Digital
Trade smart, pay zero: Seven charges to avoid for seamless trading
Mumbai: In the dynamic world of trading, every penny counts! Discover the key charges to avoid and trade smart on any platform. This article will equip viewers with the essential knowledge to navigate the trading landscape with confidence, save money, and make informed decisions. Uncover top trading platforms like Shoonya, Zerodha, and Angel One that offer cost-saving features for both beginners and seasoned investors. Let’s dive into the seven charges you should watch out for to ensure a cost-effective and efficient trading experience.
1.Account Opening Charges:
Your trading journey begins with the opening of a new trading account, and some brokers impose account opening charges that can vary significantly. To start on the right foot, look for platforms, which have embraced a customer-centric approach by eliminating account opening charges like Shoonya by Finvasia, Zerodha, and Angel One. This move ensures accessibility and affordability for all traders, regardless of their experience level.
2.Brokerage Charges:
Brokerage fees play a crucial role in your trading journey. Whether it’s a percentage or a flat fee, understanding these charges is essential to trade smart and keep costs minimal. Shoonya by Finvasia, a pioneer in the industry with over a decade of offering “zero-brokerage” trading, is one such broking platform that helps you trade smart and save on costs. Some platforms like Zerodha offer “low-cost brokerage” trading. To minimise costs and maximise earnings, it’s critical that you choose the optimum blend.
3.Intraday Trading Charges:
For intraday traders, frequent buying and selling of stocks within the same trading day can lead to additional charges. Be aware of brokers who impose fixed percentages or flat fees for every intraday trade. Consider platforms like Angel One and Zerodha, which offer low intraday trading charges. Shoonya goes a step further by providing zero intraday charges, allowing you to enhance your profitability.
4.Annual Maintenance Charges:
AMC refers to the fee levied by brokerage firms for maintaining and servicing a trading account throughout the year. While some platforms may offer low or even zero brokerage charges for trades, they may compensate through higher AMC. As a trader, it is essential to carefully assess the AMC structure to ensure cost-effectiveness and align it with your trading frequency and investment goals. By being informed about AMC and other charges, you are one step closer towards achieving seamless trading and maximizing overall profitability.
5.Hidden Charges:
Hidden charges can often catch traders by surprise, impacting their profitability. It is important to carefully review the fee structure and terms and conditions of any trading platform or broker you choose. Look for platforms that offer transparent fee structures and provide clear information about any potential additional charges. While government charges apply across platforms, you might want to know of other hidden charges that can be avoided. A smart way is to try a recognized brokerage calculator, which displays the exact charges that will be levied by the platform.
6.Margin Funding Charges:
Margin funding allows traders to leverage their trading capital and potentially increase their returns. However, some brokers charge interest or fees for providing margin funding services. Traders should be cautious and choose platforms that offer competitive or zero margin funding charges, allowing them to make the most of their trading capital without incurring excessive costs.
7.Account Closure Charges:
At times, traders may decide to close their trading accounts. Some brokers impose charges for closing an account, which can be an unwelcome surprise. To avoid unnecessary expenses, opt for platforms that do not charge account closure fees. Digital brokers like Angel One, Zerodha and Shoonya have no account closure charges, making them more attractive options for traders seeking to minimize costs.
As a trader or investor, you need to master the art of cost-effective trading by avoiding unnecessary charges. Digital platforms like Shoonya by Finvasia, Zerodha, and Angel One offer innovative solutions that empower traders to make informed decisions and trade with confidence. By prioritizing cost-saving features and avoiding hidden fees, you can pave the way for seamless financial success on your trading journey. So, trade smart, pay zero, and unlock your full potential as a successful trader.
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
