Civic Poll Holiday: Will the stock markets be open on Jan 15?

Synopsis: Despite Maharashtra declaring a civic poll holiday on January 15, 2026, BSE and NSE have not notified a trading halt. With no RBI clarification yet, markets and banks are currently expected to remain open.

Investors are on edge as Maharashtra’s declaration of a January 15 civic poll holiday raises questions over whether Dalal Street will remain open, with stock exchanges and regulators yet to issue clarity amid a crucial derivatives expiry.

What’s on Jan 15th?

On January 15th, 2026 (Thursday), all municipal election zones in the state of Maharashtra will be closed for business due to the statewide municipal corporation elections scheduled for that date. This decision was made by the Maharashtra government so that every eligible citizen has an opportunity to vote in these elections (29 Municipal Corporations of Maharashtra) without being difficult by work commitments. The announcement was made via a circular from the General Administration Department. 

The state government issued this order pursuant to Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, as authorised by a 1968 Home Ministry Notification designating the Maharashtra state government as having the power of authority. According to the state government officials, the holiday intends to allow every eligible voter to participate in the voting process as uninterrupted from work as possible.

Will the market be open?

There has been no announcement of January 15, 2026, as a trading holiday, and it has not been listed on BSE’s or NSE’s official holiday calendars. Without any official notice otherwise, the markets were expected to operate as normal. Traders are still concerned they may receive a last-minute announcement.

January 15, 2026, is significant in addition to being a trading holiday. It also falls on the date all Sensex derivatives are set to expire each week, known as “weekly expiry”. Weekly expiry sessions are generally characterised by increased trading volumes, larger amounts of volatility, and a significant increase in trading activity. 

As a result, the possibility of an announcement changing trading schedules or declaring the day as a holiday can impose difficulties on all trading activities, and exchanging definitive communication from exchanges becomes essential in order to facilitate proper settlement processes, rollover strategies, and manage overall risks effectively.

Compounding this uncertainty is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) not communicating the banks’ operational status or the operational status of RBI-regulated markets. Historically, holiday designations by virtue of the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act are associated with banks/ money markets being closed.

As of now, the conclusion is that both banks and stock markets are expected to remain open on January 15, 2026. If the RBI, BSE, NSE or SEBI issues any fresh notifications or clarifications will be made known. 

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on tradebrains.in are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Investing in equities poses a risk of financial losses. Investors must therefore exercise due caution while investing or trading in stocks. Trade Brains Technologies Private Limited or the author are not liable for any losses caused as a result of the decision based on this article. Please consult your investment advisor before investing.

The post Civic Poll Holiday: Will the stock markets be open on Jan 15? appeared first on Trade Brains.