Vinit Bolinjkar, the head of research at Ventura, forecasts that the Nifty 50 index could reach 26,000 to 27,000 by the end of 2026, contingent on several global and domestic factors aligning. He notes that while geopolitical risks and crude oil prices pose challenges, they are gradually diminishing. Bolinjkar advises investors to adopt a disciplined, long-term strategy, focusing on fundamentally sound companies, particularly in the banking, defense, and renewable energy sectors. He highlights that the current market environment is not unprecedented for India, with domestic institutional investors (DIIs) providing strong support against foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows. Bolinjkar cautions against heavy investments in the IT sector due to its service-oriented nature and limited innovation, suggesting that future performance will depend on AI partnerships and deal pipelines. Overall, he encourages investors to remain invested and add to their positions during market dips.