The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are going to conduct a special live trading session in the equity Future and Options (F&O) segment on Saturday, January 20, 2024, to shift to the disaster recovery (DR) site.

The session will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will be a 45-minute session starting at 9:15 AM. The second special live trading session will commence at 11:30 AM and conclude at 12:30 PM. 

All futures contracts can fluctuate within a 5% operating range during the special trading session. Securities in the Future and Options (F&O) segment will have upper and lower circuit limits of 5%, while those with a 2% limit will maintain their existing 2% circuit limit. This measure prevents excessive volatility and maintains market stability during the drill.

The sudden live trading sessions are aligned with the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) framework regarding the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and DR site for stock exchanges and depositories to ensure a smooth transition from their primary site (PR) to the DR site and the readiness of Market Infrastructure Institutions for handling operational disruptions and meeting Recovery Time Objectives at the DR Site. 

According to circulars issued by NSE and BSE, the exchanges initiated a switchover of trading systems from PR to DR on January 13.

Due to January 20 being a settlement holiday, purchases made on Friday in the equity market will be settled on Monday, January 22. Funds from F&O trades conducted on Friday cannot be utilised during the special DR sessions to ensure that the testing does not impact the regular settlement cycle.