Sebi asks stock brokers to display investor warnings on apps and websites

Sebi has asked stock brokers to display investor awareness messages on their websites and trading apps under Project Jagrook, tightening communication rules for trading platforms at a time when retail participation in equities and derivatives remains high.

The market regulator, in a circular dated October 1, said all stock brokers must prominently display investor-centric messages shared by Sebi on their websites and trading apps in the prescribed manner. The circular has been issued to recognised stock exchanges, depositories and stock brokers through recognised stock exchanges.

The move is part of Project Jagrook, Sebi’s nationwide investor awareness initiative, and comes ahead of World Investor Week 2026. The regulator said the messages aim at investor benefit, safety and education.


The latest direction builds on Sebi’s May 2023 circular, which made risk disclosures mandatory for stock brokers. Those disclosures were meant to warn clients about trading risks, especially in high-risk products and fast-moving market conditions. The new circular adds investor awareness messages to that framework rather than replacing the earlier risk disclosures.

For broker websites, the rules will be implemented in two stages. From October 5 to October 31, brokers must display both Sebi’s investor awareness messages and the existing risk disclosures on their websites. From November 1, brokers must show the specified investor awareness messages on the landing page of their websites.

The requirements for trading apps will also change in phases. During October 5-31, brokers may display the investor awareness messages on their apps voluntarily. If they choose to show the awareness messages on any day during this period, displaying the existing risk disclosures on that day will be optional.

From November 1, the requirement becomes mandatory for trading apps. Brokers must display Sebi’s investor awareness messages and risk disclosures on alternate days on the landing page of their trading apps. This means investors opening a broker app could see regulator-backed warnings or educational messages before proceeding further on the platform.

Sebi has also kept the framework flexible. The circular says the investor awareness messages shared by the regulator may be modified from time to time. This gives Sebi room to update the messaging depending on market conditions, investor behaviour and areas of concern.

Stock exchanges and depositories have been asked to inform their members and participants about the circular and publish the directions on their own websites. They have also been told to display Sebi’s investor awareness messages “as it is” on their websites and make necessary changes to their bye-laws, rules and regulations to implement the circular.

Broker apps have become the primary interface for a large section of retail investors. With trading now heavily app-driven, Sebi appears to be using the same digital entry points to push investor education and risk messaging more visibly.

Disclosure: This article was written by Podishetti Akash, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Podishetti Akash and his ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclosures here.