Do I need a separate trading account to buy and sell options in India?

No, you do not require a separate trading account for options. Your existing equity trading account can be used for trading in futures and options. The only difference is that you will require evidencing your risk taking capacity to your broker by submitting your bank statement, income records or your ITR filed. In case you want to trade in options and futures in India, you need to start off with opening a trading account with your broker. You can trade futures and options using your existing equity trading account. Some additional documentation is required in case of F&O trading like income proof, tax returns etc. Once trading in futures and options is activated, then you are free to start trading in F&O. Buying and selling futures and options is quite simple and almost like cash market trading. You only need to be aware of the expiries and strikes that you are trading in.