F&O Losses Hit ₹1.17L: Is Your Trade Worth It?
SEBI data shows the average retail trader in futures and options loses over ₹1 lakh a year. More people are quitting than joining. Here's what this means for your money and what to do instead.
₹1.17 lakh loss = 13 months of a ₹9,000 grocery budget — gone in one trading year
The average individual F&O trader loses this much every single year
Key Takeaways
Calculate your own F&O profit/loss for the last 12 months honestly — include brokerage, STT, and GST — before placing another trade.
Switch at least 70% of your 'trading capital' into index mutual funds or ETFs where SEBI data shows retail investors actually make money over 5+ years.
If you still want market exposure, start with paper trading (virtual money) on any major broker platform for 90 days before risking real rupees again.
SEBI data shows the average retail trader in futures and options loses over ₹1 lakh a year. More people are quitting than joining. Here's what this means for your money and what to do instead.
Here's what happened: SEBI data covering FY22-FY26 shows individual retail traders lost a cumulative ₹3.85 lakh crore in equity futures and options trading.. The average per-trader annual loss has risen to approximately ₹1.17 lakh, meaning losses are deepening even as fewer new traders enter the segment.. For the first time in recent years, trader exits from F&O markets are outpacing new entrants, signalling growing disillusionment with speculative trading..
What you should do: Calculate your own F&O profit/loss for the last 12 months honestly — include brokerage, STT, and GST — before placing another trade.. Switch at least 70% of your 'trading capital' into index mutual funds or ETFs where SEBI data shows retail investors actually make money over 5+ years.. If you still want market exposure, start with paper trading (virtual money) on any major broker platform for 90 days before risking real rupees again..
F&O losses above ₹2 lakh per year can be carried forward for up to 8 years to offset future speculative gains — file your ITR even in a loss year to preserve this benefit.
For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.
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- [1]“SEBI Study: Trader Exits Outpace Entries As Average Individual Loss Ticks Up To Rs 1.17 Lakh” NDTV Profit - Latest · 20 Aug 2026
This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.
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