SEBI Guidelines for KYC Norms in Securities Market

SEBI Guidelines for KYC (Know Your Client) Norms refer to the regulatory framework issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) that mandates all registered intermediaries in the securities market to verify and maintain the identity and address details of their clients before entering into any account-based relationship. These guidelines aim to ensure client due diligence (CDD), prevent money laundering, and maintain the integrity of the securities market by making it mandatory to collect and verify documents like PAN, Proof of Identity (PoI), and Proof of Address (PoA).

Table of Contents

1. SEBI Guidelines for KYC Norms
2. Uniform KYC Format
3. Requirement of Permanent Account Number (PAN)
4. Exemptions/Clarifications to PAN Requirements
5. Proof of Identity (PoI) – List of Documents Admissible
6. Acceptance of Third Party Address as Correspondence Add
7. Identification of Beneficial Ownership
8. Requirement of Additional Documents for Non-Individuals (Legal Entities)
9. Requirement of Mobile Number and Email ID
10. Digital KYC

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1. SEBI Guidelines for KYC Norms

KYC and Client Due Diligence (CDD) policies as part of KYC are the foundation of an effective Anti-Money Laundering process. The KYC process requires every SEBI-registered intermediary to obtain and verify the Proof of Identity (PoI) and Proof of Address (PoA) from the client at the time of commencement of an account-based relationship.

The registered intermediaries shall not open or keep any anonymous account or account in fictitious names or account on behalf of other persons whose identity has not been disclosed or cannot be verified. The intermediaries shall also continue to abide by circulars issued by SEBI from time to time for the prevention of money laundering.

2. Uniform KYC Format

SEBI registered intermediaries shall perform KYC in securities market through physical mode/digital (online or app based) mode. To bring about uniformity in securities market, all SEBI registered intermediaries shall use the same KYC form and supporting documents.

The account opening form (AOF) for client shall be divided into two parts:

(a) Part I of the AOF shall be the KYC form which shall capture the basic details about the client. For this purpose, all registered intermediaries shall use the KYC templates provided by Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI) for individuals and for legal entities for capturing the KYC information. The CKYCR templates – Individual and Legal Entity provided by CERSAI is available at https://www.ckycindia.in/ckyc/?r=download.

(b) Part II of the form shall obtain the additional information specific to the area of activity of the intermediary, as considered appropriate by them. The instant Master Circular deals with the provisions of Part I -KYC form.

While performing the KYC Process in Securities Market, the registered intermediaries shall abide by the following requirements/exemptions for effective implementation of Anti-Money Laundering process.

3. Requirement of Permanent Account Number (PAN)

In order to strengthen the KYC norms and identify every participant in the securities market with their respective PAN thereby ensuring sound audit trail of all the transactions, PAN shall be the unique identification number for all participants transacting in the securities market, irrespective of the amount of transaction.

The registered intermediaries shall verify the PAN of their clients online at the Income Tax website without insisting on the original or copy of PAN card. As per the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961 (Income Tax Act), the PAN allotted to a person shall become inoperative if it is not linked with Aadhaar. Since PAN is the key identification number and part of KYC requirements for all transactions in the securities market, all registered intermediaries shall ensure valid PAN in the KYC documentation for all clients. Status of Aadhaar and PAN linkage shall be flagged at the system of KRA.

4. Exemptions/Clarifications to PAN Requirements

The following are exempted from the mandatory requirement of PAN:

1. Transactions undertaken on behalf of Central Government and/or State Government and by officials appointed by Courts e.g. Official liquidator, Court receiver etc. (under the category of Government) for transacting in the securities market.
2. Investors residing in the state of Sikkim.
3. UN entities/multilateral agencies exempt from paying taxes/filing tax returns in India.
4. SIP of Mutual Funds upto ` 50,000/- per year.

In case there is change in the name subsequent to issuance of PAN of the client, registered intermediaries can collect the PAN card proof as submitted by the client provided it is supported by a marriage certificate issued by the State Government or gazette notification, indicating such a change of name. The e-PAN issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) can also be produced by client for KYC compliance. e-PAN is a digitally signed PAN card issued in electronic format by the Income Tax Department.

