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 August, 2026

UPSC Mains 2026 commenced on 21st August 2026 and will continue through 30th August 2026, as per the official examination schedule.

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

UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2026 is out now.

UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2026 is out now.

UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 2026 is out now.

UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 2026 is out now.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.

UPSC Mains Admit Card 2026 is now out.

→ 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.

→ Download UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-I 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-II 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-III 2025, UPSC Mains GS Paper-IV 2025, UPSC Mains English (Compulsory) Paper 2025, UPSC Mains Hindi (Qualifying) Paper 2025 here.

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

UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

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
₹69000
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