Stock Market Holiday: BSE and NSE Closed for Mahavir Jayanti

The Indian equity markets will observe a trading holiday today, March 31, 2026, on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. According to the official holiday calendar released by the exchanges, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will remain shut for the entire duration of the day. This suspension applies to all major segments, including Equity, Equity Derivatives, and Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB). Normal trading activities are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Trading Suspension in Equity and Derivative Segments

As per the notifications issued by the regulatory authorities, no transactions will take place in the cash and F&O segments today. The holiday also extends to the Currency Derivatives and Interest Rate Derivatives segments. This scheduled closure is part of the annual list of market holidays observed by Indian financial institutions. Market participants won't be able to execute buy or sell orders during this period, and any pending orders will be processed upon the reopening of the markets.

Operational Status of Commodity Exchanges

The commodity markets will follow a different schedule today. The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) will remain closed for both the morning and evening sessions, while however, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will observe a partial holiday. While the morning session from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM remains suspended, the evening session will be operational from 5:00 PM until 11:55 PM. This allows traders to react to global commodity price movements during the latter half of the day.

Significance of Financial Year Closing

March 31 marks the conclusion of the financial year 2025-26 in India. Traditionally, this day is characterized by bank closing activities and is often treated as a settlement holiday. During a settlement holiday, trading usually continues, but the clearing and settlement of trades are deferred. However, since Mahavir Jayanti has fallen on the same date this year, the markets are completely closed for trading, aligning the religious holiday with the fiscal year-end procedures.

Review of Previous Trading Session Performance

The markets closed on a negative note during the previous session on Monday. The BSE Sensex witnessed a sharp decline, plunging by over 1600 points, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped by approximately 500 points. The sell-off was widespread across various sectors, reflecting cautious sentiment among market participants. 00 mark against the US Dollar, which added to the overall market pressure before the holiday break.

Upcoming Market Holidays in April 2026

The month of April 2026 features additional non-trading days that market participants should note. Following the Mahavir Jayanti break, the stock markets will be closed on April 3, 2026, for Good Friday. Another holiday is scheduled for April 14, 2026, in observance of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti. These closures are expected to impact the total number of trading sessions available in the first month of the new financial year.