The domestic equity markets may be thriving, but the F&O reality check remains sobering. Take this: A recent Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) study revealed that nearly 91% of individual traders suffered net losses in the equity derivatives segment in FY25—almost identical to the trend in FY24. This raises a big question: should derivatives trading be curtailed or banned for retail investors? Advertisement

NSE CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan doesn’t think so. Speaking at the launch of Sthitpragya, a book on his life journey authored by Mayur Shah, Chauhan argued that the focus should not be on banning financial instruments outright, but on ensuring proper safeguards.

“It is like how we use knives at home—mothers don’t hand them to children—or how untrained drivers are not allowed o

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