Annexure D
Accredited Investor (Annexure D)
Accredited Investor Framework under the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020, as applicable to portfolio management services.
Background
The concept of a class of investors (typically termed accredited, qualified or professional investors) who understand financial products and the risks and returns associated with them, and who can take informed investment decisions, is recognised globally by many securities and financial market regulators. Such investors are also considered capable of dealing in relatively riskier products because of their financial capacity and ability to absorb possible losses. Accordingly, issuers and providers of investment products or services are often offered a regulation-light regime when dealing with accredited investors.
SEBI introduced Accredited Investors in India with uniform eligibility criteria and a flexible regulatory framework. SEBI amended the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020 with effect from 03 August 2021 and issued circular SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-I/DF9/P/CIR/2021/620 dated 26 August 2021 (as modified by SEBI circular SEBI/HO/AFD/PoD1/CIR/2023/189 dated 18 December 2023).
About Accredited Investors
Accredited Investor (AI)
Any person who fulfils the applicable eligibility criteria and is granted a certificate of accreditation by an Accreditation Agency. The Central Government and the State Governments, developmental agencies set up under their aegis, funds set up by them, qualified institutional buyers as defined under the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018, Category I foreign portfolio investors, sovereign wealth funds and multilateral agencies, and any other entity as may be specified by SEBI from time to time, shall be deemed to be accredited investors and may not be required to obtain a certificate of accreditation.
Accreditation Agency
A subsidiary of a recognised stock exchange or a subsidiary of a depository or any other entity as may be specified by SEBI from time to time. Entities currently recognised by SEBI as Accreditation Agencies:
Large Value Accredited Investor
An Accredited Investor who has entered into an agreement with the Portfolio Manager for a minimum investment of INR 10 crores.
Regulatory concessions
Under the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020
Eligibility criteria
How eligibility is reckoned
- Where joint holders are parent(s) and child(ren), at least one person should independently fulfil the eligibility criteria.
- Where joint holders are spouses, their combined income / net worth should meet the eligibility criteria.
- For body corporates and trusts: financial information as per statutory audit; or as per audit by the statutory auditor as on a date during the financial year of application (only if incorporated or set up in that year); or a net worth certificate from a practising Chartered Accountant not older than six months, with computation of net worth.
- Foreign investors: eligibility on the rupee equivalent of income and/or net worth. Legal forms other than those specified above are assessed on body-corporate criteria.
Procedure for obtaining accreditation
- Apply to an Accreditation Agency in the manner specified by that agency (see Annexure A process notes below).
- Submit the documentation listed in Annexure B.
- The Accreditation Agency grants accreditation solely on the basis of KYC and financial information. An agency that is also a KRA may use KYC held by it or accessed from other KRAs.
- The agency issues an Accreditation Certificate with a unique accreditation number, name of the agency, PAN of the applicant, and validity (start and end dates), plus a disclaimer that the assessment is based solely on KYC and financial information and does not exempt intermediaries from due diligence.
Validity of accreditation
- Eligibility met for the preceding one financial year — valid for two years from issuance.
- Eligibility met in each of the preceding two financial years — valid for three years from issuance.
- Newly incorporated entity without preceding-year financials that meets net worth as on the application date — valid for two years from issuance.
Procedure to avail benefits linked to accreditation
The prospective investor shall provide a copy of the Accreditation Certificate to the Portfolio Manager together with an undertaking that:
- the investor wishes to avail AI benefits (“Consent”);
- the investor has the ability to bear the financial risk associated with the investment;
- the investor has the necessary knowledge and means to understand the features and risks of the investment product;
- the investor is aware that the product is meant for AIs and may not be subject to the same regulatory oversight as products meant for other investors.
The Portfolio Manager may obtain additional undertakings that do not dilute the above, shall independently verify accreditation status with the concerned Accreditation Agency, and shall disclose relevant conditions and regulatory concessions before entering into an agreement. The agreement shall cover concessions agreed, conditions for availing them, consequences if the investor becomes ineligible during the tenure, and modalities for withdrawal of Consent.
Flexibility to withdraw Consent
- An Accredited Investor who withdraws Consent after availing a lower ticket size must increase the investment to the minimum amount (INR 50 lakhs for PMS) within the timeframe in the client agreement.
- If Consent is withdrawn before expiry of the agreement after availing concessions, investments already made are grandfathered; further transactions follow the applicable regulatory framework from the withdrawal date.
- The client agreement shall provide modalities for withdrawal of Consent and consequences thereof.
Forward-looking developments (not yet applicable to Portfolio Managers as on 21 October 2026)
SEBI has notified the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2026 on 07 October 2026, coming into force from 01 April 2027. Until then, the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020 continue to apply. Revised accredited-investor changes under AIF regulations (including additional market-exposure criteria, accreditation routes, LLPs, and PROI deeming) are expected to apply to Portfolio Managers from 01 April 2027, subject to detailed modalities from SEBI. Till then, accreditation for availing PMS shall continue to be obtained from an Accreditation Agency as set out here.
Annexure A — Process for obtaining accreditation
A prospective investor may apply to either Accreditation Agency.
CDSL Ventures Limited (CVL)
- Register online at aia.cvlindia.com under “Investor”.
- Provide details and upload self-attested documents.
- Pay processing and certification fees (see agency portal; charges are subject to revision and taxes).
- CVL verifies the application; queries may be raised on the registered email.
- On approval, the Accredited Investor certificate is issued with validity details.
See the user manual and updates on the CVL portal.
NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML)
- Apply at aa.ndml.in via “Apply for Accreditation”.
- Provide details and upload supporting documents.
- Pay processing and certification fees (GST extra; schedule subject to revision).
- NDML verifies; additional information may be sought.
- On approval, the certificate is issued. Status and authenticity can be checked on the NDML portal.
See process, eligibility and documentation updates on the NDML portal.
Indicative agency fee schedules (processing plus certification for two- or three-year tenure) are published by CVL and NDML on their portals and may change. Always confirm current charges on the agency website before applying.
Annexure B — Documentation required
Self-certified copies, per Annexure 2 to SEBI circular SEBI/HO/AFD/PoD1/CIR/2023/189 dated 18 December 2023.
- ITR / ITR acknowledgements apply only to individuals, HUFs, family trusts and sole proprietorships.
- A net worth certificate shall be issued by a practising Chartered Accountant, not older than six months, with computation of net worth as an annexure.
- Applicants should refer to the document checklist on the chosen Accreditation Agency’s website before applying.