What is a Demat Account? Features, Benefits & How to Open

The History and Regulatory Framework Behind Dematerialisation in India

To truly appreciate why a Demat account matters, it helps to understand the problem it was designed to solve. Before 1996, every share transaction in India was settled physically. Investors received paper certificates, and transferring ownership required the physical endorsement of those certificates, their submission to the company's registrar and transfer agent, and the eventual issuance of new certificates in the buyer's name. The entire cycle could take 30 to 60 days. Bad deliveries - certificates with defects, signature mismatches, or forged signatures - were rampant, leading to prolonged disputes.

The Depositories Act, 1996 was the legislative foundation that made electronic holding of securities possible in India. Under this Act, SEBI was empowered to regulate depositories, and the two depositories - NSDL and CDSL - were established as the central repositories where all electronic securities records are maintained. The Act also introduced the concept of a Depository Participant (DP), which is the intermediary through which investors access depository services. DPs can be stockbrokers, banks, or financial institutions registered with SEBI and with one or both depositories.

SEBI has progressively strengthened the regulatory framework over the years. Key milestones include mandatory dematerialisation of shares for trading on recognised exchanges (phased in during 1997–2002), the introduction of T+2 settlement (later improved to T+1 for most stocks by 2023), mandatory linking of Demat accounts with PAN cards, and the integration of KYC (Know Your Customer) processes across the securities market. SEBI's Circular on the Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA), introduced to make Demat ownership accessible to small investors at minimal cost, is another important regulatory development.

Investors who hold shares in a Demat account enjoy a level of legal protection that simply did not exist in the paper era. The beneficial owner (BO) - the term used for the account holder - has their holdings recorded at the depository level. Even if the DP faces financial difficulties or ceases operations, the investor's securities are not at risk because the securities are held in the investor's name at NSDL or CDSL, not on the DP's own books. This segregation of client assets is a fundamental safeguard mandated by SEBI.

The regulatory framework also governs the transfer of securities, pledging of securities for margin purposes, transmission of securities in the event of the account holder's death, and the freeze or lock-in of securities for IPO allotments or promoter lock-in requirements. Understanding this framework reassures investors that their holdings are safe and gives them clarity on their rights and the recourse available if something goes wrong.

For investors who wish to escalate a grievance related to their Demat account, the SCORES (SEBI Complaint Redress System) portal is the primary regulatory mechanism. DPs are required to resolve complaints within a specified timeline, and unresolved complaints can be escalated to SEBI directly. Knowing this recourse exists is as important as knowing how to operate your account day to day.

How a Demat Account Actually Works: The Three-Account System

Many new investors confuse a Demat account with a trading account or even a bank account. In reality, seamless stock market participation in India involves three distinct accounts working together, and understanding the role of each removes a great deal of confusion.

The first account is your bank account - the savings or current account with a scheduled commercial bank. This is the source of funds when you buy securities and the destination of proceeds when you sell. The bank account is also linked to your trading account via a mechanism called a mandate or power of attorney, which allows your broker to debit funds for purchases and credit proceeds from sales.

The second account is the trading account (also called a broking account). This is the account you open with a SEBI-registered stockbroker. It gives you access to the trading terminals of NSE and BSE (and commodity exchanges like MCX or NCDEX if you trade commodities). When you place a buy order, it flows through your trading account to the exchange. The trading account does not hold any securities - it is purely an order-placement and settlement interface.

The third account is the Demat account. Once a trade is executed and settled, the securities are either credited to (in the case of a buy) or debited from (in the case of a sell) your Demat account. Think of the trading account as the shop counter where transactions happen, and the Demat account as the warehouse where your securities are stored.

Here is a practical walkthrough of a typical buy transaction. Suppose you log into your trading platform and purchase 100 shares of a company listed on NSE. Your broker's system checks that you have sufficient funds in your mapped bank account (or in your broking ledger). The order is routed to NSE, matched with a seller, and the trade is confirmed. On T+1 (the next working day, under India's current settlement framework), the exchange's clearing corporation - NSE Clearing Limited in this case - moves the shares from the seller's Demat account to yours, and the corresponding cash moves from your bank account to the seller's.

