1. Overview

Source: Official websites of CDSL and NSDL

India has two major securities depositories: Central Depository Services (India) Ltd. (CDSL) and National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL). Both play a pivotal role in the Indian capital markets, enabling electronic storage and transfer of securities. While they serve similar purposes, their business models and target segments differ significantly.

2. Business Model Comparison

a) CDSL: Retail-Driven Model

CDSL’s business primarily caters to retail investors, thriving on the exponential growth of individual demat accounts.

Key business activities:

• Account Maintenance: Charges annual maintenance fees and transaction fees through Depository Participants (DPs) serving retail clients.

• High Transaction Volumes: Retail clients trade frequently in smaller lot sizes, resulting in steady transaction-based revenue.

• Digital & Ancillary Services: Through its subsidiary CVL, CDSL provides services like:

  • e-KYC and e-signature verification

  • e-voting platforms

  • Central KYC Registry operations

• Dematerialization of Unlisted Shares: Rising demand from startups and ESOP stakeholders creates additional revenue avenues.

Scalability: CDSL’s model thrives on volume growth, low operating cost, and digital integration, making it highly scalable and profitable with expanding margins.

b) NSDL: Institution-Driven Model

NSDL was India’s first depository and continues to dominate in the institutional and custody segment.

Key business activities:

• Custody & Settlement: Major clients include mutual funds, FIIs, insurance companies, and pension funds.

• Debt Market Instruments: Preferred platform for handling corporate bonds, G-Secs, CPs, and CDs.

• Issuer Services: Facilitates IPO processes, dividend distributions, bonus issues, and buybacks.

• Government Projects via NSDL e-Gov:

  • PAN issuance and management

  • National Pension Scheme (NPS) recordkeeping

  • Central KYC Registry

Revenue Characteristics:

• Sticky and long-term contracts

• Less cyclical in nature

• Slower growth due to limited scalability and reliance on a few high-value clients

3. Financial Performance (₹ in Crore)

Source: Screener.in and UnlistedZone

4. Valuation Snapshot (as on 30-Apr-2025)

5. Conclusion

Final Verdict: Both depositories offer distinct value propositions.

• Choose CDSL if you seek high growth and returns driven by retail and fintech momentum.

• Choose NSDL if you prefer stability, long-term contracts, and exposure to India’s institutional financial infrastructure.

Investment decision should align with your risk appetite and holding period.