A put option in the stock exchange is an option to sell. A put option is a financial contract between a buyer and a seller that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell an underlying asset (such as a stock or a commodity) at a specified price (the strike price) on or before a specified date (the expiration date). The seller of the put option is obligated to buy the underlying asset from the buyer at the strike price if the buyer decides to exercise the option.
Therefore, a put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset at the strike price, regardless of whether the market price of the asset has fallen or not. Put options are often used by investors as a form of insurance against a decline in the value of their portfolio, as they allow investors to profit from a decrease in the market price of an underlying asset. Overall, a put option provides investors with the ability to limit their downside risk in the stock market.