Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) is an Indian securities depository headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It facilitates the holding and transfer of securities in dematerialised (electronic) form, serving as one of the two principal depositories operating in India alongside the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). CDSL operates under the regulatory framework of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Depositories Act, 1996.
| Name | Central Depository Services (India) Limited |
|---|---|
| Type | Public company; securities depository |
| Industry | Financial services / market infrastructure |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Country | India |
| Regulator | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Promoter (originally) | Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) |
| Listing | National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) |
Securities depositories in India were established to replace the physical share certificate system with electronic record-keeping, thereby reducing the risks of forgery, loss, and delays associated with paper-based settlement. The legal basis for depositories was created through the Depositories Act, 1996, which set out the framework for dematerialisation, beneficial ownership records, and the role of depository participants (DPs).
CDSL was promoted by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) along with several leading banks. Investors interact with the depository indirectly through registered DPs, which include banks, brokers, and other financial intermediaries.
CDSL maintains demat accounts in which investors hold shares, debentures, bonds, mutual fund units, government securities, and other eligible instruments in electronic form. Its principal services include:
CDSL became a listed company through an initial public offering, with its equity shares listed on the National Stock Exchange of India. It is notable as the first depository in India to be publicly listed.
As one of two SEBI-registered depositories, CDSL forms a core part of India's securities market infrastructure. Together with stock exchanges and clearing corporations, depositories enable the rolling settlement system used by Indian markets and support the wide retail participation that has grown alongside the expansion of demat accounts in the country.