**Market Brief: PSU Banks Hit by Budget Sunday Sell-Off** State-run bank shares faced intense selling pressure during today’s rare Sunday trading session, triggered by key announcements in the Union Budget 2026-27. The sector emerged as the biggest underperformer as markets reacted to policy shifts and fiscal data. **Sector Performance** The **Nifty PSU Bank index** tumbled approximately **5.6%** intraday, erasing recent gains. All 12 constituents of the index traded in the red, marking a sharp reversal from the sector's strong pre-budget momentum. * **Bank of India** led the losses, sliding nearly **7%** to trade around ₹152. * **Indian Bank** dropped over **8%**. * **Bank of Baroda** and **Union Bank** declined by roughly **4–5%**. **Key Triggers** Investors reacted nervously to two major developments outlined by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: **1. High-Level Committee for Banking** The government announced the formation of a high-level committee to comprehensively review the banking sector. While aimed at aligning the sector with the **"Viksit Bharat"** (Developed India) initiative and ensuring future growth, the lack of immediate clarity on potential structural changes fueled uncertainty. **2. Record Borrowing Target** The Centre set a gross market borrowing target of **₹17.2 lakh crore** for FY27, exceeding street estimates of ₹16.3–16.5 lakh crore. * **Impact:** Higher borrowing typically pushes bond yields up. * **Consequence:** Public Sector Banks (PSBs), which hold significant government bond portfolios, face the risk of **Mark-to-Market (MTM) losses**, dampening profitability outlooks. **Broader Context** * **Restructuring:** The Budget also proposed restructuring state-run non-bank lenders, including **Power Finance Corp (PFC)** and **REC**, to strengthen financial institutions. * **Rare Session:** This volatility occurred during a special live trading session, as the Budget presentation fell on a Sunday for the first time since the NDA government shifted the date to February 1. **Summary:** The dual whammy of structural review uncertainty and yield-spike fears triggered an aggressive sell-off in state-owned lenders, making them the primary casualty of the Budget 2026 session.