The Drishti
Pre-Trade Checklist
5 questions every Indian trader should answer before placing a trade.
From the Drishti Mastery Series — state detection, the 4 forces, the AWARE loop, and the formula for realised edge.
What's Inside
What is the market state right now?
Trending, ranging, or transitioning? Trading a trend-following setup in a ranging market is the single most common cause of avoidable losses.
Where are the 4 forces positioned?
Institutions, operators, FIIs, and retail traders are all in the market simultaneously. Knowing which force is dominant on this timeframe changes your read entirely.
Is volume confirming the move?
Price without volume participation is a red flag. A breakout on thin volume is a false breakout waiting to happen — on NSE this is especially true near weekly expiry.
Am I in the AWARE loop or reacting?
Assess. Watch. Align. React. Exit. Most retail trades skip straight to React — which is exactly when operators are selling into your buy order.
What is my realised edge on this setup?
Not what you think should happen. What does historical NSE data say about this exact pattern at this exact time of day, near this expiry cycle?
For educational purposes only. Profitma is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser or research analyst. Nothing in this checklist constitutes investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Why This Checklist Exists
SEBI data shows 9 in 10 F&O traders lose money.
Not because they don’t know enough — because they skip the basics.
This checklist does not tell you what to buy. It asks you the 5 questions that separate structured trading from emotional trading — the same questions the Drishti Mastery Series is built around.
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