund promotion must now display both their own AMFI registration number (ARN) and the name and registration details of the fund house(s) they represent.
Distributors of Portfolio Management Services: Similar dual-disclosure requirements apply.
Authorised Persons (APs) of Stock Brokers: APs who maintain social media handles for client communication or market commentary must comply.

Investors

While investors have no compliance obligation under this circular, they are the primary beneficiaries. From May 1, 2026, investors will be able to:

Instantly identify whether a social media account posting investment advice is SEBI-registered.
Verify credentials directly from the post itself, without needing to visit SEBI’s intermediary portal separately.
Distinguish legitimate, accountable market voices from unregistered operators who often use social media to run pump-and-dump schemes and stock manipulation.

Implementation Timeline

SEBI has provided a clear compliance runway for all regulated entities and agents:

February 26, 2026 — Circular issued. Regulated entities must begin preparing their compliance strategy.
May 1, 2026 — Effective date. All content uploaded on or after this date must carry the mandatory disclosures. This includes updating the profile/home page of every social media handle used for securities content.
For Old Content — No retroactive modification is required. However, all content re-shared or re-posted on or after May 1, 2026, must be structured to comply.

Given the broad scope and the number of social media handles managed by large entities (especially AMCs, stock brokers, and investment advisory firms), compliance teams should use the lead time to audit all active handles and prepare standardised disclosure templates for different content formats.

Compliance Matrix: Who Discloses What and Where

The following table summarises the disclosure requirements across common scenarios, based on the framework provided in SEBI’s circular:

Entity Type	Social Media Handle	Profile Page Disclosure	Per-Post/Video Disclosure
Single Registration (e.g., Research Analyst)	Dedicated RA handle	RA Name + Reg. No.	RA Name + Reg. No, at the start of each post
Multiple Registrations (e.g., Broker + IA + MF)	Shared handle for all services	Web link listing all registrations	Relevant registration only for that content
Agent (e.g., MFD)	Own handle	Own name + Reg. No. + Principal entity details	Own + Principal entity details at start
Multiple Registrations (e.g., Broker + IA + MF)	Separate handle per service	Relevant Reg. No, for that handle’s service	Relevant Reg. No, for the specific content

Note: For agents, both their own details and those of the principal regulated entity must be disclosed in the applicable formats.

What This Means in Practice

Here are practical scenarios that illustrate how this circular will play out in the real world:

Scenario 1 — Research Analyst on YouTube: An RA who runs a YouTube channel discussing stock picks must now display their SEBI RA registration number on their channel’s About page and mention their registered name and RA registration number at the start (ideally in the first 10 seconds) of every video.
Scenario 2 — AMC with Multiple Social Handles: A large fund house running separate Instagram handles for equity, debt, and hybrid fund content must display on each handle’s profile a web link to a page listing all its SEBI registrations. Each post or reel about, say, an equity fund, must carry the AMC’s registered name and AMC registration number for that content type.
Scenario 3 — MFD on WhatsApp/Telegram: A distributor running a Telegram channel for investor updates must include their ARN number and the name and registration number of the fund house(s) whose products they distribute, in both the channel description and at the start of each investment-related message or post.
Scenario 4 — Multi-Registered Entity (e.g., Broker + IA): If ‘XYZ Financial Services’ is registered as both a stock broker and an investment adviser, a post about trading strategies must carry the stock broker registration details, while a post about financial planning must carry the IA registration details — not both.
Scenario 5 — Re-sharing Old Content After May 1: If an entity re-shares a video originally posted in January 2025, the re-shared post must either include the required disclosures or be accompanied by a caption that includes the registered name and registration number.

Expert Insight

This circular represents a structural shift in how SEBI regulates digital financial communication. Previous measures focused on relationships — banning associations with unregistered influencers, or requiring intermediaries to use SEBI-registered credentials when advertising. This circular goes further by embedding accountability directly into the content itself.

The timing is no coincidence. India’s retail investor base has grown exponentially since 2020, and a significant portion of new investors first encountered financial markets through social media content. The risk is not merely that unregistered persons give bad advice — it is that investors cannot distinguish between credible, accountable advice and misleading information at the point of consumption.

