This guide provides the official list of days when all commercial and co-operative banks in India will remain closed. Bank holidays are categorized under three headings by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act, Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and RTGS, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts.
📅 Mandatory All-India Bank Holidays 2026
These holidays are based on Central Government Gazetted Holidays and are observed by banks across all states. Dates marked with an asterisk (*) are tentative and subject to change based on the local sighting of the moon.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type / Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday |
| Mar 04 | Wednesday | Holi | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)* | Central Gazetted Holiday (Tentative) |
| Mar 26 | Thursday | Ram Navami | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Mar 31 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Apr 01 | Wednesday | Annual Closing of Bank Accounts | For Banks Only (All India) |
| Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| May 01 | Friday | Buddha Purnima / May Day | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)* | Central Gazetted Holiday (Tentative) |
| Jun 26 | Friday | Muharram* | Central Gazetted Holiday (Tentative) |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday |
| Aug 26 | Wednesday | Milad-un-Nabi* | Central Gazetted Holiday (Tentative) |
| Sep 04 | Friday | Janmashtami | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Oct 02 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | National Holiday |
| Oct 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Nov 24 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Central Gazetted Holiday |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
🏦 Bank Closures on Weekends (RBI Rules)
In accordance with the RBI, all banks in India are closed on:
- All Sundays
- The Second Saturday of every month.
- The Fourth Saturday of every month.
2026 Second & Fourth Saturdays
| Month | Second Saturday | Fourth Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 10 | Jan 24 |
| February | Feb 14 | Feb 28 |
| March | Mar 14 | Mar 28 |
| April | Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| May | May 09 | May 23 |
| June | Jun 13 | Jun 27 |
| July | Jul 11 | Jul 25 |
| August | Aug 08 | Aug 22 |
| September | Sep 12 | Sep 26 |
| October | Oct 10 | Oct 24 |
| November | Nov 14 | Nov 28 |
| December | Dec 12 | Dec 26 |
💡 Important Note on Digital Banking
All online banking services, including **IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, UPI, and ATM services**, remain operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, even on official bank holidays and weekends. Only physical branch services are affected by these closures.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bank Holidays
Q1. Are bank holidays the same in every state of India?
No. While National Holidays and the 2nd/4th Saturdays are observed nationwide, banks also observe State-Specific Holidays notified by the State Government under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Examples include Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Onam in Kerala, and Bihu in Assam.
Q2. What is the significance of "April 1: Annual Closing of Bank Accounts"?
April 1st is declared a holiday specifically for commercial and co-operative banks to facilitate the annual closing and reconciliation of their financial books and accounts. While physical branches are closed to the public, essential back-end operations may still be conducted.
Q3. Can I use NEFT/RTGS/IMPS/UPI on a bank holiday?
Yes, absolutely. All major digital payment systems, including NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and UPI, operate 24x7, 365 days a year, as per RBI guidelines, regardless of physical branch closures.
Q4. Does the date for Diwali change for bank holidays?
Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Since banks are already closed on Sundays, the holiday for Diwali will generally be observed on the most significant day of the festival, which may be shifted to the following day in some states if the main festival day falls on a Sunday. Always check the official state notification.
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