The Nifty's deepest falls, and how long the climb back took
The largest falls from a previous high in the Nifty 50 and Nifty 500, how long each took, and how long the recovery took.
Figures as of 26 Oct 2026 (end of day) · 4 min read · first published 27 Oct 2026
An index that ends a decade higher can still spend long stretches below an earlier peak. A drawdown is the fall from a previous high to the lowest point before that high is regained. Here are the Nifty 50's deepest drawdowns from January 2021 to October 2026 (falls of at least 10%).
| High | Low | Fall | High regained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 2021 | 17 Jun 2022 | −17.2% | 24 Nov 2022 |
| 26 Sept 2024 | 4 Mar 2025 | −15.8% | 2 Jan 2026 |
| 2 Jan 2026 | 8 Oct 2026 | −15.6% | not yet |
The broader Nifty 500, which includes mid-sized and smaller companies, went through the same episodes with different depths:
| High | Low | Fall | High regained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sept 2024 | 28 Feb 2025 | −18.8% | not yet |
| 18 Oct 2021 | 20 Jun 2022 | −18.5% | 30 Nov 2022 |
| 15 Sept 2023 | 4 Nov 2023 | −15.8% | 28 Nov 2023 |
The climb back from the deepest fall took 5 months, shorter than the 8 months the fall itself took. A fall of 17% needs a rise of 21% to get back to where it started, because the rise starts from a smaller base.
What this record can't tell you
This covers about 6 years. Indian indices have had far longer recoveries in other periods, and an individual stock can fall further and never recover. The table describes what happened, not how long any future fall would last.
Try it yourself in the recovery lab, or read about drawdowns in Learn.
A description of past data, not a view on any company or index, a forecast or investment advice. Past patterns do not tell you what will happen next. Disclaimer