• Neha Verma
  • img September 18, 2026

PREVENTION OF INSIDER TRADING

This checklist is based on the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 and the applicable Schedule B/Schedule C framework. SEBI amendments, circulars, FAQs and stock-exchange implementation requirements can change operational details. Verify the latest consolidated regulations and circulars immediately before relying on any deadline, threshold, exception or filing requirement.

PREVENTION OF INSIDER TRADING
COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST + ANNUAL / EVENT-BASED TIMELINE | SEBI PIT REGULATIONS, 2015

Working paper for listed entities and other persons to whom the applicable SEBI PIT framework extends. Covers UPSI, designated persons, Code of Conduct, Code of Fair Disclosure, trading window, pre-clearance, contra trade, disclosures, SDD, training, monitoring and violation handling.

A. Governance & applicability checklist

Control

Detailed action

Owner

Applicability

Confirm listed entity / intermediary / fiduciary / other applicable status.

CS/Compliance

Compliance Officer

Appointment, authority, access, reporting line and contact details current.

Board

Code of Conduct

Board-approved code under applicable Schedule; review latest SEBI requirements.

Board/CS

Code of Fair Disclosure

Regulation 8 policy approved, published and current.

Board/CS

Designated Persons

Identify using role/function/access criteria prescribed by regulations and code.

Compliance

Immediate relatives

Maintain required information and include in monitoring framework.

Compliance

Policy publication

Current PIT policy/code and required disclosures hosted as prescribed.

CS

Training

Induction and periodic PIT training for DPs and relevant staff.

Compliance

 

B. UPSI identification matrix

UPSI category

Examples / trigger

Control

Financial results

Quarterly/annual results and non-public financial information.

Restricted access + trading-window closure.

Dividend

Proposed declaration/recommendation.

Need-to-know + disclosure controls.

Capital structure

Buy-back, issue, split, consolidation, bonus, rights etc.

Project restriction + SDD.

M&A / restructuring

Merger, demerger, acquisition, delisting, disposal, expansion.

Code name + restricted project.

KMP changes

Applicable non-public changes under current PIT wording.

Restricted access.

Ratings

Change in credit ratings, as covered by current PIT framework.

Restricted access.

Fund raising

Proposed fund raising.

Restricted access.

Control/management agreements

Material agreements affecting management/control, as covered.

Restricted access.

Fraud/default/arrest

Specified events covered by PIT Regulations.

Restricted access + disclosure coordination.

Debt restructuring / OTS

Specified restructuring/settlement matters.

Restricted access.

Forensic audit

Specified initiation/final findings.

Restricted access.

Other price-sensitive information

Any non-public information likely to materially affect price.

Compliance Officer assessment.

 

C. UPSI lifecycle checklist

Stage

Checklist

Evidence

Creation

Identify event; assign project code; identify owner.

UPSI/project register

Classification

Assess whether information is UPSI under current PIT definition.

UPSI assessment

Access

List people requiring access; use need-to-know principle.

Access list

Confidentiality

Confidentiality undertaking / contractual clause where appropriate.

NDA/undertaking

SDD entry

Record prescribed details of sharing in structured digital database.

SDD audit log

Monitoring

Track access, communications and changes in project team.

Access log

Disclosure

Prepare exchange/public disclosure where required.

Draft + filing acknowledgement

General availability

Record date/time information became generally available.

Exchange filing / public source

Post-event

Close project, review trades and retain records.

Closure memo

 

D. Designated Persons master checklist

  • ☐ Identify promoters / promoter group persons where applicable.
  • ☐ Identify directors and KMP.
  • ☐ Identify employees/support functions based on role and functional access to UPSI.
  • ☐ Include relevant material subsidiary / holding-company personnel where policy/regulation requires.
  • ☐ Include professional advisers, intermediaries, fiduciaries and other persons covered by the applicable code.
  • ☐ Capture PAN or prescribed identifier, contact details, department/function and DP status.
  • ☐ Maintain immediate-relative details required under the framework.
  • ☐ Update list immediately on joining, resignation, transfer, promotion, role change or change in access.
  • ☐ Obtain acknowledgement of PIT Code and training.

