IRCTC Shares Rise Despite NSE Removing Stock from F&O List from February 25, 2026: What Traders Need to Know

Shares of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) witnessed gains on Tuesday after the National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced that the stock will be removed from the Futures and Options (F&O) segment, effective from February 25, 2026. The move comes as part of NSE's implementation of revised eligibility norms for derivatives trading.

IRCTC Share Price Today

At 12:03 PM on 23 December 2025, IRCTC was trading at Rs 685.85, up Rs 4.20 or 0.62 per cent. The stock opened at Rs 686.55, hit an intraday high of Rs 687.55 and a low of Rs 681.05. Its 52-week high stands at Rs 831.75 while the 52-week low is Rs 656.00. Over the past five sessions, the stock has gained around 2 per cent, though it remains down nearly 10 per cent over the last six months.

NSE Announces F&O Segment Exit; What Traders Need to Know on IRCTC Removal

The move comes in the wake of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) tightening eligibility norms for derivatives trading. Under the revised rules, stocks must meet higher thresholds for liquidity, average daily delivery value, and market-wide position limits to remain in the F&O segment. IRCTC, according to the exchange, no longer meets these updated criteria.

The NSE clarified that existing F&O contracts for December 2025, January 2026, and February 2026 will remain active until their respective expiries. However, no new derivative series will be introduced beyond these contracts.

How IRCTC Exit Will Impact on Traders

For traders, the implications are significant. Once IRCTC exits the F&O segment, leverage-based strategies will no longer be possible, making large directional bets and hedging strategies more difficult.

The removal of options trading may also reduce liquidity from derivatives participants. While this could lower intraday volatility over time, it will also limit short-term trading opportunities that F&O traders typically seek.

Despite the exit from the derivatives segment, IRCTC's cash market operations remain unaffected. The company continues to hold a monopoly in online railway ticketing, catering, and tourism services. It is debt-free with a stable financial profile, meaning the F&O removal does not impact the company's core fundamentals. However, it does change the way traders and investors engage with the stock.

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