A step-by-step paperless guide to getting started with investing.
What a demat account actually is
A demat account holds your shares in electronic form, while the linked trading account lets you buy and sell on the exchanges. You need both to invest in Indian stocks, and most brokers open them together in one application.
What you need before you start
Keep your PAN card, Aadhaar number (linked to your mobile for OTP), a bank account and a clear selfie ready. A scanned signature helps but most flows let you draw or e-sign instead.
The five-minute paperless flow
Enter your PAN and Aadhaar, complete the Aadhaar-based e-KYC with an OTP, link your bank account, upload your selfie and signature, then e-sign the application with a final OTP. With Wisdom Capital there is no account-opening fee and most accounts activate within a working day.
Before your first trade
Once activated, add funds from your linked bank account, start with delivery trades in companies you understand, and keep position sizes small until you are comfortable with the platform.