5. Proof of Identity (PoI) – List of Documents Admissible

Registered intermediaries at the time of commencement of an account based relationship shall identify their clients, verify their identity and obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship. The name as mentioned in the KYC form shall match the name as mentioned in the Proof of Identity (PoI) submitted. The following documents shall be accepted as PoI:

• Officially Valid Document (OVD) defined as per Rule 2(d) of Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 (PML Rules):

1. 1. the passport;
   2. the driving licence;
   3. proof of possession of Aadhaar number;
   4. the Voter’s Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India;
   5. job card issued by NREGA duly signed by an officer of the State Government;
   6. the letter issued by the National Population Register containing details of name address; or
   7. any other document as notified by the Central Government in consultation with the Regulator

• Further, in terms of proviso to the above Rule, where simplified measures are applied for verifying the identity of the clients, the following documents shall also be deemed to be officially valid document:

1. 1. Identity card/document with applicant’s photo, issued by the Central/State Government Departments, Statutory/Regulatory Authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Scheduled Commercial Banks and Public Financial Institutions;
   2. Letter issued by a gazetted officer, with a duly attested photograph of the person.
   3. utility bill which is not more than two months old of any service provider (electricity, telephone, post-paid mobile phone, piped gas, water bill);
   4. property or municipal tax receipt;
   5. pension or family pension payment orders (PPOs) issued to retired employees by Government Departments or Public Sector Undertakings, if they contain the address;
   6. letter of allotment of accommodation from employer issued by state or central government departments, statutory or regulatory bodies, public sector undertakings, scheduled commercial banks, financial institutions and listed companies and leave and licence agreements with such employers allotting official accommodation.

In terms of the PML Rules, cases where the client submits his proof of possession of Aadhaar number as an officially valid document, he may submit it in such form as is issued by the UIDAI. A document shall be deemed to an officially valid document even if there is a change in the name subsequent to its issuance provided it is supported by a Marriage Certificate issued by the State Government or a gazette notification, indicating such change of name.

For non-residents and foreign nationals, (allowed to trade subject to RBI and FEMA guidelines), copy of passport/Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card/Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card and overseas address proof is mandatory. In case the officially valid document presented by a foreign national does not contain the details of address, the documents issued by the Government departments of foreign jurisdictions and letter issued by the Foreign Embassy or Mission in India shall be accepted as proof of address. If any proof of address is in a foreign language, then translation into English shall be required. If correspondence and permanent address is different, then proof for both shall be submitted.

6. Acceptance of Third Party Address as Correspondence Add

Registered intermediaries at the time of commencement of an account based relationship shall determine whether the client purports to act on behalf of juridical person or individual or trust and the registered intermediary shall verify that any person purporting to act on behalf of such client is so authorised and verify the identity of that person.

A client can authorize to capture address of a third party as a correspondence address, provided that all prescribed ‘Know Your Client’ norms are also fulfilled for the third party. The intermediary shall obtain proof of identity and proof of address for the third party. The intermediary shall also ensure that client due diligence norms as specified in Rule 9 of PML Rules are complied with in respect of the third party.

7. Identification of Beneficial Ownership

SEBI Master Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSDSECFATF/P/CIR/2024/78 dated June 06, 2024 on Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligations of Securities Market Intermediaries under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Rules framed thereunder has prescribed the approach to be followed towards identification of beneficial ownership. Accordingly, the registered intermediaries may be guided by the provisions of the said Master Circular and amendments thereto for the purpose of identification of beneficial ownership of the client.

Whenever it is apparent that the securities acquired or maintained through an account are beneficially owned by a party other than the client, that party shall be identified using client identification and verification procedures.

The registered intermediaries shall conduct ongoing CDD where inconsistencies are noticed in the information provided. The underlying objective shall be to follow the requirements enshrined in the PMLA, PML Rules, SEBI Act and Regulations, directives and circulars issued thereunder so that the intermediary is aware of the clients on whose behalf it is dealing. The registered intermediaries shall periodically update all documents, data or information of all clients and beneficial owners collected under the CDD process.

The stock exchanges and depositories shall monitor the compliance of the aforementioned provision on identification of beneficial ownership through half yearly internal audits. In case of mutual funds, compliance of the same shall be monitored by the Boards of the Asset Management Companies and the Trustees and in case of other registered intermediaries, by their Board of Directors.