By requiring registration details at the very start of each post or video, SEBI is essentially creating a ‘verified badge’ in text form — one that is legally binding and cross-checkable rather than merely cosmetic. The reference to SEBI’s concern about ‘coordinated stock manipulation and pump-and-dump schemes’ run through social media makes clear that this is not just about consumer confidence; it is also a surveillance tool that makes it easier for SEBI to trace and attribute market manipulation to specific accounts.

For the industry, the practical challenge will be in implementation at scale. Large entities with dozens of social media handles and hundreds of agents will need robust compliance tracking systems. Smaller entities and individual MFDs may struggle with the technical aspect of standardising disclosures across different content formats. Industry associations like AMFI and ANMI should proactively issue implementation guidance and templates to help their members comply efficiently.

One longer-term implication: this circular could inadvertently raise the entry barrier for smaller distributors and advisors who are less comfortable with social media compliance. Those who cannot maintain compliant content may pull back from digital engagement, potentially widening the gap between large, tech-savvy intermediaries and smaller practitioners.

Final Words

SEBI’s February 2026 circular on social media disclosures is a landmark step in the regulator’s sustained effort to bring transparency and accountability to the fast-growing world of digital financial communication in India.

The message is clear: if you are a SEBI-regulated entity or agent, your online presence must now reflect your regulatory identity. No more anonymous or pseudonymous market commentary from registered intermediaries — every piece of securities-related content must be attributable to a specific, verifiable SEBI registration.

For investors, this is genuinely good news. It creates an easy, intuitive way to distinguish credible market voices from unregistered operators — right at the source of the content, rather than requiring a separate verification step.

With May 1, 2026, just weeks away, regulated entities and agents must move quickly to audit their social media presence, update profiles, and embed compliance into their content workflows. The circular is direct, the timeline is firm, and non-compliance carries the full weight of SEBI’s enforcement authority.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does this SEBI circular apply to personal social media accounts of employees of SEBI-regulated entities?

The circular is directed at ‘SEBI-regulated entities and their agents’ — meaning it applies to official social media handles operated in the capacity of a regulated entity or its agent. A personal account of an individual employee that does not represent the entity or provide securities advice in a professional capacity would typically fall outside the scope. However, any person registered with SEBI (such as an IA or RA operating in their individual capacity) must comply with the rules on their personal/professional handles used for securities content.

Q2. What exactly counts as ‘securities market-related content’ under this circular?

While the circular does not provide an exhaustive definition, securities market-related content broadly includes: stock picks and buy/sell recommendations, mutual fund reviews and portfolio advice, commentary on market trends and indices, research reports or summaries, IPO reviews and ratings, and any content that could be construed as financial advice or investment promotion. General financial literacy content that does not reference specific securities or funds may fall in a grey area — entities should err on the side of caution and include disclosures regardless.

Q3. Is a WhatsApp or Telegram group considered a ‘Social Media Platform’ under this circular?

Yes. The circular’s scope covers all platforms used to share securities market-related content with investors, which explicitly includes messaging and group platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram in addition to mainstream social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Group administrators who are SEBI-regulated entities or agents must comply.

Q4. What happens if a SEBI-regulated entity does not comply by May 1, 2026?

Non-compliance with SEBI circulars exposes entities to regulatory action under the SEBI Act, which can include notices, penalties, adjudication proceedings, and, in serious cases, suspension or cancellation of registration. SEBI has progressively escalated enforcement on social media-related violations since 2024, and this circular is backed by the same enforcement framework.

Q5. Do mutual fund distributors (MFDs) with ARN numbers need to disclose both their ARN and the AMC’s registration number in every post?

Yes. As agents, MFDs must disclose both their own details (ARN number and AMFI-registered name) and the registration details of the principal entity — i.e., the AMC or fund house whose products are being discussed or promoted in the specific content. If an MFD promotes products from multiple fund houses, only the relevant fund house’s details need to be mentioned for each specific post.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal or investment advice. Please refer to the official SEBI circular (Circular No. HO/(79)2026-MIRSD-PODMMC dated February 26, 2026) and consult a qualified professional before making compliance or investment decisions.

SEBI Now Mandates Registration Disclosure on Social Media: What Every SEBI-Regulated Entity Must Do Before May 1, 2026

Introduction