E. Structured Digital Database (SDD) — exhaustive checklist

Control

Requirement / test

System ownership

Database maintained internally by the company/entity as prescribed.

UPSI description

Nature of UPSI shared recorded.

Recipient identity

Name of person/entity receiving UPSI recorded.

Identifier

PAN / other prescribed identifier captured where applicable.

Entity relationship

Organisation / capacity / relationship recorded where required.

Date/time

Sharing event timestamp retained.

Source / sharer

Person from whom UPSI was shared identified.

Audit trail

Changes/access to database appropriately logged.

Integrity

Controls prevent unauthorised alteration/deletion.

Retention

Records retained for period prescribed by PIT framework.

Periodic test

SDD completeness and integrity periodically reviewed.

 

F. Trading-window annual & event timeline

Timing

Activity

Detailed checklist

Before FY

Prepare annual PIT calendar.

Board/committee dates, result dates, AGMs, expected transactions and disclosure calendar.

Before each quarter-end

Review expected financial results process.

Identify UPSI creators/access list; prepare closure plan.

From end of every quarter

Trading window generally closed until 48 hours after declaration of financial results under Schedule B.

Notify DPs; block/monitor trades.

UPSI event

Close window if required by policy/regulations.

Record closure reason and effective time.

During closure

No prohibited trading by covered persons.

Monitor DP/immediate-relative trades.

After public disclosure

Wait applicable cooling period and reopen only after Compliance Officer confirms conditions.

Reopening notice.

Each pre-clearance

Review window, UPSI, contra trade and proposed transaction.

Approval/rejection record.

After approved trade

Obtain execution details / post-trade declaration within code timeline.

Contract note/report.

Quarterly

Review disclosures, trade monitoring, exceptions and SDD.

Quarterly compliance file.

Annually

Review code, DP mapping, training, SDD controls and Board reporting.

Annual compliance report.

 

G. Pre-clearance master checklist

Step

Check

1

DP is permitted to trade / window is open.

2

Applicable pre-clearance threshold checked.

3

Security and transaction type identified.

4

DP confirms not in possession of UPSI / trade not prohibited.

5

Contra-trade restriction checked.

6

Existing pending orders / previous trades reviewed.

7

Application complete with prescribed declaration.

8

Compliance Officer / authorised person approval recorded.

9

Trade executed within validity period under code.

10

Actual quantity/price/date reported as required.

11

Contract note retained.

12

Trade entered into monitoring database.

 

H. Contra-trade monitoring

  • ☐ Maintain security-wise transaction history for every Designated Person.
  • ☐ Apply the minimum six-month contra-trade restriction under Schedule B, subject to applicable exceptions and current code.
  • ☐ Check both buy→sell and sell→buy sequences.
  • ☐ Identify transactions across brokers/accounts where monitoring data permits.
  • ☐ Document any authorised relaxation by the Compliance Officer.
  • ☐ Where a prohibited trade occurs, calculate and process the consequence/disgorgement mechanism required by the code/regulations.
  • ☐ Maintain evidence of review and closure.

I. Disclosure checklist

Disclosure

When / who

Action

Initial disclosure

Promoter/member of promoter group, director, KMP and other prescribed persons when applicable.

Collect prescribed details and file within applicable timeline.

Continual disclosure

Prescribed transaction threshold crossed by covered person.

Obtain disclosure and file with exchange as prescribed.

Company monitoring

Ongoing.

Track DP holdings/trades and reconcile disclosures.

Exchange filing

Where required.

File within prescribed period and retain acknowledgement.

Website/publication

Where required by current framework.

Update and archive.

 

J. Code of Fair Disclosure checklist

  • ☐ Prompt public disclosure of UPSI that would materially affect price discovery, subject to applicable rules.
  • ☐ Uniform and universal dissemination.
  • ☐ Authorised spokesperson / disclosure officer identified.
  • ☐ Prompt dissemination of credible material market rumours where required.
  • ☐ Appropriate response to queries/news reports.
  • ☐ No selective disclosure of UPSI.
  • ☐ If UPSI is disclosed selectively/inadvertently, make prompt public disclosure as required.
  • ☐ Maintain exchange filing and disclosure approval evidence.