For a sell transaction, your broker needs to be able to debit your Demat account. This is done via an early pay-in mechanism or through a Demat Debit and Pledge Instruction (DDPI), a SEBI-introduced mechanism that replaced the older and more controversial power of attorney (PoA) system. The DDPI is a targeted authorisation that allows your broker to debit your Demat account only for the purpose of delivering securities sold on the exchange, preventing misuse.

The three-account system is elegantly designed so that at no point does the broker actually own your securities or your cash. Your money stays in your bank until the moment of settlement, and your shares sit in your Demat account, in your name, at NSDL or CDSL. This architecture is a powerful investor-protection feature, and it is worth appreciating before you start investing.

Types of Demat Accounts Available in India

Not all Demat accounts are identical. SEBI and the depositories have created different categories of accounts to serve different investor profiles, and choosing the right type can save you money and administrative effort.

The most common type is the regular Demat account, which is available to any Indian resident. It has no restrictions on the value or volume of securities held, making it suitable for active traders and long-term investors alike. Annual maintenance charges (AMC) apply, and these vary from one DP to another.

The Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) was introduced by SEBI specifically to encourage small investors to participate in the securities market without being deterred by costs. A BSDA is available to resident Indian individuals who have only one Demat account across both depositories combined and whose holding value does not exceed a SEBI-specified threshold (refer the latest SEBI circular for the current threshold, as it is periodically revised). BSDA accounts attract no AMC up to a lower holding threshold and a reduced AMC beyond that, up to the maximum permitted holding value. If your portfolio value exceeds the maximum limit, your DP is required to convert your BSDA into a regular Demat account automatically.

For non-resident Indians (NRIs), the account structure is more nuanced. An NRI who wishes to invest in Indian equities under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) route - governed by RBI regulations - needs an NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) or NRE (Non-Resident External) Demat account, depending on whether the investments are repatriable or non-repatriable. NRIs must also obtain RBI permission through their designated bank for PIS investments, though this process has been significantly streamlined. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) registered with SEBI operate through separate custodian arrangements rather than retail Demat accounts.

Repatriable NRE Demat accounts are linked to NRE bank accounts, and the proceeds from sales can be freely repatriated abroad. Non-repatriable NRO Demat accounts are linked to NRO bank accounts, and repatriation is subject to RBI guidelines and annual limits. NRIs must be careful not to mix PIS and non-PIS investments in the same Demat account, as this creates regulatory complications.

Corporate entities - companies, trusts, partnership firms, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) - can also open Demat accounts. The documentation requirements differ from those for individuals and include entity-specific KYC documents such as the Memorandum of Association, partnership deed, or trust deed, as appropriate.

Finally, there is the concept of a joint Demat account, where up to three individuals can be account holders. The first holder is the primary beneficial owner, and the account operates on either a jointly (all signatures required) or a survivorship basis. For most retail investors, a single-holder account is simpler to manage, but a joint account can be useful for estate planning purposes.

Documents Required and Eligibility to Open a Demat Account

Opening a Demat account in India is a straightforward KYC-driven process, but you do need to have the right documents ready. SEBI has standardised the KYC requirements through a common KYC form that applies across capital market intermediaries, which means that if you have completed your KYC with a SEBI-registered intermediary previously, the process is often quicker the second time.

For a resident Indian individual, the core documents required are: a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card (mandatory for all capital market transactions as directed by SEBI), an Aadhaar card (used for address proof and increasingly for e-KYC via OTP-based verification), a bank account statement or cancelled cheque (for linking your bank account), and a passport-size photograph. Income proof - such as a salary slip, bank statement showing income, or income tax return - may be required for certain account types, particularly if you want to activate F&O (futures and options) trading segments.

For proof of identity, the PAN card itself usually suffices. For proof of address, acceptable documents include Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, driving licence, or a recent utility bill. Most DPs now offer fully digital, paperless account opening using Aadhaar-based e-KYC, where OTP verification through your Aadhaar-linked mobile number substitutes for physical document submission. This has dramatically reduced the time to open an account - from days or weeks to as little as a few hours in many cases.

Eligibility is broad. Any Indian resident who has a valid PAN card can open a Demat account. There is no minimum age restriction per se; minors can hold Demat accounts, but the account must be operated by a guardian until the minor attains majority. Upon turning 18, the account must be converted to a regular account with fresh KYC documentation. Illiterate individuals can also open accounts with appropriate witness arrangements, though in practice the digital KYC process has become the norm.

