NSE surpasses 22 crore investor accounts amid rising retail participation

NSE surpasses 22 crore investor accounts amid rising retail participation

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced on April 11 that the total number of investor accounts—represented by Unique Client Codes (UCCs)—has crossed the 22 crore mark. Notably, the latest addition of 2 crore accounts occurred within just six months, underscoring sustained investor interest in direct market participation despite prevailing global economic challenges.

UCCs reflect the cumulative number of client registrations, with investors permitted to register with multiple trading members. As of March 2025, the number of unique registered investors on the NSE stood at 11.3 crore, having crossed the 11 crore milestone on January 20, 2025. Since investors may hold accounts with different brokers, they can be associated with multiple UCCs, NSE release said.

Maharashtra leads the country with the highest number of investor accounts at 3.8 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh (2.4 crore), Gujarat (1.9 crore), and Rajasthan and West Bengal, each with approximately 1.3 crore accounts. Collectively, these states contribute nearly 49 percent of the total investor accounts, while the top ten states account for roughly 75 percent of the overall count.

Over the past five years, the benchmark Nifty 50 Index has delivered a robust annualized return of 22 percent, while the Nifty 500 Index has recorded a 25 percent annualized return—highlighting the significant wealth creation during this period. In parallel, the NSE’s Investor Protection Fund (IPF) rose by over 23 percent year-on-year, reaching ₹2,459 crore as of March 31, 2025.

Commenting on this growth, Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE, said: "This surge reflects the accelerated pace of digital transformation and the growing adoption of mobile trading, which have made capital markets more accessible to investors in tier 2, 3, and 4 cities. The expansion is also a testament to targeted efforts aimed at increasing retail participation—such as comprehensive financial literacy campaigns and simplified KYC processes. As investor engagement grows across diverse instruments, including equities, ETFs, REITs, InvITs, and bonds, this milestone signals the evolution of a more inclusive financial ecosystem, with technology serving as a key enabler of democratized investing."