Ease of doing business - mechanism for lock-in of pledged shares under SEBI ICDR Regulations 2018

SEBI Circular dated April 8, 2026 introduces a new mechanism for lock-in of pledged shares under the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018. The circular provides specific guidance on how pledged shares should be treated in relation to lock-in requirements, aiming to ease regulatory burden on market participants while maintaining investor protection.

Affected parties including listed companies, promoters, and securities market intermediaries should review their existing pledging arrangements and update compliance procedures to align with the new mechanism specified in the circular.