Free Demat Account in India 2026: Zero Charges, What Is Included and How to Open

Free demat account: zero opening charges standard on SEBI-registered platforms. AMC may apply from year 2. Need PAN, Aadhaar. Open in under 10 minutes via mobile KYC.

Updated: 22 Jun 2026 • 5:56 pm

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Free Demat Account in India 2026: Zero Charges, What Is Included and How to Open

A free demat account in India means zero account opening charges, which is now standard across most SEBI-registered broker platforms. A this account is opened entirely online through Aadhaar-based e-KYC in under 10 minutes. While the this account itself has no opening fee, Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) and statutory trading charges may apply after the first year.

Univest offers a free demat account under SEBI Broker INZ000317437 with zero brokerage, alongside integrated advisory research (RA INH000013776). This means a this account on Univest gives you both trading access and research tools in one app.

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Table of Contents

What a Free Demat Account Includes in 2026

A free demat account provides the digital infrastructure to hold securities and trade on NSE and BSE. Inclusions in a standard this account: the demat account (for holding shares, ETFs, bonds), a linked trading account (for placing orders), basic portfolio tracking, and app access. Brokerage charges and AMC vary across providers. A this account with zero brokerage means no per-trade commission. Statutory charges still apply.

Free Demat Account: What Is Free and What You Pay

Charge Type	Free Demat Account Status	Applies to All Brokers?
Account Opening Charge	Free on most SEBI platforms	Yes (now standard)
Brokerage per Trade	Zero on platforms like Univest	No (varies by broker)
Annual Maintenance (AMC)	Rs 0 to Rs 300/year from year 2	Varies by broker
STT	Always payable by law	Yes (mandatory for all)
NSE/BSE Exchange Fees	Payable per trade	Yes (mandatory)
SEBI Turnover Fee	Payable per trade	Yes (mandatory)
GST (18%)	On brokerage and exchange charges	Yes (mandatory)
Stamp Duty	State-level charge on equity delivery	Yes (mandatory)

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A free demat account is the foundation. Advisory research (INH000013776) tells you what to put in it.

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How to Open a Free Demat Account Online in 2026

Download the Univest app from the App Store or Google Play.
Tap Open Demat Account and verify your mobile number with OTP.
Enter PAN card details and complete Aadhaar e-KYC.
Add bank account number and IFSC code for settlement.
Complete video KYC in under 3 minutes.
Free demat account activates within 24 to 48 hours.

Use the Free Univest Stock Screener After Opening Your Demat Account

Conclusion

A free demat account in India has zero opening charges and is available on SEBI-registered broker platforms via digital KYC. Univest (INZ000317437) offers a this account with zero brokerage and integrated advisory research (RA INH000013776) in the same app. AMC and statutory charges (STT, exchange fees, GST) apply to all this accounts in India as mandated by law.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to open your free demat account and start investing with zero brokerage.

Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a free demat account really free of all charges?

Ans. A this account means zero account opening charges. AMC may apply from year 2, and statutory charges (STT, exchange fees, SEBI fees, GST) apply to every trade. These statutory charges cannot be waived by any this account provider.

What documents are needed for a this account?

Ans. For a this account, you need: PAN card, Aadhaar with active mobile OTP linkage, a bank account with IFSC, a valid email, and a smartphone camera for video KYC. No physical documents are needed for online this account opening.

Can I open a this account on my mobile?

Ans. Yes. Most SEBI-registered broker apps allow you to open a this account via Aadhaar OTP and video KYC, entirely on mobile. No branch visit is required. The process takes under 10 minutes.

Is zero brokerage standard on all this accounts?

Ans. No. Zero account opening (this account) and zero brokerage are separate features. A this account means no opening fee. Zero brokerage means no per-trade commission. Both are available on Univest (INZ000317437) but not standard on all platforms.

How long does this account activation take?

Ans. After submitting KYC for your this account, CDSL or NSDL activates the account within 24 to 48 working hours. You receive your DP ID and login credentials via SMS and email.

Can I get advisory picks with a this account?

Ans. A this account by itself does not include advisory. On Univest, a this account can be paired with a Pro subscription (SEBI RA INH000013776) starting from the Rs 1 trial, giving research picks alongside trading access.