The record date determines which shareholders are eligible for benefits like dividends, splits, or bonus shares. To qualify, investors must hold shares in their demat account by the record date, which requires buying at least one day before the ex-date due to T+1 settlement. The record date determines which shareholders are eligible for benefits like dividends, splits, or bonus shares. To qualify, investors must hold shares in their demat account by the record date, which requires buying at least one day before the ex-date due to T+1 settlement. Economic Times