Stock Markets to Remain Closed on January 15, 2026 for Maharashtra Municipal Elections
NSE and BSE will observe a complete trading holiday on January 15, 2026, for Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, modifying their earlier plan to keep trading open. The closure affects all segments including equities, derivatives, and currency markets. Maharashtra government declared the day a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for elections across 29 municipal corporations including Mumbai BMC, with vote counting on January 16, 2026.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will remain completely closed on January 15, 2026, due to municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra. This announcement represents a significant modification from the exchanges' earlier position.
Trading Holiday Modification
The NSE issued a circular stating a "partial modification" to its earlier announcement. Initially, the exchange had planned to keep trading open on January 15 while observing only a settlement holiday. However, the updated notification declares January 15, 2026, as a complete trading holiday in the Capital Market (CM) Segment.
| Trading Segment | Status on January 15, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Equities | Closed |
| Equity Derivatives | Closed |
| Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLBs) | Closed |
| Currency Derivatives | Closed |
| Interest Rate Derivatives | Closed |
| Commodity Derivatives | Morning session closed |
Maharashtra Municipal Elections
The Maharashtra government declared January 15, 2026, a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act to facilitate local body elections across 29 municipal corporations. The elections include major civic bodies such as Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts governed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The notification was issued under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, using powers delegated to the state government by the Ministry of Home Affairs since 1968. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation confirmed that the holiday applies across Mumbai, including the city and eastern and western suburbs.
Impact on Financial Services
The public holiday declaration affects multiple sectors beyond stock markets:
- Government and semi-government offices will remain closed
- Public sector units will suspend operations
- Banks and financial institutions will be shut
- Other commercial establishments will observe the holiday
The government order also extends to voters registered in Mumbai but working outside the city, allowing them to participate in the electoral process. Vote counting is scheduled for January 16, 2026.
Market Holiday Calendar 2026
The January 15 closure is part of the stock markets' annual holiday schedule for 2026. Markets will remain closed for a total of 16 holidays throughout the year, with four holidays falling on weekends when markets are typically closed anyway.
| Month | Number of Holidays | Key Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| March | 3 days | Holi (March 3), Shri Ram Navami (March 26), Shri Mahavir Jayanti (March 31) |
| February | 0 effective days | Holidays fall on weekends |
| July | 0 effective days | Holidays fall on weekends |
| August | 0 effective days | Holidays fall on weekends |
March will see the highest number of market closures with three trading days affected by festivals and religious observances. The months of February, July, and August will have no effective market holidays as the scheduled national holidays coincide with weekends.
Historical Context
This marks a continuation of the practice observed during previous Maharashtra civic elections. Stock markets were similarly closed during the last municipal corporation elections held in 2017, establishing a precedent for suspending trading activities during major state electoral processes.

































