
TL;DR
India’s capital markets ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and regulatory fine tuning is becoming more frequent. The recent discussion around the KRA charge cut has again brought National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) into the spotlight.
Both depositories play a critical role in India’s demat infrastructure. Whenever there is any change in compliance costs or KYC related charges, the Street immediately evaluates its potential impact on their earnings.
But the key question investors are asking is simple.
Will the KRA charge cut materially hurt NSDL and CDSL profitability, or is the concern overblown?
Let us break it down.
Before assessing the impact, it is important to understand what KRAs do.
KRA stands for KYC Registration Agency. These agencies maintain and validate investor KYC records across intermediaries such as brokers, mutual funds, and portfolio managers. The system was introduced by SEBI to streamline onboarding and avoid duplication of KYC processes.
In simple terms:
Any rationalisation in KRA charges can therefore have a ripple effect across the value chain.
SEBI has been working toward reducing friction in investor onboarding and lowering compliance costs. The proposed or implemented KRA charge rationalisation aims to:
From a policy standpoint, the move is investor friendly and aligned with India’s push toward financial inclusion.
However, for listed market infrastructure institutions like NSDL and CDSL, even small fee changes attract attention because of their high operating leverage.
Based on current industry understanding, KRA related income is not the primary revenue driver for either depository. Their major earnings come from:
Therefore, the direct hit from KRA charge reduction is likely to be manageable rather than severe.
That said, depository businesses operate on strong margins and high operating leverage. Even a small fee reduction can create:
This is why the market reacts quickly to regulatory tweaks.
Despite near term noise, the structural growth drivers for NSDL and CDSL remain very strong.
India is still in the early stages of financialisation. Over the past few years:
Every new investor ultimately strengthens the depository ecosystem.
Between FY20 and FY25, India saw a massive jump in retail demat accounts. Even during volatile phases, the structural investor base continued to expand. This trend acts as a natural buffer against small regulatory fee cuts.
Depositories have largely fixed cost structures. As volumes rise:
So while regulatory changes may create temporary concerns, volume growth often compensates over time.
The KRA charge rationalisation is actually positive for the broader market.
Reduced KYC costs can:
Tech enabled brokers may benefit from:
This is particularly relevant in a competitive broking landscape.
In an evolving regulatory environment, choosing the right broker becomes crucial for investors.
Swastika Investmart continues to stand out because of:
For investors navigating changing market structures, having access to reliable research and a stable platform can make a meaningful difference.
While the long term outlook remains constructive, investors should monitor a few variables.
Market infrastructure institutions operate under tight regulatory oversight. Any future fee rationalisation across services could affect sentiment.
Depository revenues are partly linked to:
A prolonged market slowdown could temporarily moderate growth.
As India’s capital market ecosystem deepens, efficiency expectations from regulators may continue to rise.
The buzz around the KRA charge cut has understandably brought NSDL and CDSL into focus. However, the actual earnings impact appears limited in the near term and unlikely to derail their long term growth trajectory.
India’s financialisation story, rising retail participation, and expanding demat penetration continue to provide a strong structural tailwind for depositories.
For investors, the smarter approach is to avoid overreacting to regulatory noise and instead track:
If you are looking to participate in India’s evolving equity markets with strong research backing, Swastika Investmart offers a reliable, tech enabled investing platform designed for modern investors.
Q1. What is the KRA charge cut?
It refers to the rationalisation or reduction of fees related to KYC Registration Agency services aimed at lowering investor onboarding costs.
Q2. Will the KRA change significantly hurt NSDL and CDSL profits?
The direct impact is expected to be limited because KRA income is not their primary revenue driver.
Q3. Why did the market react to this news?
Depositories operate with high margins, so even small regulatory changes can trigger short term sentiment driven volatility.
Q4. Is the long term outlook for depositories still positive?
Yes. Rising demat penetration and increasing retail participation continue to support long term growth.
Q5. How can investors navigate such regulatory changes?
Using a research backed platform like Swastika Investmart and focusing on long term fundamentals can help investors make informed decisions.


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