Indian stock markets, including the Nifty 50 and Sensex, have experienced their worst start to a new year since 2016, with declines in the first ten days of 2026. Foreign institutional investors have sold approximately $1.72 billion in shares this January, following significant outflows in the previous year. Market experts attribute the downturn primarily to global uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and cautious investor sentiment, rather than domestic fundamental issues, suggesting it's a correction driven by external factors.