Stock market holiday (AI image)

Stock market holiday today: Indian equity markets are closed today in observance of Shri Mahavir Jayanti, with both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) marking the first of two trading holidays scheduled for the week.On the commodities front, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will not operate during the morning session from 9 am to 5 pm today due to the holiday. However, trading will resume in the evening session between 5 pm and 11:30 pm, according to its official schedule. The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) will remain closed for the entire day.Mahavir Jayanti, which marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, is being observed by Jain communities across the world today. Banks and post offices in several states are also likely to remain shut.The holiday comes at a time when global geopolitical tensions have heightened, leading to sharp declines in equity markets. Domestic markets have also been under pressure due to continued foreign investor selling, macroeconomic concerns and weakness in the rupee.This holiday is the fifth among the 16 market closures planned for 2026. Trading will remain suspended again on April 3 (Friday) for Good Friday, followed by another holiday on April 14 (Tuesday) to mark Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti.In the coming months, May will also have two trading holidays, on May 1 for Maharashtra Day and May 28 for Bakri Id. The markets will then be closed on June 26 for Muharram, after which there will be a two-month period without any scheduled trading holidays.In the latter part of the year, exchanges will remain shut on September 14 for Ganesh Chaturthi, October 2 for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, October 20 for Dussehra, November 10 for Diwali-Balipratipada, November 24 for Guru Nanak Jayanti, and December 25 for Christmas, as per the official calendar. The exchanges have indicated that any revisions to these dates will be communicated through separate notifications in advance.