NSDL is India’s first and one of the largest depositories, facilitating the holding and transfer of securities in electronic form. Incorporated in 1996, it has played a pivotal role in modernizing the Indian capital markets by eliminating the risks and inefficiencies associated with physical certificates.

Core Services

a) Demat Accounts: Enables investors to hold shares and other securities electronically.

b) Clearing & Settlement: Facilitates smooth and secure settlement of trades.

c) Corporate Actions Handling: Automates processes like dividends, rights, and bonus issues.

d) KYC & Investor Services: Registered as a KYC Registration Agency (KRA), offering e-KYC and Aadhaar-based verification.

Market Position & Reach

NSDL holds assets worth over ₹400 lakh crore under custody and services more than 3 crore demat accounts through its extensive network of Depository Participants. It is seamlessly integrated with both NSE and BSE, along with multiple clearing corporations, playing a crucial role in the Indian capital market infrastructure.

Strategic Relevance

As India’s digital financial infrastructure expands, NSDL is central to:

i) Supporting rising retail participation in markets

ii) Facilitating seamless IPO allotments

iii) Enabling secure record-keeping for mutual funds, bonds, and insurance repositories

Governance & Compliance

NSDL operates under the regulatory oversight of SEBI, ensuring transparency, investor protection, and systemic integrity. It is instrumental in implementing national market infrastructure reforms such as T+1 settlement and e-KYC.