NDSL and CDSL add 3.27 million new demat accounts in August
New investor accounts hit a seven-month high driven by active IPO deals, even as benchmark indices showed weakness.
NSDL and the Central Depository Services Company of India added nearly 3.27 million new demat accounts in August. This volume marks the highest monthly addition recorded since January 2026 and represents the third consecutive month of growth. Total demat account holdings reached 237.7 million by the end of August, though only about 135 million of these belong to unique investors as individuals often hold multiple accounts. Strong activity in the primary market was the primary driver for this surge. August became the busiest month for IPOs and offer-for-sales in 2026, raising approximately ₹22 billion in total proceeds according to available data. Sriram Velayudhan of IIFL Capital Services noted that buoyant IPO markets and higher return expectations from strong small- and mid-cap debuts attracted capital. This growth occurred despite weakness in major benchmarks; the Sensex fell 1.5% and the Nifty dropped 1.2% during August. However, market segments known for retail participation performed well, with the BSE MidCap 150 gaining 1.6%, the BSE SmallCap 250 rising 2.4%, and the BSE Microcap 250 surging 6.2%.
