In a bid to enhance transparency and curb potential misuse of clients’ securities, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed amendments to its margin pledge system. The market regulator has invited public feedback on the draft circular, "Margin Obligations to be Given by Way of Pledge/Re-Pledge in the Depository System," by March 4, 2025.
SEBI highlighted concerns that some brokers fail to sell client securities invoked under the margin pledge system on the same day, leading to an accumulation in their demat accounts. This accumulation raises the risk of misutilization of clients’ securities, prompting the need for regulatory intervention.
Under the proposed framework, invoked client securities will be blocked for early pay-in within the client’s demat account, ensuring a more secure transaction process and preventing unauthorized broker activity.
SEBI also aims to streamline operational challenges faced by brokers when clients sell pledged shares. Currently, brokers must unpledge shares before transferring them for settlement, creating inefficiencies. The proposed ‘pledge release for pay-in’ system will allow an automatic simultaneous unpledging and settlement process, reducing delays and manual interventions.
To ensure smooth implementation, depositories will be required to upgrade their systems to support the new mechanism. Once in place, brokers will no longer need manual approvals to unpledge and transfer securities, as the system will automatically validate pay-ins based on client obligations.
SEBI’s proposed changes aim to safeguard investor interests while ensuring that brokers handle securities responsibly. By tightening regulations around margin pledges and settlements, SEBI is reinforcing market integrity and investor confidence.
Investors and market participants have until March 4 to submit their comments on the proposed reforms, which, once implemented, could significantly reshape the margin pledge system for the better.
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