Getting started
The questions people ask before they have invested anything. If you are at the very beginning, read these in order.
How do I start investing in India as a complete beginner?
Build an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses and clear any high interest debt first. Then decide when you will need the money, since anything needed within five years should not go into shares. Then open a demat and trading account, and start with a monthly SIP into a broad index fund rather than a single stock.
What is the difference between a demat and a trading account?
A trading account places your buy and sell orders on the exchange. A demat account holds the shares you bought, electronically, in your own name. Brokers usually open both together in one application.
What documents do I need to open a demat account?
PAN card, Aadhaar linked to the mobile number you have with you for OTP verification, a bank account in your own name with a cancelled cheque or statement, plus a photograph and signature image. Income proof is only needed if you want to trade derivatives.
Which broker should I choose?
For most people a discount broker charging a flat fee per order is considerably cheaper than a full service broker charging a percentage, especially on larger trades. Verify any broker SEBI registration number on the SEBI website rather than on the broker own site, and compare all charges rather than just the advertised brokerage.
Is nomination compulsory for a demat account?
From 1 September 2026, new single holder demat accounts and mutual fund folios must either name a nominee or submit a formal opt out declaration. The field cannot be left blank. Nomination remains optional for jointly held accounts.
Do I need a demat account for mutual funds?
No. Ordinary mutual funds, including index funds, can be held without one. A demat account is needed for directly held shares, ETFs and bonds.
When is the Indian stock market open?
The equity market is open from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday, apart from declared market holidays. Orders placed outside these hours wait until the market opens.
How do I buy my first share?
Transfer money to your trading account, search for the company, choose delivery rather than intraday, and place a limit order specifying the maximum price you will pay. The share reaches your demat account the next working day.
What is the difference between a market order and a limit order?
A market order executes immediately at whatever price is available, so it almost always fills but you do not control the price. A limit order only executes at the price you set or better, so you control the price but it may never fill. A limit order is the safer default.
What is the difference between CNC and MIS?
CNC is a delivery order, meaning you keep the share until you decide to sell. MIS is an intraday order that closes automatically before the market shuts. Selecting MIS by mistake means your position is sold the same day whether you wanted that or not.
What is the difference between the NSE and the BSE?
Both are stock exchanges in India doing the same job. The BSE is older, founded in 1875, while the NSE handles more trading volume today. Most large companies are listed on both and prices on the two are almost identical.
Can I invest if I do not have a regular salary?
Yes. What matters is that the money is genuinely spare and that you have a larger emergency fund than a salaried person would, typically nine to twelve months of expenses, because variable income makes an unexpected gap more likely.
Lessons behind these answers
How to start investing
The order that actually protects you, from emergency fund to first order.
Demat and trading account
One holds your shares, the other places your orders. How both work.
Choosing a broker
Discount or full service, what the fees really are, and what to check.
Nomination and succession
The rules that change on 1 September 2026, and what to do now.
Stock market basics
What a share is, what an exchange does, and how money actually moves.
Buying your first share
Order types, what happens after you tap buy, and settlement timing.