Special Trading Session: Stock Market Will Be Open On First Saturday Of March; How To BUY And Sell?

Two weeks from now, the stock market will be open for a special trading session on the first Saturday of March 2024. On March 2nd, trading will take place on BSE and NSE, however, it won't be a normal routine instead operations are to be carried out on the Disaster Recovery (DR) Site instead of the primary site. If you're planning to participate during the special session, there are a host of important instructions that one should not miss out on.

In its latest circular, NSE said, this is about NCL Circular No. NCL/CMPT/44701 dated June 19, 2020, regarding Unannounced operations from the Disaster Recovery (DR) Site and circular no: NSE/MSD/60677 dated February 14, 2024, regarding the live trading sessions on March 02, 2024 (Saturday) with intra-day switch over to DR site."

Accordingly, NSE added, that members are requested to note that NCL shall shift its operation from the primary site to the DR site on March 02, 2024, at 11:15 hrs. It shall be a graceful shutdown from the primary site.

This is conducted based on specific discussions with SEBI and their Technical Advisory Committee. And hence, NCL systems would not be available between 10:00 hrs on March 02, 2024, to 11:15 hrs on March 02, 2024.

Here are the important instructions for investors trading on Saturday, March 2, 2024:

1. Given the intra-day switch to the DR site, Members are requested to note that CIM, N-MASS, NCMS and NCIS applications shall not be available for any live operations or updates between 10:00 hrs on March 02, 2024, to 11:15 hrs on March 02, 2024.

2. Any request/ data uploaded by the Members during the period between 10:00 hrs on March 02, 2024, to 11:15 hrs on March 02, 2024, shall be deleted at the end of the session. Members/Custodians are requested to note that such requests/data would not be considered / available towards live operations or updates.

3. Members/Custodians accessing these applications through different modes of connectivity (e.g., internet or leased line) are not required to make any changes in configuration settings/ connection parameters to connect to C2N applications from the Disaster Recovery Site.

4. Members/Custodians may note that a separate operational circular will be issued for the settlement number for the aforesaid special live session and subsequent multiple settlements.

The same instructions apply to traders in futures and options.

Last month, the stock market announced a special trading session on January 20th, however, that was modified to a regular trading session due to a holiday on January 22nd on the occasion of the Ram Mandir ceremony in Ayodhya.

Market watchdog Sebi enables Market Infrastructure Intermediaries (MIIs) to carry out test and live trading sessions for the switchover of functionality from the primary site to their Disaster Recovery site (DRS).

As per Kotak Securities, SEBI mandates stock exchanges to switch to their Disaster Recovery site in a live session as part of their business continuity plan. This ensures they have a robust backup system in place to maintain smooth operations in case of any disruptions.

Generally, the stock market is closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) by default.