Indian stock markets regularly experience sharp interim declines, yet long-term data shows that these corrections are usually short-lived and often end with positive annual returns. The data shows that while declines of 10–20% every year are common, they are rarely permanent. Big crashes and fast recoveries As per the study, large market declines of 30–60% have historically occurred once every 7–10 years. Bear markets in Sensex Bear markets, while emotionally draining, occupy far less time in market history than most investors assume. In the 1980s, Indian markets spent about 14% of the decade in a bear phase.

Source: Mint February 18, 2026 12:07 UTC