Central Depository Services (India) (CDSL) is a leading Market Infrastructure Institution (MII) in India’s capital markets ecosystem. Promoted by BSE and operational since 1999, it delivers convenient, dependable, and secure electronic depository services to investors, issuers, exchanges, clearing corporations, and depository participants (DPs) at competitive costs. Regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), CDSL achieved a milestone as the first listed depository in the Asia-Pacific region and the second globally upon its listing on NSE in June 2017. Headquartered in Mumbai, it maintains a robust governance framework to uphold market integrity and investor protection.

CDSL facilitates dematerialised holding of diverse asset classes, including equities, debentures, bonds, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), mutual fund (MF) units, Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) units, Certificate of Deposits (CDs), Commercial Papers (CPs), and Government Securities (G-Secs), eliminating the risks of holding securities in physical form. Through several DPs, including banks and brokers, it supports seamless account operations, settlements, e-voting, Mobile-voting (M-voting), the Myeasi app, and e-Locker services across the NSE, BSE, and MCX platforms.

Business area of the company

CDSL is a MII and a crucial part of the Capital market structure, providing services to all Market participants - Exchanges, Clearing Corporations, DPs, Issuers and Investors. A Depository is a facilitator for holding of securities in the dematerialised form and an enabler for securities transactions.

Services

• Easi: “easi” (electronic access to securities information), an internet based facility, allows Beneficial Owners (BOs) to monitor their CDSL Demat account at a place and time of their choosing. 
• Easiest: “easiest” (electronic access to securities information & execution of secure transactions), an internet based facility, allows BOs to submit debit instructions through the internet, thus obviating the need of visiting their DP offices to submit instruction slips.
• SMART: SMS alert facility SMART (SMS Alerts Related to Transactions) enables BOs registered for this facility to receive SMS alerts in case of any debits or credits related to corporate actions or any change in demographic details in their accounts.
• e-Voting: “e-Voting” is an internet based system through which shareholders can login and register their votes on company resolutions. The system processes and records votes automatically, which facilitates faster processing of voting results.
• M-Voting: M-Voting is a mobile application for e-Voting. The mobile app can be downloaded by shareholders on their android and iOS based mobile devices.
• Myeasi Mobile App: Myeasi Mobile App for BOs registered for easi or easiest. Myeasi Mobile App is designed with adaptive technology such that its fits in all Smartphones/tab screen size.
• e-Locker: e-Locker is an online document storage facility to store important documents in electronic form at one central secure location. This facility is available for easi/easiest users.

Certifications, awards and accreditations

• 2014: IDC Insights Award” by International Data Corporation, in the CIO category.
• 2014: EMC Transformers Award” by Dell EMC, in the best use of IT to transform business category.
• 2015: “IDC Insights Award” by International Data Corporation, in the CIO category.
• 2015: “IDG’s CIO100 Award” by International Data Group, in CIO category for enterprise IT excellence.
• 2015: “IDG’s Security Supremo Special Award” by International Data Group, in the security, risk, governance and compliance category.
• 2015: “Innovative CIO Awards” by BitStream Mediaworks Private Limited, in the CIO category.
• 2015: “Dataquest Business Technology Award” by Cyber Media, in the data center/networking category.
• 2015: “Dataquest Business Technology Award” by Cyber Media, in the enterprise security category.
• 2015: “Dataquest Business Technology Award” by Cyber Media, in the enterprise application category.
• 2015: “Dataquest Business Technology Award” by Cyber Media, in the “storage/BCP/DR” category.
• 2015: “EMC Transformers Award” by Dell EMC, in the best use of IT to transform business category.
• 2015: “Info Sec Maestros Award” by BitStream Mediaworks Private Limited, for information security.
• 2015: “Net App Innovation Award” by NetApp, Inc. for enterprise mobility.
• 2016: “BFSI Tech Maestros Awards” by BitStream Mediaworks Private Limited, for IT leadership.
• 2016: “Dell EMC Transformers Awards” by Dell EMC, for security transformation.
• 2016: “Exito BFSI IT Leadership Award” by Exito, for IT leadership.
• 2016: “IDG’s Intelligent Enterprise Champions Award” by International Data Group, for infrastructure.
• 2016: “Innovative CIO Awards” by BitStream Mediaworks Private Limited, in the CIO category.
• 2016: “Express Security Strategist Award” by the Indian Express Group, for information security.
• 2017: “FinTec India Award” awarded at FinTec Conference and Awards, for IT security projects and IT projects.
• 2017: “Info Sec Maestros Award” by BitStream Mediaworks Private Limited, in the Information Security category.
• 2019: The Data Center and Summit Awards 2019 is in recognition of Innovation and New Initiatives in Infrastructure management.
• 2019: BFSI IT Leadership Award in Year 2019.
• 2019: IT Architect Digital Workspace Award in Year 2019
• 2019: IDC Insight Excellence in Operation Award in Year 2019
• 2021: Innovation Award 2021
• 2022: Jury's Choice at the Global Security Summit & Awards 2022
• 2023: Awarded for the ‘Best Proactive Threat Detection Initiative’ hosted by Quantic on the 2nd Annual Cyber Security Excellence Awards 2023
• 2023: Recognised as the ‘Highly Recommended Market Infrastructure Institution’ at the Regulation Asia Awards 2023
• 2023: Became the first Indian depository to win ‘Central Securities Depository’ of the Year 2023 Award at the Asset Service Times. With this Industry Excellence Award CDSL was recognized on an international platform
• 2024: CDSL has been awarded ‘Market Infrastructure of the Year’ Award at the Regulation Asia Awards for Excellence 2024.
• 2025: CDSL was felicitated as one of the ‘Best Organisations for Women 2025’ by ET Now, recognising its inclusive policies and commitment to gender diversity.
• 2025: CSD of the year 2025 by Asset Servicing Times
• 2025: Market Infrastructure of the year 2025 by Regulation Asia
• 2025: ‘Innovation in Market Infrastructure’ award at the Leaders in Custody Asia Awards 2025 by Global Custodian
• 2026: Best Institution for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Asia Asset Management Awards at Best of Best Awards 2026
• 2026: ‘Golden Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award’ for the year 2026 by Institute of Directors, India

