Accredited investors in 2026: the new ₹5 crore test and manager-led accreditation
Who qualifies as an accredited investor, the new securities-market route, and how managers can now accredit investors themselves.
Last updated 5 November 2026
An accredited investor is someone SEBI treats as able to take on more complex products with lighter investor-protection rules, for example lower minimum investments. Until 2026 only two agencies could accredit: CDSL Ventures (CVL) and NSDL Database Management (NDML). In August 2026 there were 4,492 accredited investors in India.
The new securities-market test
SEBI's board approved a new route on 24 September 2026, and the AIF regulations were amended in October 2026. You can qualify on securities-market exposure alone:
| Investor type | Securities-market exposure needed |
|---|---|
| Individuals, HUFs, family trusts, sole proprietorships | ₹5 crore |
| Body corporates and other trusts | ₹20 crore |
SEBI's consultation listed demat securities, mutual fund holdings, futures open interest, unlisted securities in demat form and overseas securities-market investments as counting towards this. SEBI estimated about 3.7 lakh investors could qualify this way.
The existing financial routes still apply
For individuals, HUFs, family trusts and sole proprietorships, any one of:
- Annual income of at least ₹2 crore
- Net worth of at least ₹7.5 crore, with at least ₹3.75 crore in financial assets
- Annual income of at least ₹1 crore and net worth of at least ₹5 crore, with at least ₹2.5 crore in financial assets
Body corporates and trusts other than family trusts: net worth of at least ₹50 crore. For an LLP, every partner must qualify independently.
Manager-led accreditation
AIF managers, AMCs offering SIFs and portfolio managers can now determine and record an investor's accredited status themselves, as an optional route alongside the agencies. Accreditation can be used across AIF, SIF and PMS products within the same group, and is proposed to be valid for three years. All persons resident outside India, including FPIs, are deemed accredited.
Operating details, including the evidence managers must check, are being set out in SEBI circulars. Check your likely eligibility with the accredited investor checker.