Zerodha combines Indian securities investing with exchange derivatives through Kite, Console and Coin. The decisive distinctions are the customer’s account category, the funding method and whether a position creates a delivery obligation. Its currency service requires separate activation and a declaration of contracted foreign-currency exposure.[1][2]
Broker essentials01
Zerodha at a glance
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Indian stock-broking entity | Zerodha Broking Limited; SEBI stock-broker registration INZ000031633. | Source 3 |
| Core interfaces | Kite for trading, Console for account reporting, Coin for direct mutual funds. | Source 1 |
| Minimum account balance | No minimum balance; trading inactivity after 24 consecutive months without a trade can require reactivation. | Source 4 |
Account eligibility and ownership
Sections ↑Account comparison02
Account routes
| Customer | Opening route and documents | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Resident individual | Online opening is free with PAN, Aadhaar-linked mobile, verified bank details and video verification. | Futures and options require accepted income evidence; exchange activation precedes order access.Source 5 |
| Joint demat | Offline application; up to three holders, each completing identification and verification. | A joint securities-holding account does not create a second trading account for the same individual.Source 6 |
| HUF, partnership and company | Separate non-individual account workflows and documentation. HUF means Hindu Undivided Family. | Do not use the resident individual tariff as a corporate quote.Source 5 |
| Minor | Guardian-operated account with child and guardian identification and the child’s bank account. Opening and maintenance are free. | Mutual funds, IPOs, gifted/transferred holdings and sale of existing shares are supported; direct share purchases, intraday and derivatives are restricted.Source 7 |
Account comparison03
Non-resident Indian account routes
| Route | Bank and application | Pricing boundary |
|---|---|---|
| PIS | Portfolio Investment Scheme route using an eligible NRE bank account and PIS permission; overseas applicants may need signed paper documents. | Stock brokerage is the lower of 0.5% and ₹200 per executed order. Bank PIS fees are separate.Source 8 |
| Non-PIS | NRO account route; an Indian bank account alone does not replace non-resident identification and overseas-address evidence. | Stock brokerage is the lower of 0.5% and ₹50 per executed order.Source 8 |
| Opening and derivatives | NRI opening charge: ₹500. The NRI fee help page quotes ₹50 per F&O order. | The overview instead describes a 0.5%/₹50 cap for F&O. Obtain the applicable low-value order basis before using that route.Source 9Source 8 |
| Custodial clearing | For applicable Orbis clearing arrangements, futures clearing is ₹150 per crore and options ₹1,500 per crore, billed monthly. | A crore is ₹10 million. These are additional clearing charges, not resident retail brokerage.Source 9 |
Products and the contracts being traded
Sections ↑At a glance04
Investment and derivative access
| Product | Service | What the position represents |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and IPOs | Indian exchange shares and UPI-supported IPO applications through Kite. | Delivery investing creates securities holdings; an IPO bid is an application subject to allotment.Source 10 |
| Direct mutual funds | Coin provides direct plans and systematic investments. | Fund units have scheme expenses and redemption terms even where distributor commissions are absent.Source 10 |
| Fixed income | Government securities and listed bond-related holdings appear in the investment range. | Instrument cash flows and tradability differ from a cash balance. Check the actual issue and available order route.Source 10 |
| Commodity derivatives | NSE and MCX contracts through the single-ledger service; BSE commodity trading is unavailable. | These are exchange contracts with expiry and margin obligations.Source 11 |
At a glance05
Currency derivatives: conditional access
| Question | Published position | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Available rupee pairs | USD/INR, EUR/INR, GBP/INR and JPY/INR futures and options. | USD, EUR and GBP contracts use 1,000 foreign-currency units per lot; JPY uses 100,000 yen.Source 12 |
| Activation | Currency segment activation requires income proof and a declaration that trading hedges contracted exposure. | The profile does not treat the declaration as permission to speculate without the underlying exposure.Source 2 |
| Cross-currency contracts | Zerodha says EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY cross-currency derivatives cannot be traded. | The exchange currency account is not a general retail spot-FX account.Source 13 |
Brokerage, taxes and account charges
