The National Stock Exchange has announced a historic shift in Muhurat trading schedule for 2026, marking the first time in 69 years that the session will be held in the afternoon instead of its traditional evening slot. According to Outlook Money, this represents a significant departure from the session's long-standing tradition that has held since the practice's formal inception. The session will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm, ending a tradition that has remained unchanged for nearly seven decades. Investors are looking forward to the change, as trading in daylight rather than after dark will add a fresh note to a ritual that many market participants hold dear. The shift comes in continuation of the exchange's earlier circular dated December 15, 2025, with the special trading session taking place in the afternoon instead of the usual evening slot this year.
The continuous trading session will operate from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm on November 8, 2026, as confirmed by the latest exchange circulars. The main session will begin with a pre-opening order entry window from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm, followed by order matching and trade confirmation from 2:10 pm to 2:15 pm, with a pre-opening buffer period running from 2:15 pm to 2:20 pm. Block deals will be permitted from 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm, providing market participants with opportunities for larger transactions during the auspicious period. Continuous trading in stocks covered by the closing auction session (CAS) will end at 3:15 pm, followed by the closing auction, while trading in other stocks will continue until 3:30 pm. Equity futures and options trading will run from 2:20 pm to 3:40 pm. Normal market closing time for non-Closing Auction Session (CAS) securities will be 3:30 pm, while closing time for CAS securities will be 3:15 pm. Trading members will be allowed to log in between 1:15 pm and 1:50 pm, ensuring proper preparation for the special session. Block deals will be permitted from 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm, providing market participants with opportunities for larger transactions during the auspicious period. The position limit/collateral value set-up cut-off is scheduled for 3:40 pm, followed by trade modification end time at 3:40 pm, ensuring proper completion of all trading activities during the special session.
The exchanges have expanded the Muhurat trading session to include multiple segments across equity, commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, equity futures and options, and securities lending and borrowing (SLB), according to the exchange circulars. This comprehensive approach ensures that various market participants can participate in the auspicious trading window. The periodic call auction session is scheduled from 2:25 pm to 3:20 pm, providing additional trading opportunities during the special period. Closing auction activities will take place between 3:15 pm and 3:35 pm, followed by the closing session for non-CAS securities from 3:30 pm to 3:50 pm. The closing buffer period for CAS securities will be held from 3:35 pm to 3:50 pm, followed by the post-closing session from 3:50 pm to 4 pm. During the pre-open and CAS order entry periods, order entry, modification and cancellation will be permitted for both limit and market orders during the initial phase, with these activities restricted to limit orders in subsequent phases. The exchange has specified system-driven random closure during the last two minutes of relevant order-entry periods. The trade modification cut-off time will be 4:15 pm for the cash market and 3:50 pm for equity derivatives on the NSE, ensuring proper completion of all trading activities during the special session.
The session marks the start of the new Hindu accounting year, known as Samvat, and carries both cultural and financial weight for investors across the country. According to traditional belief, investing during this auspicious astrological window brings wealth, prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. For many participants, the session is less about chasing quick profits and more about honouring Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. The mood tends to be one of optimism, with the wider financial community coming together to mark the meeting point of old traditions and modern capital markets. Retail investors often buy modest quantities of shares in companies they intend to hold for the long term, treating the purchase as a ceremonial first step in passing wealth down the generations. Stock brokers and traditional business owners perform customary rituals to consecrate their new account books during this auspicious window. Unlike regular trading days when equity markets operate from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm, Muhurat trading is conducted for a shorter duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm. All trades executed during the Diwali Muhurat trading session will result in settlement obligations, ensuring real transactions rather than symbolic purchases.
