Stock Market Timings in India

If you want to trade in the Indian stock markets, you must know the stock market timings, as no retail trade can be executed outside those time intervals (you can place AMOs and GTT orders, but they are executed only during the trading hours). The market, unlike your preferred e-commerce portal or food delivery app, does not work 24/7; it has specific operational time slots, each with its own purpose.

Let us learn more about Indian stock market timings, from pre-opening sessions that set the tone for the day to after-market orders that let you place trades post-hours. This will help you better plan your finances and place your trades better.

What are Indian Stock Market Timings?

The official trading hours on exchanges such as NSE and BSE are from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM (Monday to Friday), excluding holidays. However, trading hours are not restricted to these slots as they are divided into different categories: pre-opening, normal trading, post-closing, and after-market. Each session has a distinct role in placing and settling trades.

Pre-Opening Session

The pre-opening phase is before the market officially opens and runs from 09:00 AM to 09:15 AM. The purpose of this session is to reduce market volatility, especially in the case of a major news or event. The session is divided into:

9:00 AM to 9:08 AM: You can place, modify, or cancel orders. 9:08 AM to 9:12 AM: The system matches orders and calculates the equilibrium price. 9:12 AM to 9:15 AM: A buffer period before the main session begins; no actions allowed.

Suppose a company announced positive quarterly results on Monday evening after the markets were closed. During the pre-opening session, the buy/sell orders reflect the market’s reaction to the news and help set a stable stock opening price.

Normal Trading Session

This is the session where all the major stock buying and selling takes place. It runs from 09:15 AM (the stock market open time) to 3:30 PM (the stock market close time) on weekdays except for public holidays. During this period, you can place your order, and the market operates at a T+2 settlement, meaning trades are settled two working days after the transaction date.

Some intraday traders buy and sell shares on the same day without taking delivery. They focus mainly on the 10:15 AM to 2:30 PM window, when volatility is lower and price trends are more predictable.

Post-Closing Session & After Market Orders

Post-closing session takes place from 03:30 PM to 04:00 PM right after the regular trading hours end. It is segregated into two parts:

• 3:30 PM to 3:40 PM: The closing price is calculated based on the average trading price of the last 30 minutes. No new trades happen here.

• 3:40 PM to 4:00 PM: Investors can place After Market Orders (AMOs). These are instructions to buy or sell stocks once the market opens the next day.

However, new age brokerage houses like Upstox provide additional time for placing the after-market orders. Here are the AMO timings on Upstox for your reference:

Upstox Order Window Timings by Segment

Muhurat Trading Timing

Keeping in mind the Diwali celebrations throughout the country, stock exchanges hold a special one-hour trading session. As per the Indian traditions, the day of Diwali festival is considered extremely auspicious to begin new ventures and investments. The exact timing might vary depending on the ‘mahurat’ but is generally between 6:00 PM and 7:15 PM, announced in advance by the stock exchanges.

Summary of Stock Market Timings in India

So, there are different sessions and timings where you can trade in securities on Indian stock exchanges. Here is a quick summary of the discussed timings:

Indian Stock Market Sessions & Their Timings

FAQs

What time does the stock market open?

The Indian stock market opens at 9:15 AM (IST) from Monday to Friday for normal trading.

What time does the stock market close?

The market closes at 3:30 PM (IST) on trading days, after which post-closing and after-market order windows begin.

Can you trade before and after market hours?

Yes, you can place pre-market orders from 9:00–9:15 AM and after-market orders (AMO) from 3:45 PM to 8:57 AM the next day.

Is the stock market open on weekends?

No, both NSE and BSE are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and also on declared public holidays.

Are the trading times the same for NSE & BSE?

Yes, NSE and BSE follow the same trading schedule, including pre-open and post-market sessions.