Sections ↑The following ordinary brokerage schedule applies to resident individuals. Executed-order charges apply separately to buying and selling when each produces an executed order. Currency, commodity, NRI, financed-stock and blocked-bank-funds conditions should be read with their own account rows.[14]
Pricing & charges06
Ordinary resident brokerage
| Segment | Brokerage before applicable taxes |
|---|---|
| Delivery shares | ₹0 brokerage. Depository debits, transaction levies and taxes can still apply.Source 14 |
| Equity intraday and futures | Lower of 0.03% and ₹20 per executed order.Source 14 |
| Currency and commodity futures | Lower of 0.03% and ₹20 per executed order.Source 14 |
| Options | ₹20 per executed order across the published segments. A negative ledger or collateral cash shortfall above ₹5 lakh changes the stated F&O order charge to ₹40.Source 14 |
Pricing & charges07
Principal transaction levies
| Charge | Published basis |
|---|---|
| Securities transaction tax | Delivery shares: 0.1% on both sides; equity intraday: 0.025% on sales; equity futures: 0.05% on sales; equity options: 0.15% of sale premium and 0.15% of exercised intrinsic value.Source 15 |
| Exchange charges | NSE equity: 0.00307%; equity futures: 0.00183%; options: 0.03553% of premium. Exchange and instrument schedules differ.Source 15 |
| Stamp duty | Buy-side equity delivery 0.015%, intraday 0.003%, equity futures 0.002% and options 0.003%.Source 15 |
| Regulatory fees and GST | SEBI: ₹10 per crore. GST: 18% on brokerage, exchange and SEBI charges. These percentages use different charging bases.Source 15 |
| Currency and commodities | Currency has no STT. Commodity futures CTT is 0.01% on non-agricultural sales; commodity options CTT is 0.05% of sale premium.Source 15 |
| Stock derivative delivery | Physically delivered F&O is charged at 0.25% of contract value; netted-off positions use 0.1%.Source 15 |
Pricing & charges08
Depository debit costs
| Situation | Charge or treatment |
|---|---|
| Stock sold from demat | Per stock per day: ₹13 plus GST for male holders; ₹12.75 plus GST for female holders. Quantity and multiple same-day orders do not multiply the ordinary charge.Source 16 |
| Separate settlements | Normal and auction debits, or distinct settlements around holidays, can create additional charges. The debit appears in the ledger rather than the trade contract note.Source 16 |
| Coin mutual-fund redemption | No depository debit charge under this FAQ.Source 16 |
Pricing & charges09
Demat maintenance
| Account condition | Published maintenance charge |
|---|---|
| New resident primary account | First year free when opened on or after 1 June 2026; a secondary account does not receive that waiver.Source 17 |
| Eligible BSDA | Basic Services Demat Account: holdings up to ₹4 lakh: nil; ₹4,00,001–₹10 lakh: ₹25 per quarter plus GST.Source 17 |
| Ordinary non-BSDA | Individual, HUF or partnership: ₹75 quarterly; NRI: ₹125 quarterly; company/LLP: ₹250 quarterly, each plus GST.Source 17 |
| Multiple demat accounts | Separate maintenance charges apply; multiple accounts remove BSDA eligibility under Zerodha’s stated criteria.Source 17 |
Account comparison10
Blocked bank funds use a different tariff
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Bank 3-in-1 blocking facility |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and settlement | Resident individual with IDFC FIRST as primary bank. Funds remain under a one-day bank lien; only used money is debited at day-end and unused funds are released.Source 18 |
| Brokerage | Delivery and MTF: 0.5% per executed order; intraday: 0.05%. These replace the ordinary tariff for this facility.Source 18 |
| Operational limitation | A fresh block is needed for the next day. Secondary banks cannot fund the account while blocking is enabled; available segments are limited.Source 18 |
Financed shares and collateral
Sections ↑Pricing & charges11
Margin Trading Facility costs
| Component | MTF treatment |
|---|---|
| Interest and brokerage | Interest: 0.04% daily on broker-funded money. Brokerage: lower of ₹20 and 0.3% per executed MTF order, including same-day exits.Source 19 |
| Pledge and release | ₹15 plus GST per stock per purchase day; selling incurs ₹15 plus GST for each distinct original purchase day represented in the sale.Source 19 |
| Forced exit | ₹50 plus GST per broker square-off order. MTF holdings are pledged; the broker’s ability to close them is not a guaranteed exit.Source 19 |
| Interest days | The MTF terms start interest on T+1 and continue until the debit or position is cleared.Source 20 |
Protections & eligibility12
MTF shortfalls and forced sales
| Trigger | Risk policy |
|---|---|
| Debit notice | The usual morning notice seeks funding by 11:00 IST; volatile conditions can bring liquidation forward after 09:15.Source 21 |
| Large loss relative to financing | Losses above 20% of the funded amount may lead to proportionate closure; the 80% funded-amount loss trigger can force closure despite cash elsewhere in the account.Source 21 |
