How to Apply for an IPO in Groww & Zerodha Kite (2026 Step-by-Step Blueprint)
Applying for an initial public offering in India has never been simpler thanks to UPI 2.0 broker integrations. Discover the precise, click-by-click procedure for bidding on Groww, Zerodha Kite, and Angel One—plus critical troubleshooting for UPI mandate delays, cut-off pricing, and SME quota requirements.
1. Step-by-Step: How to Apply for an IPO on the Groww App
Groww is currently India's largest discount broker by active client count. Follow this verified sequence to submit your application without errors:
Navigate to the IPO Section
Open the Groww mobile app > On the home screen under "Stocks", scroll down to the IPOs shortcut pill (or tap Explore > IPOs).
Select the Active IPO & Click Apply
Browse the list of ongoing public offerings. Review the price band, lot size, and closing date. Click the green Apply button next to your chosen company.
Specify Lots & Lock "At Cut-off Price"
Enter the number of lots you want to bid for (1 lot = minimum retail ticket). Always ensure the "At Cut-off Price" checkbox remains ticked. This guarantees your bid adjusts automatically to the final price discovered by the book building process.
Enter Your UPI Virtual Payment Address (VPA)
Enter your personal UPI handle (e.g., 9876543210@paytm, username@okaxis, or username@ybl). Ensure the bank account connected to this UPI ID shares your exact PAN.
Approve the UPI Block Mandate
Open your UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or BHIM) > Go to Autopay / Mandates > Verify the IPO details and amount > Authorize with your UPI PIN. The money is lien-blocked in your bank account immediately.
2. Step-by-Step: How to Apply for an IPO on Zerodha Kite
Zerodha Kite provides a clean web and mobile bidding interface connected directly to exchange gateways:
Access Kite Bids Tab
Log in to Kite mobile app or web portal (kite.zerodha.com) > Click on the Bids tab in the navigation bar > Select IPO.
Locate the Company and Click Apply
Under the "Open" sub-tab, find the company and click the blue Apply button. Review issue dates, lot size, and price band.
Enter UPI ID & Set Price Bids
Enter your UPI ID. Under Bid 1, enter quantity (must be a multiple of lot size). Check the Cut-off Price box. If bidding under the sHNI category (>₹2,00,000 up to ₹5,00,000), enter the upper cap price manually.
Sign Declaration & Authorize Mandate
Check the terms declaration and click Submit. Kite displays a success message: "IPO application submitted. Please accept the UPI mandate." Complete the authorization in your UPI app.
3. Troubleshooting: Why Has My UPI Mandate Not Arrived?
Mandate latency is the #1 complaint of retail investors during blockbuster public issues. Here is how to diagnose and resolve it:
Cause 1: High NPCI Switch Congestion
On the final day of bidding (Day 3), tens of thousands of bids hit sponsor banks simultaneously between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Mandate requests queue up on the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) switch. Allow at least 60–90 minutes before taking corrective action.
Cause 2: Third-Party App Push Notification Mismatch
Frequently, your phone does not display a push banner even though the mandate is already waiting inside the app. Open Google Pay or PhonePe manually, navigate to your Profile > Autopay / Mandates > Pending Mandates to approve it directly.
The 2-Hour Recovery Strategy
If 2 hours elapse with zero mandate request, open your broker app, click Modify / Cancel Bid, delete the bid, and re-apply using an alternate UPI handle (for instance, switch from @okaxis to @ybl or @paytm).
The 4:30 PM Emergency Backup
If it is already 4:30 PM on Day 3 and your UPI mandate has failed to clear, immediately switch to your bank's Net Banking ASBA portal (SBI, HDFC, ICICI). Net Banking blocks funds instantaneously without relying on UPI switches. Read our Net Banking ASBA Master Guide.
4. Key Differences When Applying for SME IPOs on Groww & Zerodha
Applying for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) IPOs follows the same broker interface as Mainboard IPOs, but with three vital differences:
• Higher Minimum Application Value: While Mainboard IPOs require approx. ₹15,000 for 1 lot, SME IPOs have a mandated minimum ticket size of ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,40,000 per lot.
• UPI Daily Limit Considerations: Ensure your UPI per-transaction limit with your bank allows payments up to ₹2,00,000 or ₹5,00,000. Some public sector banks cap UPI payments at ₹1,00,000 per day by default; you may need to adjust this in your mobile banking app.
• Cut-Off Price Eligibility: In SME IPOs, retail investors can tick "Cut-off Price" only if their total bid amount is ₹2,00,000 or less (typically 1 lot). If you bid for 2 lots (e.g. ₹2.5 Lakhs), you enter the HNI category where you must manually specify the Cap Price.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I apply for an IPO on the Groww app?
To apply on Groww: 1) Open Groww app > Tap "Explore" > Select "IPOs"; 2) Tap "Apply" on the active IPO; 3) Select bid quantity (multiples of lot size) and tick "At Cut-off Price"; 4) Enter your UPI ID (VPA); 5) Submit bid and approve the UPI mandate on your UPI app (GPay/PhonePe/Paytm) using your UPI PIN before 5:00 PM.
How do I apply for an IPO on Zerodha Kite?
To apply on Zerodha: 1) Log in to Zerodha Kite > Navigate to "Bids" > Select "IPO"; 2) Click "Apply" next to the open issue; 3) Input your registered UPI ID; 4) Enter the lot quantity, check the "Cut-off Price" box, accept the declaration; 5) Approve the mandate request in your UPI banking app.
What is the maximum limit for applying for an IPO via UPI on Groww and Zerodha?
Under NPCI regulations, the maximum transaction limit for retail and small HNI (sHNI) IPO applications using UPI block mandates is ₹5,00,000 per transaction. Applications above ₹5 Lakhs (bHNI) must be submitted via Net Banking ASBA.
What happens if I forget to approve the UPI mandate before 5:00 PM on the closing day?
Stock exchanges (BSE & NSE) close order books promptly at 5:00 PM on Day 3. If the mandate is not accepted and funds are not lien-blocked before the cut-off time, the exchange automatically marks the bid as invalid and your application is disqualified from the allotment lottery.
Can I apply for SME IPOs on Groww and Zerodha?
Yes, both Groww and Zerodha support SME IPO applications. However, because SME IPO lot sizes require a minimum investment of ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,40,000, ensure your bank account maintains sufficient unencumbered funds and that your UPI daily limit allows transactions of that magnitude.
Can I use my father's or spouse's UPI ID to apply on my Groww Demat account?
No. SEBI strictly mandates third-party validation: the PAN registered on the bank account used for the UPI mandate must match the PAN on the Demat account. Third-party applications will be flagged by the registrar and rejected.
Why does the UPI mandate request take time to appear on Google Pay or PhonePe?
During peak subscription hours on popular IPOs, high traffic on NPCI switches and sponsor bank gateways can cause mandate delivery delays ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours. If a mandate fails to arrive after 2 hours, cancel the bid on your broker app and re-submit with an alternate UPI handle.