For NRIs, additional documents are required: a copy of the passport, overseas address proof, the PIS permission letter from the designated bank (for equity investments), and FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) declarations. The account opening timeline for NRIs can be longer due to the additional regulatory checks.

It is worth noting that a single individual can hold multiple Demat accounts across different DPs. There is no regulatory prohibition on this, though BSDA eligibility is contingent on having only one account. Investors sometimes maintain accounts with more than one DP for specific reasons - for example, keeping long-term investment holdings with one DP and using a more feature-rich trading platform through another. However, multiple accounts mean multiple AMC charges, so the cost-benefit needs to be weighed carefully.

Charges and Fee Structure: What Does a Demat Account Actually Cost?

Cost is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Demat accounts, and investors sometimes get an unpleasant surprise when they receive their first account statement or notice debits they did not expect. A clear understanding of the fee structure prevents this.

The charges associated with a Demat account fall into several distinct categories. The first is the account opening charge. Many DPs - particularly technology-first discount brokers - have reduced this to zero as a customer acquisition strategy. Traditional full-service brokers and banks may charge a nominal one-time fee. Always check whether the waiver comes with conditions.

The second and most recurring charge is the Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC). This is a fee levied by the DP for maintaining your Demat account. AMC varies significantly across DPs - it can range from zero (for the first year as a promotional offer, or permanently for certain account types) to several hundred rupees per year. For BSDA accounts within the permissible holding value, the AMC is either zero or a very nominal amount as mandated by SEBI. When comparing DPs, look at the actual ongoing AMC rather than just the account opening fee.

Transaction charges are levied on debit instructions from your Demat account - essentially, each time securities are sold or transferred out. These are charged per instruction or as a percentage of the transaction value, subject to a minimum and maximum cap. Credits to the Demat account (when you buy securities or receive corporate action benefits) are typically not charged, or are charged at a very nominal rate. Some DPs also charge a custody fee, which is a percentage of the market value of securities held, though this is more common for institutional accounts than retail ones.

Pledging charges apply when you pledge your Demat holdings as collateral - for example, to obtain margin for derivatives trading. There will be a fee for creating the pledge and another for invoking or releasing it. This is worth checking if you plan to use your equity holdings as collateral for F&O positions.

Dematerialisation charges apply if you still hold physical share certificates and want to convert them to electronic form. The process involves submitting the Dematerialisation Request Form (DRF) along with the physical certificates to your DP, who forwards them to the company's registrar for verification and conversion. Charges typically include a fixed fee per request plus a per-certificate fee.

Rematerialisation - the reverse process of converting electronic holdings back to physical certificates - is technically possible but rarely used. It attracts charges and the resulting physical certificates have limited practical utility in today's market.

Off-market transfer charges apply when you transfer securities from one Demat account to another outside of exchange transactions - for example, when gifting shares to a family member or consolidating holdings from two Demat accounts. These transfers are executed using Delivery Instruction Slips (DIS) or the online CDSL/NSDL platforms and attract a fee.

Always read the tariff schedule of a DP carefully before opening an account. Some DPs advertise zero AMC but recover costs through higher transaction charges, and vice versa. The right choice depends on your trading frequency and portfolio size.

Corporate Actions and How They Are Credited to Your Demat Account

One of the significant advantages of holding securities in Demat form is the seamless, automatic processing of corporate actions. A corporate action is any event initiated by a listed company that affects its share capital or distributes value to shareholders. Understanding how these are handled in the Demat system is important for every investor.

A stock split is one of the most common corporate actions. When a company announces, say, a 2-for-1 stock split, every shareholder receives two shares for each share held, with the face value proportionally halved. In the paper era, this required the surrender of old certificates and the issuance of new ones - a cumbersome process. In the Demat system, the depositories simply credit the additional shares to your account on the record date, automatically and without any action required from you. You will see the extra shares appear in your Demat statement after the corporate action is processed.

Bonus shares work similarly. If a company announces a 1:1 bonus issue (one bonus share for every share held), your Demat account is credited with the bonus shares on the record date. No DIS submission, no paperwork - it simply happens.