Major events and milestones

• 1999: The Union Finance Minister of India, Yashwant Sinha flagged off the operations of the company.
• 1999: The first settlement of trades in demat mode through BOI Shareholding Limited, the clearing house of BSE, began.
• 2002: The company launched its internet facility ‘easi’ (electronic access to securities information).
• 2002: Online inter-depository transfer commenced. This facility enables on-line transfer of securities between both the depositories any time during the specified business hours.
• 2004: The company launched its internet facility ‘easiest’ (electronic access to securities information & execution of secured transaction).
• 2005: Number of active demat accounts with the company crossed 1 million.
• 2005: The number of companies admitted with the company for demat crossed 0.005 million.
• 2006: The company was awarded the BS7799 certification from Det Norske Veritas (Rotterdam).
• 2006: CDSL Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company was incorporated.
• 2006: The company was awarded the ISO 27001 from Det Norske Veritas (Rotterdam).
• 2006: CDSL Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company began ‘Customer profiling and Record Keeping’ of the KYC of investors for mutual funds.
• 2007: The company signed an MoU with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation of New York (DTCC), designed to build a closer working relationship and exchange of information.
• 2007: The company signed an MoU with the Korea Securities Depository (KSD), aimed at promoting development of financial services industries in India and Korea.
• 2007: The company launched its SMS Alert facility, called ‘SMART’ (SMS Alerts Related to Transactions).
• 2008: Number of active demat accounts with the company touched 4.5 million.
• 2008: The company signed an MoU with Japan Securities Depository Center, Inc. (JASDEC) of Tokyo, designed to build a cooperative relationship.
• 2008: The company signed an MoU with National Depository Center (NDC) to bolster economic relations between India and Russia by encouraging cooperation through the mutual exchange of experience.
• 2008: The company signed an MoU with Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (TDCC), aimed at mutual benefits and further development in the financial market by cooperation in operations and operation linkages, exchange of personnel and new developments.
• 2008: The company signed an MoU with Euroclear SA/NV designed to promote cross-border investment and explore the possibility of establishing an operational link between the company and Euroclear SA/NV.
• 2009: Minister for Corporate Affairs of India, Salman Khurshid launched the company’s e-voting platform.
• 2009: The company and Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn. Bhd. (Bursa Malaysia Depository) signed an MoU to pursue cooperative relationship and opportunities in the areas of securities clearing and depository.
• 2010: The company signed an agreement with Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) to set-up a depository and clearing and settlement system in Nepal and to provide technical assistance and consultancy services to NEPSE.
• 2010: The company introduced the National Academic Depository with a view to obviate the issues associated with the issue of academic mark sheets, degrees and convocation certificates in paper form.
• 2012: U. K. Sinha, SEBI Chairman launched CDSL Ventures KRA, India’s first and largest KYC Registration agency.
• 2013: Transaction Using SMS Texting (TRUST), the acronym for the company’s mobile based utility, ‘Transaction Using Secured Texting’ was formally launched.
• 2015: The number of active demat accounts opened with the company crossed 10 million.
• 2017: CDSL Commodity Repository Limited, its wholly owned Subsidiary was incorporated.
• 2017: The company signed an MoU with Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Limited, Sri Lanka to pursue cooperative relationship and opportunities in the areas of securities clearing and depository.
• 2019: Became the largest depository in India in terms of the number of demat accounts
• 2021: Enhanced the e-DIS system following SEBI’s 2021 guidelines, streamlining trade execution on stock exchanges by replacing the traditional physical delivery process with a secure digital mechanism
• 2022: Introduced Demat Debit and Pledge Instruction (DDPI), T+1 settlement cycle, and implemented block mechanism for securities pay-in
• 2023: Successfully implemented the segregation of client securities by introducing Client Unpaid Securities Pledgee Account (CUSPA) and enabled single sign-on for e-voting
• 2023: Launched the first edition of the Reimagine Symposium
• 2024: CDSL completes 25 years of operations
• 2024: Became the first depository to cross the milestone of 11+ Crore demat accounts
• 2024: Introduced T+0 settlement (Optional) for selected securities in March 2024
• 2024: Introduced e-CAS in 23 languages
• 2025: Became the first depository to cross the milestone of 15+ Crore demat accounts
• 2025: Introduction of Direct Pay-out of securities in the investor's demat account
• 2025: Implemented DigiLocker integration
• 2025: Introduced new features in the CDSL MyEasi Investor App
• 2025: Launched a new investor awareness platform, https://www.cdslipf.com, a comprehensive online resource available in 12 languages
• 2025: Implemented the nomination framework
• 2026: First depository to cross 18 crore demat accounts
• 2026: Launched first edition of Reimagine Ideathon
• 2026: Simplified Investor App login through PAN and Sim Binding, enabled complaint filing, and added proxy advisor recommendations across all e-voting platforms
• 2026: Co-developed and launched a unified FPI knowledge portal with MIIs, as advised by SEBI