I. Background and Regulatory Context
On 14 May 2026, Central Depository Services (India) Limited (“CDSL”) issued Circular No. CDSL/OPS/DP/POLCY/2026/325, directed to all Depository Participants (“DPs”), mandating immediate compliance action in respect of demat accounts whose Know Your Customer (“KYC”) records have not been validated by KYC Registration Agencies (“KRAs”). The circular operates as a continuation of the earlier directive issued on 16 April 2026 (Circular No. CDSL/OPS/DP/POLCY/2026/264) and represents a significant escalation in SEBI’s ongoing initiative to cleanse the securities market of non-compliant investor accounts.
This regulatory development bears material consequences for DPs, Beneficial Owners (“BOs”), and the broader architecture of investor protection in India’s capital markets. The directive is underpinned by SEBI’s long-standing obligation to ensure that all participants in the securities ecosystem are adequately identified, and that the integrity of the