Mon Feb 23 01:20:00 UTC 2026: ### GIFT Nifty Achieves Record Trading Volume, Signifying Robust Growth in Indian Equity Derivatives Market

The Story:
GIFT Nifty, trading on the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) in GIFT City, has reached a new milestone, recording its highest-ever single-day trading volume on Friday, February 20, 2026. The index saw 457,989 contracts traded, resulting in a turnover of $23.48 billion (approximately Rs 2.13 lakh crore). This surpasses the previous record of $22.88 billion set on January 23, 2024, indicating a significant increase in participation and global interest in India-linked derivatives traded at GIFT City.

The surge in trading activity underscores GIFT Nifty’s growing importance as a benchmark reflecting the Indian equity market’s expansion. Since the full-scale launch of GIFT Nifty operations on July 3, 2023, the contract has recorded a cumulative trading volume exceeding 60.05 million contracts, with a total cumulative turnover of $2.76 trillion.

Key Points:

  • GIFT Nifty achieved a record single-day trading volume of 457,989 contracts on February 20, 2026.
  • The turnover reached $23.48 billion, exceeding the previous record of $22.88 billion from January 23, 2024.
  • Since July 3, 2023, GIFT Nifty has recorded over 60.05 million contracts traded, with a cumulative turnover of $2.76 trillion.
  • NSEIX holds a dominant market share of over 99.6% in GIFT IFSC.
  • In October of the previous year, GIFT Nifty recorded a monthly turnover of $106.22 billion.

Critical Analysis:
The provided historical context does not offer enough information to analyze the reasons behind this event.

Key Takeaways:

  • GIFT Nifty is experiencing substantial growth in trading volume and turnover.
  • The increasing participation reflects growing global confidence in the Indian equity market.
  • GIFT City is emerging as a significant international financial hub.
  • NSEIX maintains a leading position in the GIFT IFSC market.

Impact Analysis:

The record trading volume in GIFT Nifty has several long-term implications:

  • Enhanced Global Visibility: It strengthens India’s position in the global financial market, attracting more international investors and traders.
  • Increased Investment Flows: The increased trading activity is likely to lead to greater foreign investment in the Indian equity market.
  • Economic Growth: The development of GIFT City as a financial hub will contribute to overall economic growth by creating jobs and boosting related industries.
  • Market Development: The success of GIFT Nifty encourages further innovation and development of new financial products and services in the Indian market.

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