After a bruising 2025, India’s equity market may be on the cusp of a fresh advance, with the Nifty index potentially climbing to 30,000 in 2026, according to ICICI Direct. The brokerage said recent market turbulence has laid the groundwork for the next phase of the bull cycle. It pointed to a confluence of technical signals, including a “cup and handle” breakout pattern, a rebound from long-term moving averages and the market’s historical tendency to rally after sharp corrections, as evidence of a developing structural upswing that could make 2026 a pivotal year for Indian equities. Against this backdrop, ICICI Direct has identified seven stocks as its top picks for the year, citing favourable technical and structural characteristics.