| Eligibility changes | A security removed from the eligible Group 1 list must be sold or converted within the notified same-day deadline. Corporate events can also shorten the holding period.Source 21 |
Pricing & charges13
MTF: a financed-balance interest example
Pricing & charges14
Pledged collateral is not spendable cash
| Item | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Eligible holdings | Approved securities and funds provide margin after a haircut, which is a deduction from collateral value. Eligible assets and valuations can change.Source 22 |
| Normal collateral fee | ₹30 plus GST per pledge request per ISIN, the security identifier; ordinary unpledging is free. MTF has its separate pledge tariff above.Source 22 |
| Cash proportion | At least half of F&O margin must be cash or cash equivalents. A non-cash excess creates a 0.035% daily cash-shortfall charge plus GST.Source 22 |
| Overnight option purchases | Using collateral to fund option purchases overnight attracts the separate 0.05% daily charge on collateral utilised.Source 23 |
Orders, expiry and settlement risk
Sections ↑Platforms & products15
Order controls
| Control | Behaviour and limit |
|---|---|
| GTT | Good Till Triggered instructions can remain for one year. Once triggered and sent as an order, they cease to be pending GTT instructions even if the order does not fill.Source 24 |
| Derivative GTT | Contract expiry ends validity; corporate actions or lot-size changes can cancel instructions. Currency GTT is unavailable.Source 25 |
| Intraday margin | Selected equity intraday orders can use up to five times exposure against 20% margin. The eligible-security list and required margin determine actual availability.Source 26 |
At a glance16
Delivery obligations at expiry
| Position | Settlement consequence |
|---|---|
| Stock futures and in-the-money options | Long futures, long calls and short puts can require buying shares; short futures, short calls and long puts can require delivering shares.Source 27 |
| Funding and securities | Margin rises toward expiry. The full delivery obligation can require substantially more cash or actual shares than the initial derivatives margin.Source 27 |
| Index contracts | Index settlement is cash based, unlike the stock-delivery process above.Source 27 |
| Commodity tender period | Zerodha does not facilitate physical commodity delivery and can close contracts before the tender/intention period.Source 28 |
Futures, written options, MTF, physical settlement and unclosed intraday buys can create a debit beyond the initial funds. A circuit limit or missing counterparty can prevent the expected exit. Negative ledger interest is published at 0.05% per day plus GST; losses and charges remain payable.[29]
Funding and withdrawals
Sections ↑At a glance17
Adding funds and using them across segments
| Method or arrangement | Published treatment |
|---|---|
| UPI | Use a linked bank account; broker transfer charge is zero.Source 30 |
| Net banking | ₹9 plus GST per transfer; bank-transfer methods such as IMPS, NEFT and RTGS have no Zerodha transfer fee.Source 30 |
| Single ledger | The current commodity route sits within Zerodha Broking Limited and shares equity funds. Legacy commodity accounts were separate. Stock-sale proceeds become available for commodities on T+1.Source 31 |
Trading & service hours18
Regular withdrawals — Indian Standard Time
| Stage | Timing and limitation |
|---|---|
| Available balance | Newly added same-day funds cannot be withdrawn immediately. Stock-sale money becomes withdrawable after settlement on T+1, the next settlement business day.Source 32 |
| Daily processing | Weekday cut-off is 22:00 without commodities or 23:59 with commodities; Saturday cut-off is 16:30. Single-ledger clients use 23:59 processing.Source 33Source 31 |
| Receipt estimate | A qualifying request before cut-off normally takes up to 24 hours; later requests can take up to 48 hours. Holidays and bank processing affect receipt.Source 33 |
At a glance19
Instant withdrawal eligibility
| Item | Published conditions |
|---|---|
| Amount and window | Free; ₹100–₹200,000 in whole rupees, once daily, 09:00–16:00 IST including weekends.Source 34 |
| Trading restrictions | No pending/executed orders except permitted CNC or MTF sales; no open positions except overnight positions. Pending GTT is allowed.Source 34 |
| Unavailable balances | Same-day deposits and unsettled proceeds do not qualify; Orbis-linked accounts are excluded. A failed instant request must use the regular process.Source 34 |
Moving holdings and closing an account
Sections ↑At a glance20
Closure-cum-transfer conditions
| Item | Published rule | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | The destination must have the same holders, holder sequence and Beneficiary Owner status. | Individual-to-joint, NRI or HUF changes do not qualify as the same-status transfer. |
