Share Market4 min read
Opening a demat and trading account in India is fully online and usually takes a day. Here's what you need and what to watch for.
What you need
- PAN card
- Aadhaar (for e-KYC and OTP)
- A bank account proof (cancelled cheque or statement)
- A photo and your signature
The steps
Pick a broker, fill the online form, complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC, e-sign with an OTP, and the account is typically active the same or next working day. There's no charge to open with any major broker.
What to compare before you pick
Equity delivery and intraday brokerage, the demat AMC (some brokers charge ₹0), the DP sell charge, and the platform you'll actually use day to day.
Your shares are held in your name with the depositories (CDSL/NSDL), not the broker — so they're safe even if the broker runs into trouble.
Where to go next
Ready to run your own numbers?
Open the calculators