Realised Gain
The profit that is locked in once a position has actually been sold and settled.
Formula
Realised Gain = (Actual Sale Price - Purchase Price) x Quantity Sold - Transaction Costs
Unit
₹
In depth
Realisation is the moment a paper number becomes a fact: the price stops mattering, the tax liability crystallises, and the capital is free to be redeployed. Only realised gains and losses enter the tax computation, which is why year-end harvesting decisions revolve around them. Partial sales realise proportionally, and India applies first-in-first-out at the depository level for identifying which shares were sold, which determines the holding period and therefore the tax rate. The distinction from an unrealised gain is not pedantic — it is the difference between a screen number and a bank balance.
Worked example
You bought 300 shares at ₹100 in January and 300 more at ₹180 in November, then sell 300 shares. Under FIFO the January lot goes first, so the gain is (Sale Price - 100) x 300 and the holding qualifies as long-term, not the November lot's.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Realised Gain” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.