Slow Demat Openings Signal Shift to Long-Term Investing, CEO Says

A slowdown in new demat account openings below 20% last year, from 30% previously, is not a sign of retail disinterest but a healthy shift from speculative trading to long-term investing, says ClearTax CEO Archit Gupta. Rising SIP inflows, which hit a record ₹32,086 crore in March 2026, and a surge in ITR-2 and ITR-3 filings for capital gains support this view, indicating a maturing investor base.