K. Legitimate-purpose sharing checklist

Recipient

Control

Employee / internal team

Need-to-know + legitimate purpose + confidentiality + SDD.

Auditor / CA / CS / lawyer

Professional need + confidentiality + SDD.

Merchant banker / adviser

Transaction need + NDA + SDD + restricted project.

Lender / investor / transaction party

Legitimate purpose documented + confidentiality + SDD.

Group entity

Need-to-know and legitimate purpose verified + SDD.

Regulator / statutory authority

Legal/regulatory basis documented; preserve communication.

 

L. 30-day PIT implementation plan

Days

Objective

Deliverables

1–3

Governance

Applicability memo, Compliance Officer, current regulations/circulars, code inventory.

4–7

Policy

Code of Conduct, Code of Fair Disclosure, DP criteria and pre-clearance rules.

8–12

People

DP master + immediate-relative data + acknowledgements.

13–17

UPSI

UPSI classification matrix, restricted project workflow, legitimate-purpose checklist.

18–22

SDD

SDD configuration, access controls, audit trail and retention test.

23–26

Trading

Window calendar, broker/DP monitoring, pre-clearance and contra-trade test.

27–29

Training

Employee/DP training, declarations, FAQs and escalation matrix.

30

Closure

Compliance Officer sign-off, exception register and Board/committee reporting.

 

M. Periodic compliance calendar

Frequency

Activity

Evidence

Daily/event

UPSI identification, SDD, restricted list, access monitoring.

SDD/project register

Each window closure

Closure/reopening notices and trade monitoring.

Notice + system log

Each trade request

Pre-clearance / contra-trade / UPSI check.

Application + approval

Monthly

DP list and immediate-relative information review.

Master-data report

Quarterly

Financial result closure, disclosures, trade monitoring, exceptions.

Quarterly PIT file

Half-yearly

SDD integrity review and training/control review.

Review report

Annually

Policy/code review, DP mapping, training, Board report.

Annual compliance certificate/report

Event-based

M&A, fund raising, rating, KMP, fraud/default, restructuring, forensic audit etc.

Event PIT file

 

N. Violation / investigation response

  • ☐ Immediately preserve emails, chats, access logs, trade records, SDD entries and disclosure records.
  • ☐ Establish the relevant UPSI, creation time, sharing history and general-availability time.
  • ☐ Determine insider/DP status and relationship to the company.
  • ☐ Reconstruct all relevant trades and pre-clearance approvals.
  • ☐ Check trading-window status and contra-trade history.
  • ☐ Escalate to Compliance Officer / Board-authorised committee under policy.
  • ☐ Assess applicable exchange/SEBI reporting and legal requirements.
  • ☐ Calculate disgorgement/disciplinary consequence where applicable.
  • ☐ Document findings, corrective actions and closure.
  • ☐ Conduct root-cause review and update controls/training.

O. Documents & records master index

  • ☐ Board-approved Code of Conduct
  • ☐ Code of Fair Disclosure
  • ☐ PIT policy
  • ☐ Compliance Officer appointment
  • ☐ Designated Person master
  • ☐ Immediate-relative data
  • ☐ Annual trading-window calendar
  • ☐ Closure/reopening notices
  • ☐ UPSI/project register
  • ☐ Restricted list
  • ☐ SDD records/audit logs
  • ☐ Pre-clearance applications
  • ☐ Approvals/rejections
  • ☐ Post-trade declarations
  • ☐ Contract notes
  • ☐ Initial disclosures
  • ☐ Continual disclosures
  • ☐ Exchange acknowledgements
  • ☐ Training records
  • ☐ Confidentiality undertakings
  • ☐ Exception register
  • ☐ Violation investigation file
  • ☐ Board/committee reports

 

Author Bio
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Neha Verma

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Designation: CS Management Trainee
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Curious about how law, governance and business come together to shape better organisations. Focused on continuous learning, practical exposure and developing a strategic... View Full Profile

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