Government and Public Holidays in India – 2026

India’s holiday calendar reflects the country’s national history, religious traditions, regional festivals and cultural diversity. Every year, the Central Government and individual state governments publish holiday notifications covering government offices, public institutions, banks and other notified establishments.

For employers, the 2026 holiday calendar is more than an employee-engagement document. It affects attendance, shift planning, payroll processing, overtime calculations, compensatory holidays, banking transactions, contractor deployment and statutory compliance.

Organisations operating across multiple states should not rely on one common holiday list for every location. Central government holidays, state government holidays, bank holidays, restricted holidays and holidays applicable to private establishments may differ.

This guide explains the major government and public holidays in India for 2026, the different categories of holidays and the important responsibilities employers should consider while preparing their annual holiday calendar.

Government Holidays in India for 2026

The following dates appear in the official 2026 holiday calendars published by Government of India organisations. The list contains 17 gazetted holidays observed by Central Government offices in Delhi and New Delhi. Holiday selection for offices located outside Delhi and New Delhi may vary according to Central Government instructions and local coordination arrangements.

Important Note on Festival Dates

The dates of Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad may be changed based on the sighting of the moon. Employers should monitor official government announcements before finalising attendance, payroll and operational arrangements for these holidays.

National Holidays in India

India observes three nationally significant holidays:

Republic Day – 26 January 2026

Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950. In 2026, Republic Day falls on a Monday.

Independence Day – 15 August 2026

Independence Day commemorates India’s independence in 1947. In 2026, Independence Day falls on a Saturday.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday – 2 October 2026

Gandhi Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In 2026, it falls on a Friday.

These holidays are widely observed throughout the country. Employers should nevertheless verify their obligations under the applicable state’s National and Festival Holidays legislation, Shops and Establishments law, factory rules, employment conditions and government notifications.

What Is the Difference Between Government and Public Holidays?

The terms “government holiday” and “public holiday” are often used interchangeably, but they may have different legal and operational implications.

Government Holidays

Government holidays generally apply to:

• Central government offices
• State government departments
• Local-government authorities
• Government-controlled institutions
• Public-sector organisations, where notified

A Central Government holiday does not automatically require every private establishment in India to remain closed.

Public Holidays

A public holiday may be declared by the Central Government or a state government and can apply to government offices, public institutions, banks or other establishments specified in the notification.

Its applicability depends on the law or notification under which it is declared.

Bank Holidays

Bank holidays are notified under the Negotiable Instruments Act or applicable banking regulations. A bank holiday may affect:

• Cheque clearing
• Branch transactions
• Payroll transfers
• Vendor payments
• Statutory remittances
• Settlement activities

Digital banking services may remain available even when physical bank branches are closed.

Restricted Holidays

Restricted holidays are optional holidays from which eligible government employees may select a prescribed number based on personal, cultural or religious preference.

The Central Government’s 2026 framework allows government employees to choose restricted holidays from the notified list, subject to the applicable office rules.

State and Regional Holidays

State governments declare holidays according to regional festivals, historical events and local traditions. Examples include:

• Pongal in Tamil Nadu
• Onam in Kerala
• Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra and other states
• Bihu in Assam
• Durga Puja in West Bengal
• Chhath Puja in Bihar and other regions
• Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra
• Vishu in Kerala
• Rath Yatra in Odisha
• Losar in Himalayan regions

Dates and applicability can vary between states and districts.

Major 2026 Holidays by Month

January 2026

Important January holidays include New Year’s Day, regional harvest festivals and Republic Day.

Regional observances may include:

• Lohri
• Makar Sankranti
• Pongal
• Magh Bihu
• Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
• Republic Day

Republic Day falls on Monday, 26 January 2026.

February 2026

February may include state-specific observances and religious festivals such as Maha Shivaratri, depending on the applicable holiday notification.

March 2026

March contains several major festivals in 2026:

• Holi – 4 March
• Id-ul-Fitr – 21 March
• Ram Navami – 26 March
• Mahavir Jayanti – 31 March

Ugadi and Gudi Padwa may also be observed in several states during March.

April 2026

Good Friday falls on 3 April 2026. April may also include:

• Easter-related observances
• Baisakhi
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Tamil New Year
• Vishu
• Bohag Bihu
• Bengali New Year

Applicability differs by state and establishment.

May 2026

Buddha Purnima falls on Friday, 1 May 2026. May Day or Labour Day is also observed in many states on 1 May.

Id-ul-Zuha falls on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, subject to confirmation based on the lunar calendar.

June 2026

Muharram is listed for Friday, 26 June 2026, subject to moon-sighting confirmation.

July 2026

July may include regional holidays such as Rath Yatra and other state-specific festivals.

August 2026

Important August holidays include:

• Independence Day – 15 August
• Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad – 26 August

Raksha Bandhan and other regional observances may also appear in state or restricted-holiday lists.

