Mumbai: Nearly 88.5 per cent of individual traders below the age of 30 incurred losses while trading in the futures and options (F&O) segment during FY26, highlighting the high risks faced by young participants in India’s derivatives market, according to a study released by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The SEBI study found that traders below 30 accounted for about 43 per cent of the individual trader base during the financial year. A significant share of participants also came from lower-income groups, with around 73 per cent reporting annual incomes below Rs 5 lakh.
Overall, 87.7 per cent of individual traders in the equity derivatives segment incurred net losses in FY26. Their aggregate losses stood at Rs 91,685 crore, while the average loss per trader increased to around Rs 1.17 lakh despite the overall decline in participation.
SEBI’s findings underline the continuing risks associated with speculative derivatives trading, particularly among young and inexperienced participants. The regulator has introduced several measures in recent years aimed at curbing excessive retail participation and strengthening investor protection in the F&O market.
