New Delhi, Dec. 17 -- It has been over a year since the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) intervened to promote discipline in the country's booming derivatives market, yet retail investors continue to wade into high-risk futures and options (F&O) trading.

In fact, newcomers have pushed industry-wide equity options volumes in the December quarter above pre-October 2024 levels, notwithstanding tougher F&O trading curbs-including tripling contract sizes and limiting weekly options launches per exchange to just one.

While the overall number of participants has declined since the new measures were implemented, market leader National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) has seen participation rebound since the March low.

BSE, whose ...