Rights issues are slightly more involved. When a company offers rights shares to existing shareholders, you receive a Rights Entitlement (RE) credited to your Demat account. You can choose to subscribe to the rights by applying and paying for the shares, renounce the entitlement (sell the RE on the exchange during the rights issue period), or let the RE lapse. The Demat system makes this process transparent because your RE holding is clearly visible in your account.

Dividends are not credited to your Demat account - they are paid directly to your linked bank account via ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) or NEFT. However, your Demat account's record as of the record date determines your eligibility to receive the dividend. It is therefore essential that your bank account details with the registrar and the depository are always up to date.

IPO allotments are another important corporate action. When you apply for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) through the ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked Amount) mechanism, and shares are allotted to you, they are credited directly to your Demat account. The process is entirely electronic, from application to allotment to refund.

For investors holding government securities, treasury bills, or sovereign gold bonds through their Demat account, interest and maturity proceeds are credited to the linked bank account, while the securities themselves are held in the Demat account until maturity. This makes government securities as convenient to hold as equity shares.

Buybacks are another corporate action with Demat implications. When a company announces an open-market buyback through the exchange, you simply tender the shares via your trading account, and the Demat system handles the debit. For tender-offer buybacks, a specific window is opened and you submit a tender instruction - again through the Demat and trading account infrastructure.

Safety, Nomination, and Transmission: Protecting Your Holdings

The safety of your Demat account deserves serious attention. Unlike a bank account, which is protected by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) up to a specified limit, the securities in your Demat account are protected by the structural separation of client assets from DP assets, as mandated by SEBI. However, this protection is only effective if you take appropriate precautions at your end.

SEBI has implemented several safeguards over the years. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is mandatory for Demat-related online transactions. The CDSL and NSDL both offer SMS and email alerts for every debit from your Demat account, giving you near-real-time visibility of any transaction. If you receive an alert for a transaction you did not authorise, you should immediately contact your DP and freeze the account pending investigation.

The Demat freeze facility allows you to place a temporary lock on your account - either a full freeze (no debits or credits) or a debit freeze (credits allowed, debits blocked). This is useful if you suspect unauthorised access or if you are going to be away for an extended period. Freezing is reversible and can be done online with most DPs.

Nomination is one of the most important administrative steps you should take when opening a Demat account. Adding a nominee means that in the event of your death, the securities can be transmitted to the nominee without requiring lengthy legal proceedings. Under current SEBI regulations, existing account holders without a nominee on record are required to either add a nominee or explicitly opt out of nomination in writing. Not doing so can result in the account being frozen from a regulatory compliance standpoint. You can add up to three nominees with specified percentage allocations.

Transmission - the transfer of securities from the account of a deceased holder to the nominee or legal heir - is the formal process followed when the account holder passes away. For accounts with a valid nomination, the process is relatively straightforward: the nominee submits a transmission request form along with a death certificate and proof of their own identity. For accounts without a nomination, the process is more complex, potentially requiring succession certificates or probate from a court, which can take years. This is why nomination is not optional in spirit, even if technically you can decline it.

For joint accounts, if one holder dies, transmission to the surviving holder(s) is straightforward, provided the account was opened on a survivorship basis. The surviving holder submits a transmission request and the account is re-designated in their name.

Cyber security hygiene is equally important. Never share your DP login credentials, transaction PIN, or OTP with anyone. Phishing attacks targeted at Demat account holders are a real threat. SEBI and the depositories regularly issue advisories on this subject. Verify any communication purportedly from your DP or depository by calling the official customer care number before acting on it.

Demat Account and Taxation: Key Considerations for Indian Investors

Holding securities in a Demat account has direct implications for taxation in India, and investors need to be aware of the basic framework. Note that tax rates and exemptions change with each Budget - always refer to the latest Finance Act and consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

When you sell equity shares held in a Demat account, the gain or loss is classified based on the holding period. Shares held for more than 12 months are treated as long-term capital assets, and the resulting gain is Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG). Shares held for 12 months or less attract Short-Term Capital Gain (STCG) treatment. Refer the latest Finance Act for the applicable tax rates, since these have been revised in recent Budgets.

