NSDL

NSDL stands for National Securities Depository Limited, India's primary depository for securities. It provides dematerialization, safekeeping, and electronic settlement of securities and operates under the Depositories Act, 1996, with regulation and oversight by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. NSDL was promoted by the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) along with the Unit Trust of India and other financial institutions, with government support, to modernize India's capital markets.

NSDL maintains the nationwide infrastructure through a network of depository participants who onboard investors and issuer accounts. Securities are held in dematerialized form in investor accounts, enabling electronic transfer and settlement of trades. In addition to settlement, NSDL supports related post-trade services such as safekeeping, corporate actions processing, and collateral arrangements accessed via its DP network. The depository also provides data services and investor education as part of market infrastructure.

NSDL's establishment and operations have been central to reducing risks traditionally associated with physical securities, enhancing market transparency, and expanding participation in India's securities markets. It remains one of the two principal depositories in India, alongside Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL), and is regulated by SEBI.

Note: NSDL may also refer to the National Science Digital Library, a United States project funded by the National Science Foundation.