Short answer: reduce leverage, keep a cash/securities buffer and automatic alerts, use risk controls (position sizing, stop orders, diversification, hedges), and know your broker’s house rules — brokers can liquidate without notice. Below are practical steps and rules of thumb you can apply right away.

Why this matters (quick): brokers set maintenance requirements (often above the regulatory minimum) and can sell your positions if equity falls below required levels — you may not get an extension or advance notice. (FINRA.org)

Practical steps to avoid margin calls and forced liquidation

1. Reduce leverage and borrow conservatively

• Use much less than your maximum margin. Rule of thumb: target using no more than 20–30% of available margin (or keep equity ≥ 70–80% of your account). This creates a larger buffer for volatility. (seekingalpha.com)

2. Maintain a cash/securities buffer

• Keep readily available cash or highly liquid, marginable securities equal to the amount you’d need to restore margin if positions fell by a stress amount (e.g., 10–20% drop). Consider holding this buffer at the same broker for immediate transfers. (Investopedia.com)

3. Monitor and automate alerts

• Set account-level alerts (equity %, margin used) and price alerts on your largest/most volatile holdings at comfortable thresholds well above maintenance margin (for example, alert at 40% equity if your broker’s maintenance is 30%). Check positions daily in volatile markets. (Investopedia.com)

4. Position sizing and diversification

• Limit any single position to a small share of your margin exposure (e.g., no more than 3–5% of margin-adjusted portfolio). Diversify across uncorrelated assets so one swing won’t trigger account-wide problems. (Investopedia.com)

5. Use risk controls: stop-losses, stop-limits, and OCO orders

• Use pre-planned stop or stop-limit orders to cut losses, but be aware stops can gap in fast-moving markets. Consider “one-cancels-other” (OCO) orders when pairing profit targets with stops. (Investopedia.com)

6. Hedging with options or inverses (if you understand them)

• Protective puts or index hedges can limit downside on concentrated long positions. Remember hedges have costs (premiums) and can be complex; only use if you understand margin/option margin implications. (Investopedia.com)

7. Avoid very volatile securities on margin

• Small-cap, illiquid, or highly leveraged products (microcaps, certain ETNs, leveraged ETFs, penny stocks, some derivatives) often have higher house requirements and wider moves that can trigger margin quickly. Prefer large-cap, liquid marginable securities when using leverage. (seekingalpha.com)

8. Know your broker’s “house” rules and liquidation policy

• Brokers commonly impose house maintenance margins above regulatory minima and have discretion to liquidate positions (sometimes without prior notice). Read your margin agreement and ask your broker how they calculate maintenance, notify clients, and the order they liquidate. If you trade with multiple brokers, rules vary. (FINRA.org)

9. Keep margin liabilities manageable (interest & margins)

• Remember margin loans accrue interest and additional costs (commissions, taxes) if liquidations occur; factor those into position-sizing decisions. (Investopedia.com)

10. Stress-test scenarios and plan responses

• Run a few scenarios (e.g., -10%, -20%, sudden margin increase) to see when a call would hit. Predefine actions: deposit cash, sell low-risk holdings, or reduce other exposures. Implement and rehearse the plan. (Investopedia.com)

Quick example (illustrative)

• Account value (positions + cash): INR 1,000,000. Current margin loan: INR 300,000 → equity = INR 700,000 = 70% equity.
• If your broker’s maintenance requirement is 30%, your equity must stay ≥ 30% of total market value. If positions fall 20% in value, simulated equity could drop below that. Keeping equity at 70% gives a larger cushion than the 30–40% typical house requirements and reduces chance of forced liquidation. (Numbers are illustrative; run your own calculations with your broker’s exact formulas.) (FINRA.org)

Checklist to implement right now

• Read your broker’s margin agreement and confirm house maintenance % and liquidation policy. (FINRA.org)
• Set alerts at a safe buffer above maintenance (example: if maintenance 30%, alert at 40–45% equity).
• Reduce margin usage to a conservative level (target equity ≥ 70–80%).
• Build/retain a cash buffer for quick deposits.
• Use stops/hedges only if you understand their behavior in gaps.
• Avoid adding margin to highly volatile or illiquid positions.

Final important notes

• Brokers can liquidate without notice and can choose which positions to sell. You are responsible for margin shortfalls and any losses beyond your deposited funds. Act proactively rather than reactively. (Fidelity.com)
• Exact margin formulas, maintenance levels, and allowed securities vary by broker and jurisdiction (including India). Check your broker’s specific rules and, for complex hedges or large leveraged positions, consider consulting a licensed financial advisor or your broker’s margin desk.

If you want, I can:

• Help compute the exact cushion you need given your current positions (you’d need to provide holdings, current market values, and your broker’s maintenance %), or
• Draft questions to ask your broker about their margin/liquidation policy.