| Assets | Unpledge holdings before applying. Locked-in stocks, mutual funds and government securities can transfer only to CDSL. | Destination and asset eligibility matter even when no sale is required. |
| Request | Console account closure offers a transfer option requiring the destination DP ID and Client Master Report. | Accounts holding only mutual funds, unlisted stocks or fractional Liquid BeES units use a support ticket or offline form. |
| Charge and timing | Eligible closure-cum-transfers have no transfer charge; published processing is two working days. | This is the full closure process, not the ordinary off-market transfer tariff. |
Before closure, settle negative balances, close positions, sell or transfer holdings, remove SIPs and mandates, and download contract notes, ledger and profit-and-loss statements. Wait for IPO allotment and pending corporate-action shares. Zerodha says submitting the request immediately removes access to Kite, Console and Coin, so save records first.[41]
Resident individuals, NRIs and minors with Kite access can apply through Console → Account → Segments → Account closure and Aadhaar e-signing. Joint holders and minors without access use an e-signed form through a ticket; non-individual accounts require the offline process and appropriate authority. Published closure processing is two working days, confirmed by email. AMC stops when the request is processed; the closed user ID cannot be reopened.[41]
Platforms, APIs and investment services
Sections ↑Platforms & products21
Platform roles
| Service | Use |
|---|---|
| Kite and Console | Kite supplies web/mobile trading; Console provides account, holdings and reporting tools.Source 1 |
| Coin and learning | Coin handles direct mutual funds; Varsity and Trading Q&A provide education and community material.Source 1 |
| Fund expense display | Coin displays a base expense ratio. The fund’s total expense ratio can include additional trading and tax components, so platform commission savings are not a zero-cost fund promise.Source 35 |
| Systematic withdrawals | Coin can schedule fund-unit redemptions to the primary bank. Pledged units must first be released; authorisation requirements apply where DDPI/POA is absent.Source 36 |
Platforms & products22
Kite API access
| Plan or requirement | Published scope |
|---|---|
| Personal | Free order, GTT, alert, margin and portfolio functions; historical and real-time market data are excluded.Source 37 |
| Connect | ₹500 per app per month, adding WebSocket market data and historical candles. The October 2026 credit programme links ₹2,000 monthly brokerage to 500 developer credits for a subsequent renewal.Source 37 |
| Order access controls | Registered static IP requirements apply to API order requests from 1 April 2026. API credentials do not remove account or segment restrictions.Source 38 |
Regulation, asset checks and complaints
Sections ↑Protections & eligibility23
Protection and redress
| Layer | Scope |
|---|---|
| Named SEBI registration | The equity stock-broker register identifies Zerodha Broking Limited and INZ000031633 with perpetual validity. This verifies the named registration, not every product permission.Source 3 |
| Investor checks | Reconcile holdings against depository statements and exchange alerts. The investment page distinguishes third-party fixed deposits and insurance referrals from exchange products and their dispute routes.Source 10 |
| NSE default claims | Eligible admitted claims can receive up to ₹35 lakh per investor per defaulted/expelled member when assets are insufficient; the enhanced limit applies to declarations after 13 August 2024.Source 39 |
| Support | Phone support: Monday–Friday 08:30–17:00 IST; online tickets every day. Published call-and-trade end times differ between the contact page and dealing FAQ; see the telephone-dealing section.Source 40Source 43 |
| Escalation | Use the ticket reference through customer support, the support head, compliance and senior escalation; unresolved eligible disputes can proceed to exchange/depository channels, SCORES or SMART ODR.Source 40 |
Telephone dealing and emergency contact
Sections ↑Call-and-trade uses 080 4718 1888, a support code and active DDPI or POA authority. Each new order, modification or cancellation costs ₹50 plus 18% GST; IPO and corporate-action requests are excluded. The dedicated dealing FAQ publishes Monday–Friday 09:00–23:55, while the contact page says 09:00–23:30. Both were checked on 15 October 2026; confirm the usable closing time before relying on late-evening telephone execution.[43][40]
The contact page lists ordinary support at 08:30–17:00 Monday–Friday and online tickets every day. Its separate emergency account-blocking number is 080 4680 1166 during those weekday hours. Blocking account access and placing a telephone order are different requests; use the appropriate route.[40]
Company background & evidence
