Are you new to investing and trying to figure out what time the Indian stock market opens and closes in India? You are not alone. Many first time investors get caught up with the excitement of trading without understanding market hours. Knowing the trading hours of the NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and the pre-market and post-market sessions will maximize your opportunities and help you to avoid costly mistakes.
In this resource you will learn about:
- Regular NSE & BSE hours
- Pre-market and post-market sessions
- The importance of trading hours for beginner and traders
- Sensible hours to put an order
- How hours affect mutual fund NAVs, marginally and execution of orders.
Let’s make sense of the time so you can make smarter investment decisions.
Market Hours (NSE and BSE)
Both the NSE and BSE in India have the same formal market hours. Here’s the market hours:
| Session | Time (IST) | Details |
| Opening Bell | 9:15 AM | formal start of regular market hours. |
| Closing Bell | 3:30 PM | formal end of regular market hours. |
The Trading Process Works Like This:
- You can buy and sell shares in real-time throughout the 6 hours and 15 minutes market window of 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Orders can be matched and executed in milliseconds (subject to liquidity).
Example: If your intent is for example to buy shares of Infosys at market price, and you placed a limit on your order at 10:00 AM, your order would have immediately executed at the next offered price in the market, at which point the market price would reflect the current trading price at the time of order placement.
Pre-Market Session (9:00 AM – 9:15 AM)
Pre-market session gives investors a chance to enter buy/sell orders before the opening of the official market.
Pre-market breakdown:
- Order Entry (9:00 AM – 9:08 AM)
You can place, modify, or cancel orders. - Order Matching (9:08 AM – 9:12 AM)
The system will match buy and sell orders to determine the opening price. - Buffer Period (9:12 AM – 9:15 AM)
This period is a short time to mitigate concerns about a nasty transition into normal trading.
Why this is important:
Pre-market is especially valuable for acting in reaction to overnight news or overseas market movement before the primary session begins.
For example: if TCS issues news of enormously successful quarterly earnings after the market has closed, you are able to enter your buy order into the queue pre-market the next morning.
The operating hours for the post-market session are from 3:40 PM until 4:00 PM.
Even if the market was to close at 3:30 PM, you are still able to place certain orders in the post-market session.
How it works:
You can use the post-market session to place orders at today’s close, which all are queued for execution at the next day’s opening.
Let’s say you saw some evening news about Reliance expanding and you would want to buy some shares of Reliance. You can wait until the post-market session to place your order without having to wait for the market to reopen.
Why You Should Consider Market Timing as a Trader or Investor
Knowing when stock markets open and close is not about punctuality – it’s about strategy.
For Day Traders:
- The opening minutes (9:15 AM to 10:00 AM) of trading can be very volatile. Prices tend to move, and because prices often reflect overnight news.
- The closing minutes (3:00 PM to 3:30 PM) of trading can also create wild price fluctuations because traders scramble to square off their positions.
For Long-Term Investors:
- Market timing is more habitual than having to consider daily variability.
- You can create an order anytime during the market without having to worry about short-term volatility.
Trading Holidays and Special Sessions
There are holidays every year for trading on both NSE and BSE, such as:
- Republic Day (26th January)
- Independence Day (15th August)
- Diwali (Muhurat Trading – typically 1-hour ceremonial session)
- Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October)
💡 Tip – always review the official holiday list on NSE India or BSE India before planning any trades.
When a New Trader Should Place Orders
For SIPs and long-term investors:
- Any time of the day is fine, except for the first 15 minutes (9:15 – 9:30 AM) as the first 15 minutes is the most unpredictable time in terms of price if you are an investor.
For intraday traders:
- Many, many day traders will trade between 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM because volatility is slower at that time and trends are more predictable.
Example: a new investor may place their orders based on a SIP involving an ETF at 11:00 AM as stability is preferred, while experienced day traders may trade based on the price action of the stock during the first hour.
How Mutual Funds are impacted – Nippon India Mutual Fund
Many mutual fund NAVs (Net Asset Values) are computed based on the closing market price at 3:30 PM.
As an example, if you invest in Nippon India Mutual Fund before the cut-off time (which is usually 3:00 PM), you can get the NAV for that day based on the closing price of the stock market.
If you want to know how mutual fund schemes are related to the stock market performance, check out our dedicated post on Nippon India Mutual Fund strategies.
Getting Started – Basic Share Market Vocabulary
Before you go deeper into trading hours, you should be familiar with a few basic share market words:
- Limit Order – An order to buy/sell at a certain price.
- Market Order – An order to be executed at the current market price.
- Circuit Limit – The maximum a stock price could go up or down in a day.
- Volatility – How much and the speed stock prices move.
If these terms are completely new to you, read our beginner’s guide to basic share market terms vocabulary, where we take the jargon and make it simple.
❓ FAQs on Indian Stock Market Timings
Q1: Can I buy stocks before 9:15 AM?
You can, during the pre market session (9:00 AM – 9:15 AM) if certain orders are placed.
Q2: The timing of NSE is the same as BSE?
Yes, they both have the same hours of opening (9:15 AM) and closing (3:30 PM).
Q3: What happens if I place an order after market closes?
Your order will be put in the queue and will be processed during the next market session, usually at the price opening price.
Conclusion
Knowing when the stock market opens and closes isn’t just trivia — it’s a core part of smart investing.
From pre-market to post-market sessions, timing plays a role in how your trades execute, mutual fund NAV calculations, and even price volatility.
For beginners, stick to calm trading hours, use SIPs for consistency, and gradually explore advanced strategies.
What about you? When do you prefer placing your trades — morning or afternoon? Drop your answer in the comments and share this post with friends who are starting their investing journey.
SEBI Disclaimer:
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all scheme and investment-related documents carefully before investing.
Disclaimer
The information on this website is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. I am not a SEBI-registered financial counselor, and the information provided here should not be interpreted as investment advice or stock recommendations.
Always conduct your own research or consult with a SEBI-registered advisor before making any financial decisions. Investing in the stock market entails risk, including the potential loss of principal.