8. Requirement of Additional Documents for Non-Individuals (Legal Entities)

In case of non-individuals, additional documents (certified copies of equivalent e-documents) to be obtained are mentioned below:

• Corporate Body:

1. 1. Certificate of incorporation
   2. Memorandum and Articles of Association.
   3. Board Resolution for investment in securities market.
   4. Power of Attorney granted to its managers, officers or employees, as the case may be, to transact on its behalf.
   5. Authorised signatories list with specimen signatures.
   6. Copy of the balance sheet for the last financial year (initially for the last two financial years and subsequently for every last financial year).
   7. Latest share holding pattern including list of all those holding control, either directly or indirectly, in the company in terms of SEBI takeover Regulations, duly certified by the company secretary/whole time director/MD (to be submitted every year).
   8. Photograph, POI, POA, PAN and DIN numbers of whole-time directors/two directors in charge of day to day operations.
   9. Photograph, POI, POA, PAN of individual promoters holding control – either directly or indirectly.

• Partnership Firm:

1. 1. Certificate of registration (for registered partnership firms only).
   2. Copy of partnership deed.
   3. Copy of the balance sheet for the last financial year (initially for the last two financial years and subsequently for every last financial year).
   4. Authorised signatories list with specimen signatures.
   5. Photograph, POI, POA, PAN of Partners.

• Trust:

1. 1. Certificate of registration (for registered trust only).
   2. Copy of Trust deed.
   3. Copy of the balance sheet for the last financial year (initially for the last two financial years and subsequently for every last financial year).
   4. List of trustees certified by managing trustees/CA.
   5. Photograph, POI, POA, PAN of Trustees.

• HUF:

1. 1. Deed of declaration of HUF/List of coparceners.
   2. Bank pass-book/bank statement in the name of HUF.
   3. Photograph, POI, POA, PAN of Karta.

• Unincorporated Association or a Body of Individuals:

1. 1. Proof of Existence/Constitution document.
   2. Resolution of the managing body & Power of Attorney granted to transact business on its behalf.
   3. Authorised signatories list with specimen signatures.

• Banks/Institutional Investors:

1. 1. Copy of the constitution/registration or annual report/balance sheet for last financial year (initially for the last two financial years and subsequently for every last financial year).
   2. Authorised signatories list with specimen signatures.

• Army/Government Bodies:

1. 1. Self-certification on letterhead.
   2. Authorised signatories list with specimen signatures.

• Registered Society:

1. 1. Copy of Registration Certificate under Societies Registration Act.
   2. List of Managing Committee members.
   3. Committee resolution for persons authorised to act as authorised signatories with specimen signatures.
   4. True copy of Society Rules and Bye Laws certified by the Chairman/Secretary.

9. Requirement of Mobile Number and Email ID

The registered intermediaries shall upload the details of mobile number and email address on the KRA system. It shall be ensured that the mobile number/email addresses of their employees/authorised persons, distributors etc. are not uploaded on behalf of clients.

10. Digital KYC

In order to enable the online KYC process for establishing account-based relationship with the registered intermediary, client’s KYC shall be completed through digital (online/Application (App) based) KYC, in person verification through video, online submission of officially valid document/other documents, using electronic/digital signature, including Aadhaar e-Sign:

1. The client shall visit the website/App/digital platform of the registered intermediary and fill up the online KYC form and submit requisite documents.
2. SEBI-registered intermediaries shall obtain the express consent of the client before undertaking online KYC.
3. The PAN, name, photograph, address, mobile number and email ID of the client shall be captured digitally and officially valid document shall be provided as a photo/scan of the original under electronic/digital signature, including Aadhaar e-Sign and the same shall be verified.
4. Any officially valid document other than Aadhaar shall be submitted through Digilocker/using electronic/digital signature, including Aadhaar eSign.
5. The mobile number of client accepted as part of KYC should preferably be the one seeded with Aadhaar.
6. Mobile and email shall be verified through One Time Password (OTP) or another verifiable mechanism.
7. Aadhaar shall be verified through UIDAI’s authentication/verification mechanism. Further, in terms of PML Rule 9(16), every intermediary shall, where the client submits his Aadhaar number, ensure that such client redacts or blacks out his Aadhaar number through appropriate means where the authentication of Aadhaar number is not required under sub-rule (15) under PML Rule.