Public holidays in India in 2026 need to be understood at more than one level. India has three National Holidays that apply across the country: Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, commonly known as Gandhi Jayanti. Central Government offices, state and Union Territory governments, banks and individual institutions may observe additional holidays under their own applicable calendars and rules.
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Public Holidays in India 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day | Confirmed |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
| October 2, 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (Gandhi Jayanti) | Confirmed |
How Many National Holidays Does India Have?
India has three National Holidays: Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday on 2 October.
These three dates should not be confused with the much broader lists of gazetted, restricted, festival, state or bank holidays published by different Indian authorities. Those additional holidays may be important, but they do not all have the same nationwide classification.
National Holidays vs Central Government Holidays in India
India's Central Government holiday calendar is broader than the three National Holidays. The Department of Personnel and Training issues an annual holiday schedule for Central Government administrative offices.
Under the Central Government framework, offices outside Delhi and New Delhi observe a group of compulsory holidays that includes the three National Holidays as well as major religious and festival occasions such as Buddha Purnima, Christmas Day, Dussehra, Diwali, Good Friday, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Mahavir Jayanti, Muharram and the birthday of Prophet Mohammad. Additional holidays are selected from a separate list according to the applicable government procedure.
This Central Government employee calendar should therefore not be treated as a single nationwide public-holiday calendar for every employee, business, school or organisation in India.
State and Union Territory Holidays in India
India's holiday system varies significantly between states and Union Territories. State governments may publish their own holiday calendars containing regional festivals, religious observances and other locally important dates.
A holiday observed in one state is therefore not automatically a nationwide holiday. The Government of India's National Portal reflects this distinction by maintaining separate holiday-calendar information for individual states and Union Territories alongside the Central calendar.
People planning work, travel, appointments or business activity should check the calendar applicable to the state or Union Territory concerned rather than assuming that every listed Indian festival closes organisations throughout the country.
Gazetted and Restricted Holidays in India
The Central Government calendar distinguishes between Gazetted Holidays and Restricted Holidays. Gazetted holidays are official closed holidays for the government offices to which the relevant calendar applies. Restricted holidays operate differently and allow eligible employees to choose from an approved list under applicable government rules.
A Restricted Holiday should not be described as a nationwide public holiday. Similarly, the presence of a festival in a Central Government holiday list does not by itself establish that every private employer, school, bank or business across India must close.
Religious Holidays and Date Changes
Several Indian holiday calendars include religious observances whose dates depend on religious calendars or official confirmation. This is particularly relevant to Islamic holidays such as Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.
Central Government rules allow the dates of certain Islamic holidays to be changed when necessary according to moon sighting and the decisions of the relevant authorities. State and Union Territory calendars can also differ. For this reason, travellers and employees should confirm variable religious holidays close to the date when precise scheduling matters.
Bank Holidays in India
Bank holidays in India should not be treated as identical to the national public-holiday list. Banking closures can vary by state and banking centre because holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act may be declared for particular jurisdictions.
Banks also observe regular weekly closure rules, including the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. A banking holiday in one state or city therefore does not necessarily mean that branches throughout India are closed for the same reason.
For banking appointments, cheque clearing, branch visits or other time-sensitive transactions, customers should check the applicable Reserve Bank of India holiday information and their bank's local branch schedule.
Long Weekends in India in 2026
Two of India's three National Holidays create convenient long-weekend opportunities in 2026 for people whose normal weekly days off are Saturday and Sunday.
- Republic Day: Monday, 26 January 2026 follows the weekend of 24–25 January, creating a three-day break for many five-day workplaces.
- Gandhi Jayanti: Friday, 2 October 2026 comes immediately before the weekend of 3–4 October, creating another potential three-day break.
- Independence Day: Saturday, 15 August 2026 falls on a Saturday. Whether this creates any additional time off depends on the organisation's working pattern and applicable rules.
No additional nationwide substitute holiday should be assumed simply because a holiday falls on a normal weekly day off. Employees should follow the rules of their employer, government department, state or institution.
Are Government Offices Closed on Public Holidays in India?
Government offices close according to the holiday calendar applicable to them. Central Government administrative offices follow the annual schedule issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, while state and Union Territory government offices may follow separate calendars.
The three National Holidays form part of these official schedules, but additional government holidays vary according to jurisdiction and administrative rules.
Are Schools Closed on Public Holidays in India?
Schools are generally subject to calendars issued or approved by the relevant education authority, state government, school board or institution. School closure dates can therefore differ between states and between institutions.
The national holiday calendar should not be used as a complete school holiday calendar. Parents and students should check the academic calendar issued by their school or education authority.
Are Shops and Businesses Closed on Public Holidays in India?
Business opening rules can depend on state labour laws, the type of establishment, local regulations and employer policy. Not every festival or government holiday produces identical private-sector closures throughout India.
The three National Holidays have particularly broad recognition, but businesses should still follow the labour and establishment rules that apply in their state or Union Territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in India?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday from the current India public holiday database.
How many nationwide National Holidays does India have?
India has three National Holidays: Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday on 2 October.
Is Republic Day a national holiday in India?
Yes. Republic Day is one of India's three National Holidays and is observed annually on 26 January.
Is Independence Day a national holiday in India?
Yes. Independence Day is one of India's three National Holidays and is observed annually on 15 August.
Is Gandhi Jayanti a national holiday in India?
Yes. Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, commonly called Gandhi Jayanti, is one of India's three National Holidays and is observed on 2 October.
Are Diwali and Holi nationwide National Holidays in India?
No. Diwali and Holi are major festivals and appear on many official holiday calendars, but they do not have the same classification as India's three National Holidays. Their official treatment can depend on the relevant Central Government, state, institutional or employment calendar.
Are public holidays the same in every Indian state?
No. States and Union Territories can have different holiday calendars reflecting regional festivals, religious observances and local administrative decisions.
Are bank holidays the same throughout India?
No. Bank holiday schedules can vary by state and banking centre. Banks also observe regular closures on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
Can religious holiday dates change in India?
Yes. Some religious holidays, particularly Islamic observances based on the lunar calendar and moon sighting, may be changed or confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Does India automatically give a substitute holiday when a holiday falls on a weekend?
A nationwide substitute day should not be assumed. Substitute or replacement arrangements depend on the applicable government, state, institutional or employment rules.
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