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After you trade

Why Contract Notes and Statements Matter

What contract notes, account statements, and Exchange messages are for — and how checking them regularly protects your interests.

Updated 26 Mar 2026 6 min read

Cover illustration for contract notes and account statements

Trades leave a paper trail for a reason. Contract notes tell you what executed. Statements and Exchange messages tell you what the broker reported. Reading them is how you catch errors early — not after months have passed.

Contract notes — the first check

When a note arrives, confirm security, quantity, price, trade date, and charges. Ask yourself one question: does this match the order you meant to place? If not, write to the broker the same day. Waiting weakens your position.

Statements vs Exchange balance messages

Brokers send account statements. Exchanges also send periodic fund and securities balance alerts based on what the trading member reported. Line those numbers up with your own notes. The Advisory for investors page lists related client precautions in one place.

Demat side

Holdings live with the depository. Review NSDL / CDSL consolidated statements. Margin securities should move only through the prescribed pledge flow — not informal “hand over” arrangements.

A weekly routine that actually works

  1. Open every contract note on the day it lands.
  2. Read Exchange and depository SMS / email instead of archiving them unread.
  3. Once a week, skim funds and holdings at a high level.
  4. Raise mismatches with the broker first, then SEBI SCORES if needed.

Help on Airalgo

General guidance only. Investments in securities market are subject to market risks; read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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