How to Buy and Sell Shares in India?

3 min read | Updated on November 25, 2025, 15:15 IST

How to Buy and Sell Shares in India?

With new-age digital platforms such as Upstox, investing in the stock market has become increasingly simple and seamless. Today, the end-to-end process of buying, holding and selling shares is paperless and can be done with just a few taps on your mobile or clicks on a computer. The initial account opening process is fully digital and doesn’t require any physical copies.

So, if you are wondering how to get started, read on below to know more.

Prerequisites for Buying and Selling Shares

Before you can trade shares, you will need these three accounts,

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A Demat account

This holds your shares in electronic format, similar to how a bank account holds money. All shares in India are held digitally, so this account is mandatory.

A Trading account

Through this account, you buy or sell shares on stock exchanges. This is linked to your Demat account.

A Bank Account

Your trading account must be linked to your bank account for transferring funds.

Buying and Selling Shares

Complete the Account Opening Process
Research and Select Shares - Take time to research,

Company fundamentals (revenue, profits, debt levels)
Industry trends and competition
Management quality and corporate governance
Historical price performance
Analyst ratings and news

Read newspaper articles, financial news and follow financial websites. On platforms like Upstox, you can conduct in-depth research on stocks and sectors

How to Buy Shares

Once you have decided what to buy,
Log in to your trading platform (mobile app or website)
Now in the search bar, enter the company name or stock code (e.g., RELIANCE for Reliance Industries)
Click on 'Buy'
Enter the quantity of shares you want to purchase
Choose your order type

Market Order - Buys immediately at the current market price

Limit Order - Buys only when the price reaches your specified level

Review your order details
Confirm and place the order

If it is a market order, your transaction executes almost instantly during market hours (9:15 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays). For limit orders, execution depends on whether the stock price reaches the target you have set.

After purchase, shares are credited to your Demat account within two working days (T+1 settlement).

How to Sell Shares

Selling shares follows a similar process,
Go to your holdings or portfolio section
Select the shares you want to sell
Click 'Sell'
Enter the quantity
Choose market order (sell immediately) or limit order (sell at your target price)
Confirm the transaction

Once sold, the shares are debited from your Demat account and funds are credited to your trading account within two working days. You can then transfer this money back to your bank account.

Thus, with the advent of digital platforms, buying and selling shares has become immensely simple and convenient, without compromising security. Today, there is no need to stand in long queues for IPO allotment, fill forms and store any of the required documents. Moreover, the easy-to-use interfaces on platforms like Upstox make even beginners to operate with ease. Your entire stock market journey of buying and selling shares can be completed with just a few taps.

About Author

Pradnya Surana

Sub-Editor

is an engineering and management graduate with 12 years of experience in India’s leading banks. With a natural flair for writing and a passion for all things finance, she reinvented herself as a financial writer. Her work reflects her ability to view the industry from both sides of the table, the financial service provider and the consumer. Experience in fast paced consumer facing roles adds depth, clarity and relevance to her writing.