Sensex @40: How India’s Stock Market Created Wealth | India’s Market Story

India’s benchmark stock market index, the Sensex, turns 40 this New Year’s Day. Launched in January 1986 at 549 points, the index touched a lifetime high of 86,159 in 2025 — delivering a staggering 15,594% return over four decades. An investment of ₹1 lakh at launch would be worth nearly ₹1.57 crore today, underlining the power of long-term compounding. From a broker-driven trading floor to a democratized wealth creator, the Sensex has mirrored India’s economic journey through liberalisation, global crises, the IT boom, and the pandemic. With annualised returns closely tracking India’s GDP growth, the Sensex stands tall as the most trusted barometer of the nation’s rise and economic resilience.