Securities Transaction Tax on futures has risen from 0.02% to 0.05%, and on options premium from 0.1% to 0.15%, effective April 1, 2026. Here is what the hike means in rupees, who bears the cost, and how to trade around it.

The Sensex is more than 14% below its September 2024 record high. FIIs have pulled out over Rs 2.3 lakh crore in 2026 alone. This article explains every layer of the correction: what drove the highs, what broke the rally, why foreign investors keep selling, and what is stopping a freefall.