Stock Market Holiday Today: Trading On BSE, NSE Closed On March 31 For Mahavir Jayanti; What Is Open?

The Indian stock market is closed on March 31st for the celebration of Mahavir Jayanti. In the previous trading, the Sensex and Nifty ended on an extreme bearish tone, down by more than 2% each. On Tuesday, a list of market-related instruments will not be available for trading. Following this, the settlement cycle and portfolio rebalancing changes are made. Also, on March 31st, the financial year 2025-26 ends.

Stock Market Holiday On March 31:

As per BSE and NSE holiday list, trading will be closed in equity, equity derivatives, SLB segments, bonds, commodities and rupee among others due to the festival.

However, commodity market will remain closed only for half day on March 31, as the evening session at MCX will continue as normal.

Stock Market Holiday Of March 31 Impact On Traders & Investors:

As per brokerage Swastika blog, here's how the stock market holiday on March 31st will impact traders and investors.

1. Settlement Cycle Changes: Stock market holidays affect the T+1 settlement cycle. Trades executed before March 31 may see a delay in settlement due to the intervening holiday.

2. Financial Year-End Planning: March 31 is the last day of the financial year, making it crucial for tax planning strategies such as tax loss harvesting. Since markets are closed, investors must execute such strategies before the holiday.

3. Portfolio Rebalancing Delays: Any last-minute portfolio adjustments will need to be completed before March 30, 2026.

4. Global Market Influence: Even though Indian markets are closed, global markets will remain active. Significant global developments may impact Indian markets when they reopen.

Sensex, Nifty Performance:

After the trading session of March 30th, Sensex closed at 71,947.55, down by 1,635.67 points, or 2.22%. While Nifty 50 finished at 22,331.40, lower by 488.20 points or 2.14%.

Talking about market performance, Ajit Mishra - SVP, Research, Religare Broking explained that the downturn was primarily driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which dashed hopes of de-escalation and pushed crude oil prices higher, raising concerns over inflation and macro stability for oil-importing economies like India. Weak global cues, including declines across Asian and US markets, coupled with continued foreign institutional outflows and a weakening rupee, further weighed on sentiment.

Additionally, rising bond yields and concerns over tighter financial conditions exerted pressure, particularly on rate-sensitive sectors such as banking and auto.

Stock Market Outlook Ahead:

From a technical perspective, Mishra added that the Nifty has declined over 11% during March. With the onset of the new series, it will be crucial to watch whether the index holds its long-term moving average, i.e., the 200-week EMA, placed around the 21,900 mark. Persistent weakness in key sectors-especially banking and financials-along with elevated volatility, as indicated by India VIX hovering near 28, suggests continued downside risk.

He further said that any pullback is likely to face resistance in the 22,600-23,000 zone, and traders are advised to remain cautious and prioritize risk management until stability returns.

Also, technically, Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities said, the market broke a key support line at 22,500/72,500 and closed at 22,331/71,947. Based on the current market structure, 22,500/72,500 could pose a significant hurdle for the market in the short term. Below these levels, the market could soon decline to 22,100/22,000/71,300/71,000.

"A close below 22,000/71,000 would raise further concerns. However, given the current pattern of sudden price declines in a short period of time, medium- to long-term investors may be tempted to invest in certain stocks. Above 22500/72500, we may see some short covering, which could take the index towards 22700/73100 levels. The strategy should be to buy certain stocks between 22100-22000/71300-71000," said the Kotak analyst.

Mahavir Jayanti 2026:

Mahavir Jayanti 2026 will be celebrated on March 31, 2026, marking the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. It is a day of prayers, fasting, and acts of charity, observed by Jains across India. The festival emphasises non-violence, truth, and compassion, reflecting Mahavir's core teachings, as per Vedantu website.

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