Anthropic Hack Triggers IT Stock Rout; Nifty IT’s 19% February Fall Worst Since 2008

India’s IT sector faced its sharpest monthly decline in nearly two decades, as the Nifty IT index tumbled 19.5% in February 2026. The sell-off was sparked by the Anthropic hack, which raised concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and accelerated fears of AI disruption across the industry.

The rout erased more than ₹5.7 lakh crore in market capitalization, marking the worst monthly performance since September 2008. Leading IT firms, including Coforge and LTIMindtree, bore the brunt of the decline, while broader sector sentiment remained weak amid uncertainty over global tech demand.

Analysts warn that the combination of AI disruption risks, cybersecurity concerns, and global slowdown fears could keep IT stocks under pressure in the near term.

Key Highlights

• Index Fall: Nifty IT down 19.5% in February 2026.
• Historical Context: Worst monthly drop since 2008 crisis.
• Market Impact: ₹5.7 lakh crore wiped out in value.
• Biggest Losers: Coforge, LTIMindtree among hardest hit.
• Trigger: Anthropic hack + AI disruption fears.
• Investor Outlook: Sector may remain volatile in short term.

This crash underscores the vulnerability of India’s IT sector to global tech shocks and cybersecurity risks, highlighting the urgent need for resilience strategies.

Sources: The Economic Times, News Air Insight, Stockify