₹0 Brokerage @ ₹999 One-time Fee
with m.Stock by Mirae Asset

DP Charges in India

DP Charges in India - A Comprehensive List

A demat account is a mandatory prerequisite for trading in the Indian stock market. You cannot buy or sell shares through the primary or secondary market without a demat account. However, when you open a demat account, you are obligated to pay certain one-time and recurring fees known as DP charges. Wondering what they are? Here’s a comprehensive guide on what DP charges mean, their different components and who levies these charges.

To open such an account, you need to get in touch with a Depository Participant (DP). DPs are entities that are empowered by the depositories - NSDL and CDSL - to open demat accounts.

Although depositories like the NSDL and CDSL are the only two entities offering demat accounts in the country, you cannot open an account by approaching them directly. Instead, you need to get in touch with a depository participant (DP), which is an intermediary entity empowered to open demat accounts.

What are DP Charges?

DP charges, also known as depository participant charges, are the fees that demat account holders are required to pay to keep their accounts active. There are different kinds of DP charges, some are one-time while others are recurring in nature.

Who Levies DP Charges?

Now that you’re aware of the full form of DP charges, let’s take a look at who levies it. But before we go ahead, here’s a quick overview of how demat accounts are opened.

In India, there are two depositories - NSDL and CDSL. These two entities are the only ones offering demat accounts in the country. However, you cannot open an account with them directly. Instead, you would have to go through an intermediary entity known as the depository participant (DP). The DP is not only empowered to open demat accounts but also acts as the link between the account holder and the depository.

It is the depository participant who levies DP charges for the various services that they provide. Demat account opening charges, account maintenance charges (AMC), and transaction charges are a few of the fees that are commonly levied.

Why are DP Charges Levied?

The depository participant provides a host of services to demat account holders. The levy of DP charges makes up for the cost of providing these services and acts as a source of revenue for the participant. In addition to this, every DP is required to pay a membership fee to the depository they’re associated with. By charging these fees, they can recover a portion of this cost, if not entirely.

How Much DP Charges are Levied?

The depositories have given their participants the freedom to levy DP charges as they see fit. This means that the fees that you need to pay would depend primarily on the depository participant with whom you have a relationship. Here’s a table outlining the different DP charges levied by depository participants.

Particulars DP Charges
Account Opening Charges ₹250 to ₹999 plus taxes
Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) ₹250 to ₹999 plus taxes
Transaction Charges (only levied on sale transactions) NSDL - ₹17.50 (₹13 + ₹4.50)
CDSL - ₹18.50 (₹13 + ₹5.50)
Pledging Charges ₹10 to ₹50
Pledge Release Charges ₹1 to ₹50
Dematerialisation and Rematerialisation Charges ₹15 to ₹50 per certificate

m.Stock's DP charges vs Industry

Unlike other depository participants, the DP charges levied by m.Stock is very nominal. Here’s a table comparing the fees charged by m.Stock with that of the industry.

DP Charges m.Stock Industry
Account Opening Charges ₹149 to ₹999 plus taxes ₹250 to ₹999 plus taxes
Annual Account Maintenance Charges (AMC) ₹0 to ₹480 plus taxes ₹250 to ₹999 plus taxes
Transaction Charges (only levied on sale transactions) ₹12 plus taxes (per transaction) NSDL - ₹17.50 (₹13 + ₹4.50) per transaction
CDSL - ₹18.50 (₹13 + ₹5.50) per transaction
Pledging Charges ₹25 to ₹32 plus taxes (per instrument) ₹10 to ₹50 plus taxes (per instrument)
Pledge Release Charges ₹25 to ₹32 plus taxes (per instrument) ₹1 to ₹50 plus taxes (per instrument)
Dematerialisation and Rematerialisation Charges ₹150 per certificate ₹15 to ₹50 per certificate

Conclusion

As you can see, every depository participant levies DP charges. These charges are a crucial source of revenue for the participants and allow them to recover the various fixed and variable costs that they would have to bear. However, as an investor, it is important to ensure that you choose a depository participant, like m.stocks, that levies nominal fees. This way, you can reduce your out-of-pocket costs and protect your profit from taking a hit.

Frequently Asked Questions

A depository is an entity that issues demat accounts. These accounts can be used by their holders to store shares and other securities in an electronic form.

Entities that are members of a depository are termed depository participants. Depository participants are empowered to open demat accounts and act as the link between a demat account holder and a depository.

Depositories levy fees for providing certain services, which are to be paid by the depository participants. The fees that depositories charge their participants are known as depository charges.

While you may not be able to avoid account opening or annual maintenance charges, you can certainly avoid paying demat transaction charges. All that you need to do is buy and sell shares during the same trading session (intraday).

More Related Articles

What is Trading on Equity

22 September,2023

What is Trading on Equity?

There are many ways in which companies can increase the gains and benefits enjoyed by their shareholders. Trading on equity is one such strategy. Also known as financial leverage, it is essentially the process of taking on some debt and using the funds thus obtained to procure new assets that generate high levels of income. Let’s take a closer look at how trading on equity works.

What is Pre Market Trading

22 September,2023

What is Pre Market Trading

The Indian stock market opens up for trading at 9.15 AM and goes on until 3.30 PM. These are the regular trading hours during which investors and traders may place their buy and sell orders.

Top Rules of Investing in Equity

22 September,2023

5 Important Thumb Rules for Investing

If you are a beginner to investing, you may not be sure about how to get started. There may be various questions holding you back, like how much you should invest, how to invest more, and how to save up for emergencies. Fortunately, there are various thumb rules that can make investing easier for you. Let’s take a closer look at some such useful rules that can guide you along your investment journey.

Open your Lifetime Free Brokerage Account Onboarding in just 5 minutes**

+91
T&C and privacy policy

Power your investments with our smart trading platforms

mobilefooterimg
  • app_download_icon_img
    5 million+
    App downloads
  • 1_Click_icon_img
    1-Click
    Order Placement
  • higherreturns_icon_img
    1,316 Crore+
    Average Daily Turnover