Indian Stock Markets Have a Settlement Holiday for Eid-e-Milad
Listen to the story
India's two major stock exchanges, the BSE and NSE, had a settlement holiday for Eid-e-Milad, a religious festival.
Eid-e-Milad marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and is an important day for many Muslims in India.
A settlement holiday means that although trading may still happen, the usual process of transferring money and shares between buyers and sellers does not take place.
This raised a common question among investors: can people still trade shares on such a day, even if settlement is paused?
Many investors also asked about other upcoming holidays, such as whether markets would close for Raksha Bandhan on 28 August, another important Indian festival.
People wanted to check the full stock market holiday calendar to plan their trading activities in advance.
There was also interest in stock market holidays for 2026, including whether NSE and BSE would remain shut on a Wednesday for Eid-e-Milad that year.
Indian stock exchanges publish an official calendar every year listing all trading and settlement holidays.
These holidays include national festivals, religious occasions, and other significant dates.
Investors are advised to check this calendar regularly, since holiday dates can shift depending on the lunar calendar used for religious festivals like Eid-e-Milad.
Vocabulary10 words
- stock exchange
- a place where shares of companies are bought and sold
- settlement holiday
- a day when money and shares are not exchanged, even if trading happens
- trade
- to buy or sell shares or other financial products
- holiday calendar
- an official list showing which days markets are closed
- festival
- a special day of celebration, often religious
- investor
- a person who puts money into shares or companies
- lunar calendar
- a calendar based on the moon's movements, used for some religious dates
- BSE
- the Bombay Stock Exchange, one of India's main markets
- NSE
- the National Stock Exchange, another main Indian market
- Eid-e-Milad
- a religious day marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Quiz
Answer key
1. Money and shares are not transferred that day 2. Because some festivals follow a lunar calendar 3. Raksha Bandhan
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
India's two major _____ , the BSE and NSE, had a _____ holiday for Eid-e-Milad.
Eid-e-Milad marks the birth of the _____ and is important for many Muslims.
A settlement holiday means the usual process of transferring _____ and shares does not happen.
This raised a question: can people still _____ shares on such a day?
Many investors asked about _____ on 28 August.
People wanted to check the full stock market _____ to plan ahead.
There was interest in holidays for _____ , including whether markets would close on a Wednesday.
Indian stock exchanges publish an official _____ every year.
Investors are advised to check this calendar because dates can shift with the _____ calendar.
Discussion questions
- Why might it be confusing for investors when a market has a settlement holiday but trading might still continue?
- Do you think stock markets should close for religious festivals? Why or why not?
- How could a shifting lunar calendar make planning difficult for businesses?
- Why is it useful for investors to check a holiday calendar in advance?