Stock market holidays: BSE, NSE shut on Tuesday for Mahavir Jayanti 2026

The Indian stock market will observe its first holiday of the week on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in observance of Mahavir Jayanti. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) will remain closed, giving investors a brief pause from recent selling pressure.
This week, Dalal Street will be active for only three trading sessions out of five, with the second holiday falling on Friday, April 3, 2026, to mark Good Friday. This results in a long weekend for market participants. Notably, major global markets, including the US, will also be closed on April 3.
For commodities, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) will remain shut during the first half of Tuesday, March 31. Trading will resume in the evening session from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Upcoming Stock Market Holidays in 2026​

Following April 3, the next closures will be on April 14 for Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti, with additional holidays in May, June, September, October, November, and December.

Market Performance Amid Tensions​

March has been challenging for the Indian stock markets, with the Nifty 50 declining nearly 10%, marking the steepest monthly fall since 2020. Market pressures include a depreciating rupee, rising crude oil prices, and foreign fund outflows amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, now entering its fifth week.
Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, noted that escalation in West Asia has pushed Brent crude to $116 per barrel, eroding the earlier Goldilocks macro scenario for India. He highlighted concerns of slower GDP growth, higher inflation, rising fiscal and current account deficits, and lower corporate earnings expectations for FY27.
From a technical perspective, Ajit Mishra, SVP of Research at Religare Broking, identified immediate support for the Nifty around 22,500. He warned that a sustained fall below this level could extend the index decline toward 22,000, while resistance is seen near 23,500, above which a recovery toward 24,000 could unfold.
This week’s market closures provide investors with a brief respite amid heightened volatility and uncertainty.