What is a Circuit breaker in Trading?

Circuit breakers are triggered to prevent markets from crashing due to a panic-induced sale of stocks.

What is a Circuit breaker in Trading?
Table of Contents

About Circuit breaker in Trading:

  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) implemented index-based market-wide circuit breakers in June 2001.
  • Circuit breakers are triggered to prevent markets from crashing due to a panic-induced sale of stocks. 
  • This can occur for a variety of reasons, leading to stockholders in the market believing that their stocks are overvalued. As a result, they engage in a sell-off.
  • Circuit breakers temporarily halt trading, thereby halting the sell-off.
  • Circuit-breakers effectively limit how much a stock’s value can fall in a single day/trading session, resulting in a more stable market overall.

How do these work?

  • This index-based market-wide circuit breaker system applies at three stages of the index movement, at 10, 15 and 20 per cent.

When triggered, these circuit breakers bring about a coordinated trading halt in all equity and equity derivative markets nationwide.

 


Q1) What is the equity derivative?

An equity derivative is a financial instrument whose value is based on the equity movements of the underlying asset.

Source: Most Adani stocks hit lower circuits again: What is a circuit breaker in the stock market?

 

Update Icon
Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Date IconLast updated on Sep, 2026

UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.

→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.

UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Vajiram Content Team
At Vajiram & Ravi, our team includes subject experts who have appeared for the UPSC Mains and the Interview stage. With their deep understanding of the exam, they create content that is clear, to the point, reliable, and helpful for aspirants.Their aim is to make even difficult topics easy to understand and directly useful for your UPSC preparation—whether it’s for Current Affairs, General Studies, or Optional subjects. Every note, article, or test is designed to save your time and boost your performance.
UPSC GS Course 2027
UPSC GS Course 2027
₹1,80,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹65000
Enroll Now
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
₹27000
Enroll Now
Prelims Powerup Test Series
Prelims Powerup Test Series
₹14000
Enroll Now
Enquire Now