Sections ↑Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
Zerodha Broking Limited
IndiaSource 3
| Issuer & identifier | Recorded status | Date & scope |
|---|---|---|
| Securities and Exchange Board of IndiaINZ000031633 | Registered | Checked 10 Oct 2026Source 3 |
Sources & further reading
- Zerodha's Products: Our technology, trading and investment platforms Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to submit the currency declaration form to trade in the currency segment? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- SEBI equity stock-broker register: Zerodha Broking Limited SEBI · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is the minimum balance required to keep my Zerodha account active? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to open a Zerodha demat account online? - Simple steps Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to open a joint demat account at Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Open minor demat account online for free with Zerodha Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Open NRI demat & trading account online with Zerodha Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What are the charges for NRI accounts at Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Stock market investments instruments and financial products - mutual funds, bonds and more Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Can NSE/BSE commodities be traded at Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What are currency derivatives & how to trade them? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Can cross-currency derivatives be traded in Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What are the brokerage charges for resident individual accounts at Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Zerodha brokerage charges, fees & taxes on trading and investing Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is Depository Partcipant charges? Understand with examples Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Account Maintenance Charge (AMC): Explanation and slabs of charges Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to enable the IDFC Zerodha 3-in-1 account with blocking facility? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is the interest rate for using MTF and how is it calculated? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Terms and Conditions of Margin Trading Facility (MTF) - Zerodha Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Zerodha's RMS policy: Squaring off positions for Margin Trading Facility (MTF) Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is pledging & how to pledge for margin? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Terms of Service for pledging Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is the validity of a GTT order? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Are Good Till Triggered (GTT) orders available for futures and options (F&O) contracts? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How much margin & leverage does Zerodha provide? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is Zerodha's policy on the physical settlement of equity derivatives on expiry? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Policies and Procedures Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Can I lose more than my capital when trading? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What are the different ways to transfer money to your Zerodha account? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is the single ledger facility? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to withdraw money from Zerodha account? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How much time does it take to process a withdrawal request? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- How to withdraw money instantly from Zerodha? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is expense ratio? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is SWP in mutual funds & how to create one? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What are the charges for Kite APIs, and what types of subscription plans are available? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- What is a static IP and how to add one to your developer account? Zerodha · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Investor Protection Fund Trust NSE · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Contact and escalation routes Zerodha · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Account closure: eligibility, records and access consequences Zerodha · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Closure-cum-transfer: holder matching and eligible assets Zerodha · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Telephone dealing: authority, fees and service hours Zerodha · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.