A Beginner's Guide to Stock Market Investing

Before buying your first share, decide what the money is for and when you will need it. Equity is best suited to goals that are several years away.

Diversify across companies and sectors rather than concentrating in a single stock. Index funds and ETFs are a reasonable starting point for most first-time investors.

Track your costs. Brokerage, taxes and frequent churn quietly reduce returns more than most beginners expect.

Nothing here is investment advice. Consider speaking to a SEBI-registered investment adviser for personal recommendations.