New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- The Indian stock market witnessed a sudden, sharp fall in intraday trade on Sunday, February 1, after the Finance Minister (FM) presented her ninth consecutive budget, announcing measures to accelerate economic growth while maintaining fiscal prudence.

The Sensex crashed more than 2,800 points from the day's high, while the Nifty 50 dropped to 24,571.75 after the FM announced the STT hike.

Experts highlighted that the Budget kept growth in focus and avoided populism. For investors, the Budget is a long-term positive.

"The 2026 Budget prioritises competitiveness over populism, aiming to sustain India's growth at 6.5-7% while attracting global manufacturing and capital investment. It marks a strategic shift from cons...