The total number of investor accounts on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has surpassed 22 crore this month, marking a sharp rise of over 2 crore accounts in just six months since it crossed the 20-crore mark in October 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, the number of unique registered investors stood at 11.3 crore, up from 11 crore on January 20, 2025. It’s important to note that one investor can hold multiple accounts across different brokers, resulting in more than one client code.
Maharashtra continues to lead 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, with approximately 1.3 crore accounts each. Together, these states account for nearly 49% of all investor accounts, while the top 10 states contribute around 75% of the total.
Over the past five years, the NSE’s benchmark Nifty 50 index has delivered an impressive 22% annualised return, while the Nifty 500 has yielded an even higher return of 25% annually. These gains underscore the wealth creation potential for investors during this period.
Meanwhile, the NSE’s Investor Protection Fund (IPF) grew by over 23% year-on-year, reaching ₹2,459 crore as of March 31, 2025.
“The rapid growth in India’s investor base—with over 2 crore new accounts added in just six months—reflects strong investor confidence in India’s economic trajectory despite global challenges,” said Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE.
He attributed this growth to accelerated digital transformation and the rising popularity of mobile trading platforms, which have made capital markets more accessible to investors across Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities.
Krishnan also pointed to the success of initiatives aimed at deepening retail participation, including widespread financial literacy campaigns and simplified KYC procedures.
According to recently released data, the market capitalisation of NSE-listed companies rose to ₹410.87 lakh crore ($4.81 trillion) in FY25 (as of March 31), up from ₹384.2 lakh crore ($4.61 trillion) in FY24—an increase of 6.94% year-on-year. The total number of companies listed on the NSE stood at 2,720 as of March 31, 2025.
— IANS