Fresh selling of the US dollar by banks and exporters brought some life back in the local currency.
Stocks were full of promise as they opened on a firm note, which made the rupee gain ground, traders said.
But the US dollar's strength, mainly an outcome of the US Fed's recent decision to shrink its balancesheet, kept the rupee in check. An indication of gradual rate hike from the central bank tempered mood, too.
US President Donald Trump's tax reforms plan slated to be released, however, kept the interest factor alive, they added.
The benchmark Sensex bounced 197.70 points, or 0.70 per cent, to 31,797.46 in the opening trade.