During the January-March quarter of the financial year 2026, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's largest institutional investor, purchased shares worth approximately ₹18,500 crore (nearly $2 billion) across ten companies. This investment occurred amid a challenging market environment, characterized by the Iran-US conflict and fears surrounding artificial intelligence disruption. Among the notable purchases, LIC acquired shares of Bajaj Finance worth ₹2,167 crore, increasing its stake to 2.75% despite a 19% decline in the stock during the quarter. Similarly, Bharti Airtel saw an investment of ₹2,153 crore, with its shares down 15% in the same period but showing impressive long-term gains of 226% over five years. Other significant investments included Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cipla, and Infosys, which faced declines of 26%, 19%, and 23%, respectively, during the quarter. Notably, some companies like Hindustan Aeronautics and HCL Technologies demonstrated resilience with positive long-term returns despite short-term volatility. The overall investment strategy reflects LIC's confidence in the long-term potential of these companies, even as market conditions remain uncertain.