After a period of intense selling and market fluctuations, stock market participants are about to experience a welcomed break as trading halts for multiple days this week. The recent market pressure, influenced by global tensions, escalating oil prices, and continuous foreign investor divestment, will temporarily pause during the upcoming holidays.
Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will be closed on Tuesday, March 31, in observance of Mahavir Jayanti 2026, marking the first of two trading breaks within the week. This schedule adjustment will reduce the active trading days on Dalal Street.
According to the official holiday schedule of BSE and NSE, markets will be non-operational on March 31 for Mahavir Jayanti and again on April 3 for Good Friday. This means that out of the five trading days in the week, investors will have trading access for only three sessions. The holiday on April 3 will also result in an extended weekend for investors, as various global markets, including the US, will also be closed.
While equity markets will be closed on March 31, the commodity market will have limited trading activity. The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will be closed during the morning session but will resume trading during the evening session from 5 pm to 11 pm.
Looking ahead, after the April 3 holiday, markets will suspend operations again on April 14 for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti. The year also includes upcoming market closures on specific dates such as May 1 for Maharashtra Day, May 28 for Bakri Id, June 26 for Muharram, and subsequent holidays in the following months.
The temporary closure follows a challenging month for the Indian stock market, with the Nifty 50 index witnessing a nearly 10% decline in March, marking its poorest monthly performance since 2020 and heading towards a fourth consecutive monthly drop. Various factors, such as a weakening rupee, surging crude oil prices, and persistent foreign investor selling, have contributed to the market downturn, exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainties in West Asia.
Foreign institutional investors have made substantial sell-offs in Indian equities during March, surpassing Rs 1.11 lakh crore in total withdrawals, reflecting a significant shift in global investor sentiment towards a risk-averse approach. The continuous outflows have impacted market performance, with the Nifty 50 correcting more than 15% from its recent peak over the last three months, experiencing five consecutive weeks of losses since the conflict erupted on February 28, 2026.
The ongoing geopolitical tensions, weakening Indian Rupee, rising oil prices, and global risk aversion have all played a role in the market downturn, prompting foreign investors to reduce their exposure to Indian markets. While the closure of markets for two days this week may offer some respite from the market volatility, the overall market direction will still be influenced by global developments, particularly geopolitical tensions and oil price movements.