An individual investor has the option to open multiple demat accounts. SEBI regulations permit this as long as each demat account is in the name of a primary account holder with their PAN card linked to each of the accounts. People use multiple demat accounts to have a better segregation in their portfolios and cater to their various short-term and long-term financial ambitions. On the other hand, having a single demat account for all your securities provides better and more holistic visibility regarding your holdings. It is easier to manage, simpler to transact in and more convenient to calculate annual gains and applicable tax implications. The choice is entirely yours.
While SEBI allows you to have multiple demat accounts, you cannot have more than one demat account with a single Depository Participant (bank or broker).