Nomination for Eligible Trading and Demat Accounts – Extension of timelines for existing account holders - SEBI - SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/42

CIRCULAR SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/42 March 27, 2023 To All Recognized Stock Exchanges All Recognized Depositories Stock Brokers (Trading Members) through Recognized Stock Exchanges Depository Participants through Depositories Dear Sir / Madam, Subject: Nomination for Eligible Trading and Demat Accounts Extension of timelines for existing account holders 1. SEBI, vide circular no. SEBI/HO/MIRSD/RTAMB/CIR/P/2021/601 dated July 23, 2021 had mandated providing choice of nomination details, i.e., either furnishing of nomination or declaration for opting out of nomination for investors opening new trading and or demat account(s) on or after October 01, 2021 and for all existing eligible trading and demat account holders latest by March 31, 2022 failing which the trading accounts shall be frozen for trading and demat account shall be frozen for debits. 2. Thereafter, on the basis of representations received from various stakeholders, vide SEBI circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD_RTAMB/P /CIR/2022/23 dated February 24, 2022 , the timeline for mandatory submission of 'choice of nomination' for existing trading and demat accounts was extended to March 31, 2023. 3. Based on the assessment of the trading as well as demat accounts in which choice of nomination details (i.e. furnishing of nomination or declaration for opting out of nomination) has not been updated and on the basis of representations received from the stakeholders, it has been decided that the provisions mentioned at para 7 of SEBI circular dated July 23, 2021 read with para 3 (a) of SEBI circular dated February 24, 2022 with regard to freezing of accounts shall come into force with effect from September 30, 2023 instead of March 31, 2023. 4. Stock Brokers and Depository Participants shall encourage their clients to update choice of nomination by sending a communication on fortnightly basis by way of emails and SMS to all such UCCs/demat accounts wherein the choice of nomination is not captured. The communication shall provide guidance through which the client can provide his/her choice of nomination . 5. All other provisions mentioned in the circulars SEBI/HO/MIRSD/RTAMB/CIR /P/2021/601 dated July 23, 2021 and SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD_RTAMB/P /CIR/2022/23 dated February 24, 2022 shall remain unchanged. 6. Stock Exchanges and Depositories are advised to: make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations, operational instructions, as the case may be, for the implementation of the above circular; bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of their constituents and also disseminate the same on the website; monitor the efforts made by trading members and depository participants for updation of choice of nomination by their clients and submit a report to this effect on monthly basis within next seven days from the end of the month. The first such report shall be submitted by May 07, 2023 for the month of April 2023. 7. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred by 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. 8. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the categories Legal Framework - Circulars . Yours faithfully, Aradhana Verma General Manager Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision Department Tel. No. 022-2644 9633 Email id - [email protected]