The holding period for Demat shares is calculated from the date of credit in your Demat account (the date of allotment or purchase settlement) to the date of debit (settlement date of the sale transaction). The Demat account statement serves as the primary record for establishing holding period, which is one more reason to review your account statement regularly.

For mutual fund units held in Demat form (as opposed to the statement-of-account form issued by the fund house directly), the taxation follows the same rules as for equivalent transactions outside the Demat system - the holding period and applicable rates depend on the fund category. Refer the latest Finance Act for the most current treatment of equity fund units, debt fund units, and hybrid fund units.

Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is levied at the time of each exchange transaction and is directly embedded in the trade settlement process. STT is not a separate charge you make to your Demat account, but it is relevant to your overall cost of investing and has implications for claiming certain capital loss set-offs (STCG losses on transactions where STT was paid can be set off against STCG gains).

Bonuses shares and rights shares received as corporate actions and credited to your Demat account have cost-of-acquisition implications. Bonus shares have a cost of acquisition of zero for tax purposes, which means any gain on their subsequent sale is typically fully taxable. Rights shares are acquired at the subscription price, making that the cost of acquisition. These nuances are automatically traceable through your Demat account statement, which records the date of credit and the corporate action details.

Gifts of shares via off-market Demat transfers attract gift tax provisions in the hands of the recipient if the aggregate value of gifts from non-relatives in a financial year exceeds the prescribed threshold. The cost of acquisition for the recipient is the fair market value on the date of receipt. This again underscores the importance of maintaining accurate Demat account records.

For filing income tax returns, your Demat account statement - available in downloadable format from your DP's portal - along with your broker's contract notes, is the documentary foundation for computing capital gains and losses. CDSL and NSDL also provide Capital Gains statements through their respective platforms (CDSL's Easiest and NSDL's Speed-e), which can be particularly useful if you have traded frequently.

Step-by-Step Guide to Opening a Demat Account in India

Opening a Demat account today is a largely digital, paperless process that can be completed in a few hours if you have the necessary documents ready. Here is a practical walkthrough of the process as it typically works for a resident Indian individual.

The first step is choosing your Depository Participant. Since your trading account and Demat account are usually opened with the same broker, the choice of DP is often tied to the choice of stockbroker. Consider factors such as AMC and transaction charges, the quality of the trading platform, customer service responsiveness, the availability of research and educational tools, and the ease of use of the Demat account portal. Ensure the DP is registered with SEBI and is a member of NSDL or CDSL (or both). Cross-check the DP's registration on the SEBI website.

The second step is gathering your documents. For resident individuals, you need your PAN card, Aadhaar card (with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number active for OTP), a cancelled cheque or bank account statement for bank linkage, and a passport-size photograph.

The third step is filling the account opening form. Most DPs offer an entirely online process. You visit the DP's website or app, enter your personal details, upload or provide consent for Aadhaar-based KYC, and complete the application digitally. The KYC Central Registration Agency (KRA) system means that if you have done KYC with any SEBI-registered intermediary before, your records are already in the system and the DP can fetch them, speeding up the process.

The fourth step involves in-person verification (IPV) or video IPV. SEBI mandates IPV for KYC compliance. In the digital process, this is typically done via a live video call where a DP representative verifies your original documents and takes a live photograph. Some DPs use the Aadhaar OTP e-KYC process, which may substitute for video IPV in certain cases. Ensure you complete this step as it is mandatory.

The fifth step is signing the account opening agreement. The DP is required to provide you with a copy of the rights and obligations document, the tariff schedule, and the account opening agreement. Read these carefully before signing, especially the tariff schedule, so you know what charges to expect. In the digital process, these documents are typically signed using Aadhaar-based e-signature (e-sign) or by uploading scanned signed copies.

The sixth step is receiving your account details. Once the DP processes your application and all KYC checks are cleared, your Demat account is opened. You will receive your Demat account number - called the Beneficiary Owner Identification (BO ID) - by email or SMS. For CDSL accounts, this is a 16-digit number. For NSDL accounts, it starts with "IN" followed by 14 digits. You will also receive login credentials for the depository's online portal (CDSL Easiest or NSDL Speed-e), from which you can view your holdings, download statements, and submit offline instructions.

