Introductory Context
"The option chain layout places calls (CE) on the left, strikes in the centre, and puts (PE) on the right. The ATM strike is highlighted in the centre. ITM options have a different background from OTM options. Reading left-to-right across any strike row shows the complete call and put data for that level simultaneously."
The Full Layout — Annotated
Opening the NSE option chain for Nifty with the index at 24,150, you see a matrix with approximately 40–60 rows (one per available strike) and multiple columns on each side. Here is what each section contains:
Left Section — Call Data (CE)
Reading left to right across the call side, you see: OI, Change in OI, Volume, IV, LTP, Bid, Ask. These six data points describe the call options at each strike. The columns are in this order to put the most analytically important data (OI) first and the most trade-execution-relevant data (Bid, Ask) closest to the centre strikes column.
Centre Column — Strike Prices
The strike price column is the axis of the entire chain. Strikes are listed in ascending order. On the NSE website, the ATM strike (closest to the current spot) is highlighted in a different colour — blue or yellow depending on the website version. The highlighted ATM strike is your visual anchor for everything else on the chain.
Right Section — Put Data (PE)
Reading left to right across the put side, you see: Bid, Ask, LTP, IV, Volume, Change in OI, OI. The put side mirrors the call side — the columns are in reverse order (Ask and Bid are closest to the centre, OI is furthest right). This mirroring means the most directly comparable data point — OI — is at the outer edges of each side, and the execution data (Bid, Ask) is adjacent to the strikes.
The Colour Coding
ITM call options (strikes below current spot): coloured background (light blue on NSE website). OTM call options (strikes above spot): white background. ITM put options (strikes above spot): coloured background. OTM put options (strikes below spot): white background. The colour change occurs at the ATM strike — above ATM calls turn from coloured to white, below ATM puts turn from coloured to white. This instant visual tells you the ATM level without reading any numbers.
The 60-Second Option Chain Reading Ritual
Every Monday morning before the market opens, open the Nifty option chain for the current week's expiry and run through this 60-second sequence:
• Identify the ATM strike from the highlighted row. Note the current Nifty spot level: Step 1 (10 seconds).
• Scan the OI column on the call side. Which 2–3 strikes have the highest OI? These are the max call OI levels — potential resistance: Step 2 (15 seconds).
• Scan the OI column on the put side. Which 2–3 strikes have the highest OI? These are the max put OI levels — potential support: Step 3 (15 seconds).
• Note the ATM call and put IV levels. Is the put IV higher than call IV? (It almost always is — this is the volatility skew.) How high is IV relative to typical levels?: Step 4 (10 seconds).
• Calculate the Put-Call Ratio: total OI on put side divided by total OI on call side. Above 1.0 = more put OI than call OI: Step 5 (10 seconds).
This 60-second sequence gives you: current market level, key support and resistance from OI, volatility environment from IV, and overall market sentiment from PCR. These five data points provide the macro context for every trading decision that follows.
The Monday Morning Context
The 60-second option chain reading ritual is most valuable on Monday morning — before any new positions are taken for the week. On Monday, the previous week's OI has been settled and new positions are building. The OI distribution on Monday morning reflects fresh institutional positioning rather than the residual hedges of the previous expiry cycle.
Filtering the Chain for Relevant Strikes
The full Nifty option chain can show 60–80 rows, but only 10–15 are typically relevant for most analyses. Most retail traders find the ±5% range around the current spot (±1,200 points on a 24,000 Nifty) sufficient for all practical purposes. NSE's option chain page allows you to select the number of strikes to display — typically showing 10, 20, or all available strikes. Setting it to show 20 strikes (10 on each side of ATM) gives you approximately ±500 points of coverage on a 24,000 Nifty, which covers most normal weekly trading ranges.
Strike Intervals on the NSE Option Chain
Nifty options are available at 50-point strike intervals. Bank Nifty at 100-point intervals. FinNifty and Midcap Nifty at 50-point intervals. Stock options have varying intervals depending on the stock price. Understanding the interval helps you navigate the chain — on a 24,000 Nifty, the full ATM range from 23,000 to 25,000 covers 40 strikes (every 50 points).
The option chain is a weekly fingerprint of the market. Every expiry cycle leaves a different pattern of OI concentrations, IV levels, and PCR. Learning to read this fingerprint — to see in 60 seconds what the chain is saying about support, resistance, volatility, and sentiment — is a skill that compounds over time. The traders who read it consistently and correctly have a structural edge over those who look only at price charts.