New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- In what investors hoped would provide a booster to the Indian stock market after a volatile run, today's Union Budget instead delivered the weakest budget-day market performance in six years, underscoring persistent uncertainty across markets.

The Nifty 50 suffered a 2%, or 500-point, crash, falling below the psychological level of 25,000 to 24,825 points, marking its weakest budget performance since 2020, when it plunged 2.25%.

Today's steep crash has also brought the index to its lowest level in four months and represents a 6% drop from the January peak of 26,373.

Over the last 25 years, the Nifty 50 has closed with over 2% losses on four occasions, with 2009 recording the largest crash of 5.8%, Mint reported ear...