The BSE Sensex (officially the S&P BSE Sensex) is India's most widely followed stock-market index and the benchmark for the Bombay Stock Exchange. It tracks 30 of the largest, most financially sound and actively traded companies on the BSE, spanning banking, IT, finance, energy, autos, pharma, FMCG, metals and telecom. A rising Sensex signals positive sentiment; a falling Sensex reflects caution. Explore related sector indices like the BSE Bankex and BSE IT, or open a free demat account to invest.
What is the BSE Sensex?
The Sensex is a basket of 30 blue-chip companies that together represent a large share of India's total market capitalisation. Because these are among the country's most liquid and financially robust firms, the index is treated as a proxy for the health of the entire Indian equity market.
Why is the Sensex important?
- Shows the overall direction of the Indian market at a glance.
- Serves as a benchmark to compare your portfolio or a mutual fund against.
- Reflects sector performance and broader economic health.
- Helps gauge market sentiment and long-term investment opportunities.
How is the Sensex calculated?
The Sensex uses the free-float market-capitalisation method — only shares available for public trading are counted (promoter and locked-in holdings are excluded). Each stock's weight is proportional to its free-float market cap, and the index is scaled to a base period of 1978–79 = 100. Larger, more valuable companies therefore move the index more.
Sensex sectors & leading constituents
| Sector | Example constituents |
|---|---|
| Banking & Finance | HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance |
| Information Technology | TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra |
| Energy & Oil | Reliance Industries, NTPC, Power Grid |
| FMCG | Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Nestlé India |
| Auto | Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors |
| Others | Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma, Asian Paints, UltraTech |
How to invest in the Sensex
- Buy a Sensex index fund or ETF that mirrors the index — the simplest low-cost route (see mutual funds & SIP).
- Invest directly in the individual constituent stocks through your demat account.
- Trade Sensex futures & options if you are an experienced derivatives trader.
- Open a free ATS account to access index constituents, ETFs and live charts in one place.
Sensex vs Nifty 50
Both are large-cap benchmarks, but the Sensex tracks 30 stocks on the BSE while the Nifty 50 tracks 50 stocks on the NSE. They move closely together because they share many of the same heavyweight companies. You can also watch world benchmarks on our global indices page.
Explore other BSE indices
- BSE Bankex — The BSE banking sector index — leading public & private banks tracked live.
- BSE IT — The BSE technology index — India's top IT and software companies.
- BSE Auto — The BSE automobile index — carmakers, two-wheelers, EV and auto ancillaries.
- BSE MidCap — The BSE mid-cap index — emerging mid-sized companies with growth potential.