The day the pulse of the country’s economic health is read in the Parliament, the heartbeats of Dalal Street also become faster. On February 1, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the General Budget for the financial year 2026-27, this day will be special not only because the budget will come, but also because it will be a Sunday and despite this the stock markets will remain open. The Indian stock market, which is usually closed on Saturdays and Sundays, will be seen trading on Sundays also, taking a historic decision this time.
In view of the importance of the Budget, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have announced to organize a special live trading session on February 1. Exchanges believe that the market should get a chance to react quickly to major policy announcements made during the Budget. This is the reason why Sunday holiday has been canceled this time.
This has happened before too
This is not the first time in the history of independent India’s stock market that trading will take place on Sunday. Earlier, on 28 February 1999, during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, markets were open on Sunday, the budget day. After almost two and a half decades, once again investors will be seen trading on Sunday.
What will be the trading timings?
For the convenience of investors, NSE and BSE have made it clear that this Sunday session will remain like normal trading days.
- Pre-Open Market: 9:00 am to 9:08 am
- Normal Trading Session: 9:15 am to 3:30 pm
That means investors will have full time to make strategies and make deals during and after the budget speech.
Why was it necessary to open the market on Sunday?
According to market experts, remaining closed on the budget day can be risky for investors. Issues like tax slabs, capex spending, sector-specific announcements and fiscal deficit require immediate response. With the market being open on Sunday, investors will be able to manage their positions on the same day and avoid the uncertainty of Monday.
What is your advice for investors?
Since this is a special session, brokerage firms and investors have been advised to be technically prepared. Experts say that more fluctuations are possible, so instead of being hasty, take steps thoughtfully.
Latest Business News