If you happen to’ve ever opened a buying and selling account in India, the very very first thing you’ll discover is a disclaimer: “9 out of 10 merchants lose cash.” This isn’t only a warning — it’s a compulsory SEBI guideline for all brokers. In response to official SEBI information, 93% of retail merchants find yourself dropping cash, which suggests solely about 7% truly make income. Now, these numbers may sound scary, however let’s have a look at them otherwise.

Buying and selling Success Charge vs Different Powerful Exams
Earlier than you’re feeling discouraged, contemplate this — the 7% success price in buying and selling is definitely a lot better than lots of India’s best exams. Let’s take UPSC, for instance. Within the 2024 Civil Providers Examination, round 5.83 lakh candidates appeared for the prelims, and only one,009 made it to the ultimate listing. That’s successful price of simply 0.17%! Even exams like IIT-JEE, AIIMS, or CA Last have successful price of lower than 1%.


So if we have a look at the info objectively — buying and selling isn’t as unimaginable because it appears. It’s simply that individuals typically enter buying and selling with out preparation, endurance, or self-discipline. And that’s the place most go mistaken.
Earlier than you learn additional — If you happen to’re critical about buying and selling, begin the appropriate approach:
- Open your Demat & Buying and selling Account with Zerodha — India’s most trusted inventory dealer.
- Excited by crypto buying and selling? Start safely on CoinDCX or Delta Trade — each FIU-registered and government-compliant platforms.
- Need to grasp buying and selling charts and patterns? Seize this must-read e book: Candlestick & Chart Buying and selling Mastery.
Why Is Buying and selling So Tough Then?
Buying and selling seems simple from the skin — you purchase low, promote excessive, (Or Promote excessive and purchase low in case of Brief promoting), and make income. However in actuality, it’s one of many hardest abilities to grasp as a result of it requires self-discipline, emotional management, and consistency. In buying and selling, one dangerous day can wipe out your income of a number of months — and even your total capital. Let’s take an instance.
If you happen to’re into health, it takes dedication to remain match — common exercises, clear food plan, and consistency. Now think about having a cheat day — possibly you eat just a few slices of pizza. You’ll acquire a bit fats, however you’ll be able to repair that in a day or two. Or take into consideration IIT-JEE preparation. If you happen to skip finding out for a day, you’ll be able to nonetheless make up for it later.
However in buying and selling, in the event you lose self-discipline even for one single day, it could fully destroy your progress. A number of emotional trades, a second of greed or concern, and you possibly can wipe out months of hard-earned income. That’s the brutal actuality of buying and selling — your examination is each single day, and the market by no means provides you a time off.
The Actual Problem: Controlling Feelings & Managing Threat
Profitable merchants say that buying and selling is 80% psychology and solely 20% technique. You’ll be able to study technical evaluation, chart patterns, or indicators — however with out emotional management and correct threat administration, you’ll nonetheless lose. Even nice minds like Sir Isaac Newton, one of many smartest individuals in historical past, misplaced a fortune within the inventory market. His drawback wasn’t intelligence — it was emotion.
Most merchants fail not as a result of they lack information, however as a result of they will’t management their feelings — they change into grasping when costs rise and fearful when costs fall. Studying to remain calm and persist with your plan takes years of expertise and self-discipline.
Last Ideas
Buying and selling isn’t simple — and that’s precisely why so few succeed. It’s not nearly making income; it’s about surviving the dangerous days, staying disciplined, and managing threat. However right here’s the excellent news — similar to cracking UPSC or IIT, success in buying and selling is feasible in the event you keep affected person and constant. You don’t should be excellent; you simply want to remain within the recreation lengthy sufficient to study out of your errors. So subsequent time you see that “9 out of 10 merchants lose cash” disclaimer, bear in mind — that one dealer out of ten could possibly be you, in the event you study to grasp your feelings and respect the market.


Kritesh (Tweet right here) is the Founder & CEO of Commerce Brains & FinGrad. He’s an NSE Licensed Fairness Elementary Analyst with +7 Years of Expertise in Share Market Investing. Kritesh ceaselessly writes about Share Market Investing and IPOs and publishes his private insights in the marketplace.

