Share Market Basics, Beginner Guide for India

Share Market Basics for Beginners

You want to start in the share market with confidence. This beginner’s guide explains what shares are, how NSE and BSE work, how to open a Demat and Trading Account, and how to place your first order. You will see INR examples, risk rules, and a weekly routine you can follow. Read and act step by step. When you are ready, enroll in a structured course to stay consistent.

Enroll now in the Stock Market Course for Beginners

What is the share market

Simple idea

  • A share is a unit of ownership in a company.
  • The share market is where investors buy and sell these shares.
  • In India, trades happen on regulated exchanges through brokers.
  • Prices move due to demand, supply, and news.

Primary vs secondary market

  • Primary market, companies raise capital by issuing new shares, often through an IPO.
  • Secondary market, investors trade existing shares on the exchange.

Quick glossary

  • Exchange, NSE or BSE.
  • Index, Nifty 50 or Sensex for market trend.
  • Broker, a platform to place orders.
  • DP, depository participant for your Demat.
  • SIP, fixed amount invested on a schedule.

Further learning

Start with a structured path. See Investo Trade Mantra

How the Indian stock market works

Exchanges and indices

  • India has two large exchanges, NSE and BSE.
  • Nifty 50 and Sensex track top companies.
  • Sector indices include bank, IT, auto, and more.

Market timing and settlement

• Regular trading runs Monday to Friday in Indian market hours.
• Most equity trades settle on T+1. Funds or shares arrive next business day.

Key participants

  • Retail investors trade via brokers.
  • Mutual funds and insurers move large volumes.
  • Regulators set rules and protect investors.

Reference links

Demat and Trading Account, setup steps

What you need

  • PAN, Aadhaar, bank proof, and address proof.
  • Mobile number and email for OTP and alerts.

Steps

  1. Pick a SEBI registered broker. Compare account opening fees, delivery and intraday charges, and platform reviews.
  2. Complete e-KYC. Record video KYC if asked.
  3. Open a Demat via a DP, then link your bank account.
  4. Receive login details. Change password and enable 2FA.
  5. Add funds. Start small.

New account checklist

  • Read the broker tariff sheet.
  • Enable price alerts and order notifications.
  • Learn to place a limit order and a stop-loss before your first buy.
  • Save your contract notes in a folder.

Practice path
Use free lessons to build habits. Start here

Order types you will use

Market order

Executes at the best available price. Use only when liquidity is high. Avoid during sharp moves.

Limit order

You set the price. The order fills only if the market trades at your price. Use this for most entries.

Stop-loss order

You set a trigger to exit if price moves against you. Place this the moment you enter.

GTT or conditional orders

Good Till Triggered orders help automate entries and exits.

Order types, quick comparison table

Order typeWhat it doesWhen to useRisk control
MarketBuys or sells at current best priceHigh liquidity, urgent fillLow, slippage risk
LimitFills at your set price or betterMost entries and some exitsHigh, price control
Stop-lossTriggers exit at set levelAlways set on new buysHigh, caps loss
GTTWaits for trigger to place orderPlanned entries or exitsMedium, depends on setup

Your first buy, a simple INR example

Scenario

  • Budget, ₹10,000
  • Instrument, Nifty 50 ETF to start
  • Plan, limit buy with a stop-loss

Steps

  1. Last traded price shows ₹240.
  2. Place a limit buy at ₹238 for 40 units. Order value ₹9,520.
  3. Set a stop-loss at ₹226. Risk per unit ₹12. Total planned risk ₹480 plus charges.
  4. Log the trade with date, price, quantity, charges, and stop-loss.
  5. Add a monthly SIP reminder for the same ETF.

How to pick shares as a beginner

Fundamental view

  • Understand the product and market share.
  • Track revenue growth, profit, and debt.
  • Check management quality and disclosures.
  • Review valuation, P E, P B, and growth.

Technical view

  • Trade with the trend on daily charts.
  • Mark support and resistance zones.
  • Look for breakouts with volume.
  • Use moving averages and RSI to confirm.

Balanced approach

Start with an ETF or a large cap. Add one new stock only after a full review. Write your reason to buy and hold. Recheck after each result.

