NSE cuts derivative contract lot sizes for Nifty 50, Bank Nifty, Nifty Financial Services and Nifty Mid Select — cheaper entry for traders and improved liquidity expected.
Circular Date: October 4, 2025 Issued By: National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) Time of Release: 6:35 PM IST
Official Reference Link: Read full article on NSE lot-size revision (source: Financial Express)
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has announced a revision in the market lot sizes for several major index derivative contracts. The changes were announced on 4 October 2025, with the new lot sizes becoming effective from the end of trading on 30 December 2025.
Under the revised structure:
These changes aim to align contract values with current index levels, improve affordability for retail participants and enhance liquidity.
NSE periodically revises contract specifications to ensure contract values stay economically viable and aligned with market conditions.
Lowering the number of units per contract reduces the capital required to initiate a derivatives position, making index trading more accessible for retail traders.
The revision aligns with SEBI’s expectation that exchanges maintain contract usability and market efficiency through periodic review.
| Underlying Index | Old Lot Size | New Lot Size | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 50 | 75 | 65 | 30 Dec 2025 (EOD) |
| Bank Nifty | 35 | 30 | 30 Dec 2025 (EOD) |
| Nifty Fin Services | 65 | 60 | 30 Dec 2025 (EOD) |
| Nifty Mid Select | 140 | 120 | 30 Dec 2025 (EOD) |
*Existing monthly/weekly contracts retain old lot sizes until expiry on 30 December 2025.*
Reduced lot size means lower capital or margin requirement to initiate futures/options positions, improving entry affordability.
Smaller contract sizes typically attract more participants, resulting in higher volume, tighter bid-ask spreads and better price discovery.
Existing strategies such as hedges, spreads and multi-leg positions must be recalibrated to the new lot sizes.
Costs reduce partly due to lower effective position size, but margins still depend on volatility, index level and broker policies.
No. This revision applies only to index derivatives.
Traders must review their open positions, check margin requirements after the change and align their risk-management frameworks.
NSE’s lot size revision is a significant step to improve participation and align contract specifications with changing market needs. For retail traders, it reduces the entry barrier to derivatives trading. For institutional players, it enhances liquidity and market depth. Traders should prepare for the transition, update their systems and adjust their margin strategies before the new lot sizes come into effect.
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