Short answer: For most beginners, margin trading is not “safe.” It magnifies both gains and losses, can trigger margin calls or forced liquidations, and has costs and rules you must understand — so avoid until you have education, a tested plan, and money you can afford to lose. (Investopedia.com)

Why margin is risky (main points)

• Leverage amplifies losses: a small adverse move can wipe out your equity and leave you owing money. (Investopedia.com)
• Margin calls / forced sell: if your account equity falls below maintenance requirements the broker will ask for more funds — if you don’t add funds the broker can close positions without your consent. (nseclearing.in)
• Higher costs and complexity: interest, fees, mark-to-market and intraday margin requirements increase costs and complicate P&L. (nseindia.com)
• Regulatory and product rules (India): margin trading must be through SEBI-authorized facilities (MTF) and exchanges/brokers enforce strict upfront margins and risk controls. Rules have changed in recent years to reduce retail leverage. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)

When margin might be reasonable

• You understand leverage, have a robust risk plan (position sizing, stop-loss, worst-case scenarios), and use only capital you can afford to lose. (Investopedia.com)
• You’ve practiced on paper or a simulator and have a consistent, proven track record. (Investopedia.com)

Practical safeguards if you decide to try margin

• Use a SEBI-registered broker and an official Margin Trading Facility (MTF). Don’t use unregulated / off‑market schemes. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
• Start very small (low leverage), never risk emergency funds, and set strict position-size limits (e.g., risk ≤1–2% of equity per trade). (Investopedia.com)
• Have cash ready for margin calls or keep more margin than required (buffer). Use stop-losses and pre-defined exit rules. (Investopedia.com)
• Know the costs: interest on borrowed funds, brokerage, and margin penalties. Monitor intraday and end-of-day margin requirements. (nseindia.com)
• Prefer learning with cash-only trades first (no leverage), and move to small, well-controlled margin positions only after consistent success.

If you want one clear recommendation

• Avoid margin trading until you: (a) understand how margin calls and liquidation work, (b) have a written trading/risk plan, and (c) can consistently trade profitably in a non‑margin account. Once those are true, use low leverage and strict risk controls. (Investopedia.com)

If you'd like, I can:

• Give a short checklist to evaluate a broker’s margin terms (interest rates, maintenance margin, liquidation policy).
• Create a simple risk-management plan and position-sizing worksheet you can use before trying margin.

Which of those would you prefer?