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How to Invest & Trade

How to Purchase and Sell Shares Through a Demat Account Online

Place buy or sell orders in your broker's app; the demat account holds the shares. Trades settle T+1, and NSE trades 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

PN

Written by Priya Nair

Updated on 17 September 2026·5 min read

On this page9 sections
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To buy and sell shares through a demat account, you place orders in your stockbroker’s app or website: the trading account sends the order to NSE or BSE, and the demat account holds the shares. Shares you buy reach your demat account one working day after the trade (T+1), and money from a sale reaches your broker account on the same T+1 cycle.

Key facts

Item Position on 17 September 2026
Accounts needed Demat account, trading account and a linked bank account
Who you trade through A SEBI-registered stockbroker; individuals cannot place orders directly on the exchange
Normal market hours (NSE equity) 9:15 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday except exchange holidays
Pre-open session Orders from 9:00 am; order entry closes at 9:08 am
Closing Auction Session From 3 August 2026 for stocks with F&O contracts: continuous trading stops at 3:15 pm and the closing price is set by auction
Settlement T+1 for all stocks since 27 January 2023; optional same-day (T+0) for up to 500 large stocks at brokers that offer it
Low-cost demat option Basic Services Demat Account: no annual maintenance charge if holdings are up to ₹4 lakh

What you need before you trade

ItemDetails
PAN, mandatory for a demat and trading account.
KYC documentsAadhaar or another address proof, a photograph and a signature. Most brokers do this online with an Aadhaar OTP and a video check.
A bank accountin your name for adding funds and receiving sale money.
A SEBI-registered broker.Check the broker’s registration on the SEBI website before you sign up. Most brokers open the demat and trading account together.

If you hold a small portfolio, ask for a Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA). SEBI allows it for individuals with one demat account and holdings up to ₹10 lakh. New to the terms? Read what a demat account is first.

How to buy shares through your demat account

  1. Log in to your broker’s app and add money to your trading account by UPI or net banking, or use the UPI block facility if your broker offers it.
  2. Search for the company by name or NSE/BSE symbol and open its quote page.
  3. Tap Buy.
  4. Choose Delivery (called CNC at some brokers) to hold the shares; intraday positions must be closed the same day.
  5. Enter the quantity.
  6. Pick Market to buy at the best available price, or Limit and type the highest price you will pay.
  7. Review the order value and charges, then confirm.
  8. Check the order book for “Executed”. The shares appear in your holdings, and are credited to your demat account on T+1.

How to sell shares from your demat account

  1. Open Holdings in the broker’s app and select the stock.
  2. Tap Sell, enter the quantity and choose a market or limit order.
  3. Authorise the debit from your demat account. Unless you have signed a Demat Debit and Pledge Instruction (DDPI) with your broker, the depository asks for a TPIN and OTP.
  4. Confirm the order and check that its status shows “Executed”.
  5. Look for the contract note in your email; it lists the price, quantity and all charges.
  6. Withdraw the money to your bank account once the sale settles on T+1.

Order types you will see

Order type What it does
Market Buys or sells at once at the best available price; the final price can differ from the last quote
Limit Executes only at your price or better; may stay pending
Stop-loss Sends an order when the price reaches your trigger, to limit a loss
After-market order (AMO) Placed outside market hours and sent to the exchange at the next session
Immediate or cancel (IOC) Fills what it can at once and cancels the rest

For F&O stocks, the Closing Auction Session changes the last 15 minutes. From 3:15 pm to 3:20 pm your pending orders carry over, except stop-loss and iceberg orders. You can place market or limit orders from 3:20 pm to 3:25 pm, and only limit orders from 3:25 pm to 3:30 pm. Matching happens between 3:30 pm and 3:35 pm.

Charges and tax

Every trade carries brokerage, securities transaction tax (STT), exchange transaction charges, SEBI turnover fees, stamp duty on purchases and GST on the broker’s and exchange’s fees. When you sell delivery shares, the depository also charges a small debit fee per stock. Compare brokers on our brokerage charges page. Profit on sale is taxed as capital gains; the rates are on our LTCG on shares page.

Common problems

ItemDetails
Sell order rejectedusually a missing TPIN authorisation. Authorise the holding and place the order again.
Shares bought today not in the demat statementnormal until T+1 settlement.
Complaint against a brokerraise it with the broker first, then on SEBI’s SCORES portal.

Frequently asked questions

How do I purchase and sell shares through a demat account?

Place buy or sell orders in your broker’s trading app; the demat account only holds the shares. Buys are credited and sale money settled on T+1.

Can I trade shares online in India without a broker?

No. Individuals must trade through a SEBI-registered stockbroker, which connects your trading account to NSE and BSE.

What are the share market timings in India?

NSE’s normal equity session runs from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm on trading days, with a pre-open session from 9:00 am. F&O stocks have a closing auction from 3:15 pm.

When do I get money after selling shares?

Sale money settles to your broker account on T+1, one working day after the trade, and you can then withdraw it to your bank.

Is there a minimum amount to buy shares?

You can buy a single share, so the minimum is that share’s price plus charges. Many brokers have no minimum balance.

Can I sell shares on the same day I buy them?

Yes, as an intraday trade. Selling delivery shares before they reach your demat account (BTST) depends on your broker and carries short-delivery risk.

Sources

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