Stock Market Holiday Today: BSE and NSE to Remain Closed for Shri Mahavir Jayanti

New Delhi | March 31, 2026 — Investors and traders in the Indian financial markets will have a mid-week breather today, as the premier stock exchanges, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), remain shut in observance of Shri Mahavir Jayanti.

The closure marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, a day celebrated across the country for its message of peace, non-violence, and spiritual harmony.

Market Segments Affected

According to the official holiday calendar released by the exchanges for 2026, trading activity across several key segments will be suspended for the entire day:

• Equity Segment
• Equity Derivative Segment
• SLB (Securities Lending and Borrowing) Segment
• Currency Derivatives Segment

Commodity Markets: Partial Trading Session

While the equity markets are fully closed, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) follow a different schedule.

• Morning Session: Closed (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
• Evening Session: Open (5:00 PM onwards).

Traders in the commodity space should note that while the morning hours will be quiet, the evening session will allow for price discovery and trading aligned with global commodity trends.

Strategic Impact on the Financial Year-End

Today’s holiday carries additional weight as March 31, 2026, also marks the final day of the Financial Year 2025-26. Typically, the last day of March is a hive of activity for tax-loss harvesting and portfolio rebalancing. Since the markets are closed today, most institutional and retail investors were required to wrap up their year-end positioning during the previous session on March 30.

Settlement and Credit Information

Because this is a settlement holiday, there are a few logistical points for investors to keep in mind:

1. Fund Credits: Any intraday profits or credits from exiting options positions on March 30 will not be available in the account balance today. These will reflect on the next working day.
2. Withdrawals: While instant withdrawal facilities may remain active depending on your broker, standard withdrawal requests placed today will likely only be processed on April 1, with funds reaching bank accounts by April 2.

Looking Ahead: The Next Trading Session

The markets will resume normal operations tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, which also kicks off the new Financial Year 2026-27.

Investors will be closely watching the opening bell on April 1, as it follows a particularly volatile session on March 30, where the Sensex and Nifty 50 saw a sharp correction of over 2%. Market participants will be looking for signs of recovery or further consolidation as they navigate the first day of the new fiscal year.