New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- As investors prepare to welcome Samvat 2083 this Diwali, the Indian stock market faces a crucial test: can resilient domestic growth and corporate earnings overcome persistent geopolitical uncertainty, elevated crude oil prices and sustained foreign investor selling?

In an interview with LiveMint, Dheeraj Gaur, Chief Investment Strategy Officer at Choice Wealth, shared his outlook for the Indian equity market over the next 6-12 months. He expects the Nifty to reach 26,500-27,000 over the next 12 months, but cautioned that a prolonged oil shock or further geopolitical escalation could trigger another bout of volatility.

The market is caught between strong domestic growth and earnings and external risks from crude oil...