Retail Surge and Digital Push Drive NSE Investor Accounts Past 22 Crore

Retail Boom Accelerates as NSE Adds 2 Crore Accounts in Just Six Months

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India has achieved a major milestone in April 2025 by surpassing 22 crore investor accounts, measured via Unique Client Codes (UCCs). This remarkable growth underscores the sustained momentum in retail participation, with 2 crore accounts added within a span of just six months, despite heightened global economic volatility.

According to NSE’s latest release, the number of unique investors—those registered through a single PAN—stood at 11.3 crore as of March 2025, up from 11 crore recorded on January 20, 2025. UCCs, on the other hand, reflect cumulative client registrations, allowing for multiple broker affiliations per investor, thereby inflating the overall account count.

Highlights:

• NSE crosses 22 crore UCCs in April 2025.

• 2 crore new accounts added in six months.

• Unique PAN-linked investors stand at 11.3 crore.

Maharashtra Leads Retail Surge, Contributing Over 17% of All Investor Accounts

Geographically, Maharashtra continues to dominate retail investor participation with 3.8 crore accounts, followed by Uttar Pradesh (2.4 crore) and Gujarat (1.9 crore). Other significant contributors include Rajasthan and West Bengal, each contributing around 1.3 crore accounts. Collectively, these five states account for nearly half of India’s total investor accounts on the NSE.

The NSE noted that the top ten Indian states contribute approximately 75 percent of all UCCs, highlighting concentrated penetration but also the growing potential for expansion in underrepresented regions.

Highlights:

• Maharashtra: 3.8 crore accounts.

• Uttar Pradesh: 2.4 crore; Gujarat: 1.9 crore.

• Rajasthan and West Bengal: 1.3 crore each.

• Top 10 states make up 75% of total UCCs.

Markets Deliver Double-Digit Annualized Returns; IPF Surges 23% Year-on-Year

The rising participation is underpinned by strong capital market performance over the past five years. The Nifty 50 Index has yielded an annualized return of 22 percent, while the Nifty 500 Index has posted a 25 percent return, cementing investor confidence in Indian equities. The performance is being widely viewed as instrumental in attracting first-time investors, particularly from non-metro regions.

Meanwhile, the NSE’s Investor Protection Fund (IPF) also witnessed significant expansion, rising by over 23 percent year-on-year to ₹2,459 crore by the end of March 2025. This signals not just market growth but also improved safeguards for participants and enhanced institutional depth.

Highlights:

• Nifty 50 five-year CAGR: 22%; Nifty 500: 25%.

• NSE Investor Protection Fund at ₹2,459 crore.

• IPF up 23% YoY, indicating deeper market confidence.

Digital Onboarding, Tier-2 and Tier-3 Engagement Drive Account Explosion

Speaking on the development, Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer at NSE, credited the surge to India’s digital transformation in capital markets. With the growing adoption of mobile trading platforms and simplified Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, investors from Tier-2, Tier-3, and even Tier-4 cities are gaining unprecedented access to market instruments.

NSE has intensified its financial literacy programs and awareness campaigns, thereby enabling the democratization of investment across diverse financial products such as equities, ETFs, REITs, InvITs, and bonds. This broad-based participation reflects an inclusive and technologically enabled financial ecosystem.

Highlights:

• Mobile apps and e-KYC simplify access for small-town investors.

• Retail growth driven by awareness, fintech, and regional inclusion.

• NSE emphasizes investor education and product diversification.