NSE cuts Nifty derivatives lot size to 65, revises contract sizes for other key indices from Dec 30

This revision is part of a broader update to the market lot sizes for several key index derivatives, as per SEBI’s guidelines for periodic review. The changes will apply specifically to quarterly and half-yearly contracts expiring after December 30, while weekly and monthly contracts will continue with the existing lot sizes until that date.

The revised market lots affect four major indices. Along with the Nifty 50’s lot size dropping to 65, the Bank Nifty contract size will move from 35 to 30, Nifty Financial Services will change from 65 to 60, and Nifty Midcap Select will reduce from 140 to 120.

The lot size for Nifty Next 50 remains unchanged at 25.

NSE explained that the revision is based on the average closing price of the underlying indices during September 2025, which is used to determine contract values and keep them in a balanced range.

The updated lot sizes will only be applied to contracts with expiry dates after December 30, 2025. All contracts expiring before this cut-off, including weekly and monthly expiries, will continue to use the present lot sizes.NSE also mentioned that during this transition period, the day spread order book will not be available for a few contract combinations, such as November 2025 – January 2026, December 2025 – January 2026, and December 2025 – February 2026.

What it means for traders and investors?

The change in lot sizes means that traders and investors will need to adjust the number of units they buy or sell in a single futures or options contract. For example, earlier a single Nifty futures contract represented 75 units of the index, but from December 30, 2025, it will represent only 65 units.

This affects how much capital is required to take one lot position, since the overall contract value changes based on both the lot size and the index price.

For traders, especially those dealing in large volumes or using hedging strategies, this revision may require recalculating position sizes and adjusting margin requirements. Since the lot size is tied to margin and exposure, a smaller lot size could lower the notional value per contract, which may influence how they plan their trades.

For retail investors, the reduced lot size might make it slightly more accessible to participate in some index contracts, as the capital needed to trade one lot could reduce if the index price remains steady.

Also read: David Solomon of Goldman Sachs sees market drawdown ahead, says AI frenzy may set stage for equity shakeout(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

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