Open a free futures trading account

Yes — opening is free and paperless; margins apply to trade futures.

Indices, stocks, currencies and commodities, subject to segment activation.

Yes — futures are leveraged products; trade only with a clear understanding of the risks.

The daily settlement of your futures gains and losses against the closing price; you must maintain the required margin.

Yes — close the current contract and open the next series before expiry to carry your view forward.

Indices, stocks, currencies and commodities, subject to segment activation.

Futures and options are contracts whose value depends on an underlying share or index. A future is an agreement to buy or sell at a fixed price on a future date. An option gives you the right — but not the obligation — to do so, for a price called the premium. They are tools for hedging and trading, and they carry leverage, which magnifies both profit and loss.

Very. SEBI's own study found that about nine out of ten individual F&O traders lost money, with sizeable average losses. Leverage means a small market move against you can wipe out a large part of your capital. If you still want to trade derivatives, start small, learn payoff structures, always use stop losses, and never trade with money you cannot afford to lose.

Margin is the deposit the exchange requires you to keep with the broker to take a leveraged position. It ensures you can honour your obligations if the market moves against you. Margins change with volatility, and if your losses eat into the margin, you get a margin call asking for more funds — failing which the position may be squared off.

SEBI requires brokers to collect income proof before activating derivative segments because F&O involves leverage and is suitable only for investors who can bear the risk. A recent salary slip, six months' bank statement, ITR acknowledgement or demat holdings statement usually works.

Muhurat trading is a special one-hour trading session that exchanges hold on Diwali evening, considered an auspicious time to invest. The exact timing is announced by NSE and BSE each year. It is a symbolic session — liquidity is thinner than normal hours, so trade thoughtfully.

There is no minimum. You can buy a single share, and many good companies trade at modest prices. If you prefer mutual funds, SIPs start from as little as ₹500 a month. What matters is starting early and staying regular — the amount can grow with your confidence.

In delivery trading you buy shares and hold them — they are credited to your demat account and remain yours until you sell. In intraday trading you buy and sell the same day, closing your position before the market shuts. Delivery builds long-term wealth; intraday is short-term trading that needs skill, discipline and strict stop losses.

Normal equity market hours on NSE and BSE are 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday, with a pre-open session from 9:00 to 9:15 AM. Markets are closed on exchange holidays — see our Market Holidays page for this year's full list and a live open/closed status.

A stop loss is an order that automatically exits your position if the price crosses a level you set, capping your loss. For traders it is essential — it turns an unlimited risk into a known, small one. Decide your exit level before you enter a trade, not after the price starts falling.

Yes, in most cases you can convert an intraday position to delivery before the market closes, provided you have the full funds for the purchase. The reverse is also possible subject to margins. Do note that conversion depends on the stock being available for delivery trades and on your available balance.