Published 19 July 2026 · By the PCJ Desk · General educational information, not investment advice.
The charges, one by one
Brokerage — the fee your broker charges per trade, either a flat amount or a percentage, and it can differ for delivery, intraday and F&O. Demat (DP) charges — a small fee when shares are debited from your demat account, plus an annual maintenance charge (AMC). STT (Securities Transaction Tax), stamp duty, exchange transaction fees, SEBI turnover fee, and GST on brokerage and charges are statutory — the same across brokers, set by the government and regulator.
Why “zero brokerage” isn’t free
Even with zero delivery brokerage, you still pay STT, stamp duty, exchange fees and GST — and often brokerage on intraday and F&O. Always ask for the full tariff sheet and a sample contract note before you decide.
How to compare brokers fairly
Compare the all-in cost for the trades you actually make — not just the headline brokerage. A delivery investor and an active F&O trader will find very different brokers cheapest. Also weigh the value of a relationship manager, research and platform against a few rupees of brokerage.
See it in plain numbers
PCJ publishes its charges transparently — see pricing & charges, and use our brokerage and cost calculators to estimate what a trade will actually cost. New to investing? Read how to choose a stock broker.