Published 19 July 2026 · By the PCJ Desk · General educational information, not investment advice.
What a demat account is (and the trading account beside it)
A demat account holds your shares and securities electronically with a depository (NSDL or CDSL). A trading account is what you use to place buy and sell orders on the exchange. You typically open both together with a SEBI-registered broker who is also a depository participant.
Documents you need
Keep three things ready: your PAN card, Aadhaar (linked to your mobile number for OTP), and a cancelled cheque or bank statement showing your name, account number and IFSC. A photo and signature are captured during eKYC.
The online eKYC steps
1) Fill the application with your PAN and Aadhaar. 2) Upload the documents. 3) Complete in-person verification via a short video or Aadhaar-based flow. 4) e-sign with Aadhaar OTP. The form itself takes about 10 minutes and is fully paperless; the account is usually active within 24 to 48 working hours.
The charges to expect
Account opening is often free or low-cost. Ongoing costs are brokerage per trade, annual demat maintenance charges (AMC), and statutory charges — STT, GST, stamp duty and exchange fees. Always read the tariff sheet before you open. See our pricing & charges for a transparent breakdown.
Is it safe?
Yes, when opened with a SEBI-registered broker and NSDL/CDSL depository participant. Your shares are held by the depository — not the broker — and you receive transaction alerts directly from the exchange and depository. Keep your mobile and email updated to receive them.
Ready to open one?
PCJ Holdings is a SEBI-registered stock broker and NSDL depository participant since 2006. You can open a demat account online in about 10 minutes, with a dedicated relationship manager to help. New to this? Read how to choose a stock broker first.