Level up your skills

Risk management for new investors

Simple rules

  • Risk only 1 to 2 percent of capital per trade.
  • Place a stop-loss on every position.
  • Do not average down without a new reason.
  • Diversify across 8 to 12 positions.
  • Keep a cash buffer.

Position sizing example

Capital is ₹50,000. You risk 1 percent or ₹500 per trade. If your stop sits 5 percent below entry, your position size can be near 20 percent of capital, then adjust for comfort.

Avoid early

  • Futures and options.
  • Penny stocks and illiquid names.
  • Tips from random sources.

Costs, fees, and taxes

What you pay

  • Brokerage per order or per trade.
  • Exchange and statutory charges.
  • STT or stamp duty where applicable.
  • DP charges on delivery sell.
  • GST on service components.

Reduce costs

  • Use limit orders to cut slippage.
  • Avoid overtrading.
  • Review every contract note.
  • Compare brokers once a year.

Common beginner mistakes and fixes

Mistakes

  • Buying only because price is rising.
  • No stop-loss or plan.
  • Ignoring charges.
  • Holding losers and exiting winners fast.
  • Blindly following tips.

Fixes

  • Define entry, stop, and target before the trade.
  • Log every trade and review weekly.
  • Start with SIPs and large caps.
  • Keep risk per trade small.

A 10-minute weekly routine

Five steps

  1. Review open positions and update stops.
  2. Note key news for your holdings.
  3. Add to SIPs first. Consider new entries after.
  4. Archive contract notes and reconcile P and L.
  5. Read one guide from the IFMC Blog to improve.

Tools and simple templates

Starter trade log, copy these columns

Date, Symbol, Buy Price, Quantity, Charges, Stop-loss, Target, Exit Price, P and L, Notes.

Broker platform setup

  • One watchlist for holdings.
  • One watchlist for candidates.
  • Price alerts near support or resistance.
  • GTT for stop and target.

When should you enroll in a course

Enroll when

  • You want a step by step path and practice.
  • You need live doubt clearing.
  • You want quizzes and worksheets.
  • You plan to invest for 10 years and want discipline.

Enroll
Start today with the Stock Market Course for Beginners

FAQs on share market basics

What is the share market in simple words

It is a regulated place where investors buy and sell company shares through brokers using a Demat and Trading Account.

NSE vs BSE, what is the difference

Both are major Indian exchanges with separate listings and liquidity. You can invest through either.Q3. How much money do I need to start

How much money do I need to start

You can begin with a few thousand rupees. Focus on process and risk control.

Which order type should I use as a beginner

Use limit orders for entry. Add a stop-loss to manage risk.

Is intraday trading good for beginners

Start with delivery investing and SIPs. Try intraday only after you build rules and gain consistency.

What costs apply on share trades

Brokerage, exchange and statutory charges, DP charges on delivery sells, and GST where applicable. Check your contract notes.

Closing

You now understand share market basics in India. Follow the steps, keep risk small, and build a habit with SIPs. Add quality stocks after a full review. When you want a guided path, enroll in the beginner course and practice every week.

Enroll
Join the Stock Market Course for Beginners

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Tags

aadhaar, Allocation, Basics, Beginners, Broker, brokerage, BSE, cashflow, cdsl, charges, Charts, debt, delivery, demat, Diversification, dividends, dpcharges, Earnings, Education, equities, ETF, Fundamentals, gst, gtt, indexfund, India, Indicators, indices, Intraday, Investing, IPO, kyc, limitorder, marketorder, movingaverage, mutualfunds, nifty, nsdl, NSE, orders, pan, pb, PE, Portfolio, positionsizing, primarymarket, Profit, Resistance, revenue, Risk, riskmanagement, RSI, SEBI, secondarymarket, sensex, settlement, sharemarket, sip, stampduty, stockmarket, stoploss, stt, Support, t1, Technical, Trading, Trend, valuation, Volume

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TRADE STRATEGIES©

By IFMC® Institute
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  • Duration : - 6 Month
  • Language : - Hindi or English   
  • Certification : - Yes 
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