The seventh step is linking your bank account and activating the trading account. Ensure your bank account is correctly mapped to your Demat and trading accounts. Complete the DDPI (Demat Debit and Pledge Instruction) authorisation if your broker requires it for online selling. Test the linkage by checking that funds transfer works correctly before placing your first trade.

Once the account is live, take a few minutes to set up your nominee (if you have not done so during account opening), activate Demat debit alerts via SMS and email, set a strong transaction PIN, and download a blank statement to familiarise yourself with the format.

Reading Your Demat Account Statement and Ongoing Account Management

Once your account is open and you start investing, your Demat account statement becomes one of the most important documents you will regularly consult. Understanding how to read it and what actions to take based on it is an often-overlooked but practically valuable skill.

Demat account statements are of two types. The first is a Transaction Statement, which lists all credits and debits to your account over a specified period - every purchase, sale, corporate action credit, and off-market transfer. This is your record of account activity. The second is a Holdings Statement, which shows the current balance of securities in your account - the name of each security, the ISIN (International Securities Identification Number), the quantity held, and sometimes the current market value (if your DP integrates live pricing).

Your DP is required by SEBI regulations to send you a statement of holding at regular intervals - typically monthly if there are transactions, and at least once a year even if there are no transactions. You should also download your statement proactively and reconcile it against your own records and your broker's contract notes periodically.

The ISIN is a globally unique 12-character identifier for each security. Every equity share, ETF, bond, and government security has its own ISIN. When you see a security listed in your Demat statement, check the ISIN against publicly available SEBI or exchange databases to ensure the security is correctly identified. This is especially useful for verifying corporate action credits.

Consolidation of physical share certificates into your Demat account - if you or a family member still hold old paper certificates - is a process worth undertaking. The share transfer agents (RTAs) of listed companies maintain records of physical shareholders, but transferring physical shares has become progressively harder due to SEBI regulations that restrict physical transfer of listed securities. Converting these to Demat form is therefore both practical and in line with regulatory requirements.

If you hold securities across multiple Demat accounts - perhaps because you have accounts with different DPs - you can view consolidated holdings through the CAS (Consolidated Account Statement), which is a single statement issued monthly by NSDL or CDSL showing all your Demat holdings and mutual fund folios across the two depositories. The CAS is sent to your registered email address automatically if there were any transactions in the previous month, or upon request. It is an excellent tool for getting a holistic view of your portfolio.

Keeping your contact details - mobile number, email ID, and bank account - updated with your DP is critically important. Dividends, rights entitlements, and SEBI/DP communications are all routed through your registered details. If your mobile number changes and you do not update it, you may miss OTPs required for transactions, or miss crucial alerts about unauthorised debits. Update these details proactively through your DP's portal, following the specified KYC update process.

Example

Key benefits

How it works

1. 1
   Choose a SEBI-Registered Depository Participant

   Research and select a DP - a bank, stockbroker, or financial institution registered with SEBI and affiliated with NSDL or CDSL - considering charges, platform quality, and customer service.

2. 2
   Complete KYC Documentation

   Gather your PAN card, Aadhaar card (with active linked mobile), cancelled cheque, and photograph. For digital onboarding, Aadhaar OTP-based e-KYC streamlines the verification process significantly.

3. 3
   Submit Account Opening Application

   Fill the account opening form online or physically, provide the required documents, complete the mandatory In-Person Verification (IPV) via video call or in-person visit, and sign the account opening agreement after reviewing the tariff schedule.

4. 4
   Receive Your BO ID and Account Credentials

   Once the DP processes your application, you receive your Beneficiary Owner Identification number (16 digits for CDSL, IN+14 digits for NSDL) and login credentials for the depository's online portal.

5. 5
   Link Your Bank Account and Activate DDPI

   Map your savings or current bank account to the Demat account for seamless fund flow. Complete the Demat Debit and Pledge Instruction (DDPI) authorisation with your broker for online sell transactions.

6. 6
   Add a Nominee and Set Up Alerts

   Register your nominee's details immediately after account opening to ensure smooth transmission in case of an eventuality. Activate SMS and email alerts for every Demat debit transaction.

7. 7
   Monitor Holdings via Demat Statements and CAS

   Regularly download your transaction and holdings statements. Reconcile them with your broker's contract notes. Use the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) from CDSL or NSDL for a holistic portfolio view across all accounts.

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions

Related terms