September 2026

Janmashtami falls on Friday, 4 September 2026. Ganesh Chaturthi and other regional festivals may also be observed during September.

October 2026

October contains two important gazetted holidays:

• Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday – 2 October
• Dussehra – 20 October

Durga Puja, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and other regional festivals may also be included in state holiday notifications.

November 2026

Major November holidays include:

• Diwali or Deepavali – 8 November
• Guru Nanak’s Birthday – 24 November

Diwali falls on a Sunday in 2026. Whether any alternative or compensatory holiday is provided depends on the applicable government notification, employment policy or state law; it should not be assumed automatically.

December 2026

Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026. State-specific observances may also apply during December.

Central Government Holidays vs State Government Holidays

Central government offices generally follow the holiday framework issued for Central Government employees. State governments publish separate holiday notifications for their own departments, public institutions and other covered bodies.

A state holiday list may contain:

• National holidays
• Major religious festivals
• State formation days
• Birth anniversaries of regional leaders
• Local cultural festivals
• District-specific holidays
• Bank holidays
• Restricted holidays

For example, the Tamil Nadu Government’s 2026 notification separately covers state government offices and notified commercial and cooperative bank holidays.

A business operating in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal may therefore need four different location-specific holiday calendars.

Are Government Holidays Mandatory for Private Companies?

Not every government holiday is automatically mandatory for every private company.

Private-sector holiday obligations may arise under:

• State National and Festival Holidays Acts
• State Shops and Establishments legislation
• Factories legislation and rules
• Industrial employment standing orders
• Awards or settlements
• Employment contracts
• Company policies
• Government notifications
• Collective bargaining agreements

The number of holidays, mandatory national holidays, festival holidays and employee entitlements can differ by state.

Employers should review the law applicable to each factory, shop, office, warehouse, project site or other establishment before publishing the holiday calendar.

Employer Obligations for Public and Festival Holidays

1. Prepare an Establishment-Specific Holiday List

Employers should prepare separate holiday calendars where locations are governed by different state requirements.

The list should identify:

• Holiday name
• Date and day
• Holiday category
• Applicable establishment
• Mandatory or optional status
• Whether operations will remain closed
• Working-holiday approval requirements
• Substitute or compensatory holiday arrangements

2. Display the Holiday List

Some state laws require establishments to display an approved holiday list on the notice board or another visible workplace location.

Where permitted, employers may also publish the list through:

• Employee self-service portals
• HR applications
• Email notifications
• Intranet pages
• Mobile applications
• Digital notice boards

Digital communication should supplement any physical display specifically required by law.

3. Submit the Holiday List for Approval

Depending on the applicable state legislation, employers may need to submit the proposed holiday list to the prescribed authority or inspector within a specified timeline.

Employers should verify:

• Prescribed form
• Submission deadline
• Minimum number of holidays
• Consultation requirements
• Approval procedure
• Display requirements

4. Maintain Holiday Attendance Records

If employees work on a notified holiday, the employer should maintain reliable records of:

• Employee name and identification number
• Department or work location
• Shift timing
• Attendance hours
• Approval for holiday work
• Overtime or holiday wages
• Compensatory holiday provided
• Date on which the compensatory holiday was used

5. Pay Applicable Holiday Wages

Employees required to work on a notified holiday may be entitled to additional wages, a substituted holiday or both, depending on the applicable law.

Employers should avoid applying one standard holiday-wage formula across every state without verifying local requirements.

6. Provide Compensatory Holidays Where Required

Where applicable, a compensatory holiday should be provided within the prescribed period. The entitlement and timeline should be tracked until the employee uses the holiday.

7. Coordinate Payroll and Attendance

Holiday masters should be correctly configured in attendance and payroll systems.

An incorrect configuration may result in:

• Loss of pay deductions
• Incorrect overtime calculations
• Wrong shift allowances
• Missed compensatory holidays
• Incorrect contractor invoices
• Attendance irregularities

8. Monitor Contractor Compliance

Contract labour deployed on a holiday should be monitored for attendance, wages, overtime and compensatory-off compliance.

The principal employer should collect appropriate evidence from contractors rather than relying only on written declarations.

9. Notify Employees in Advance

The annual holiday list should be communicated before the beginning of the calendar year or within the period prescribed by the applicable law.

Any change should be communicated promptly to all affected employees and contractors.

10. Preserve Supporting Records

Employers should maintain:

• Government holiday notifications
• Approved holiday lists
• Submission acknowledgements
• Notice-board records
• Employee communications
• Holiday attendance registers
• Payroll calculations
• Overtime approvals
• Compensatory-off records
• Contractor supporting documents

Common Holiday-Compliance Challenges

Using One Holiday List Across India

A uniform national calendar may overlook mandatory state festivals and location-specific requirements.

Confusing Government and Private-Sector Holidays

A closure announced for government offices may not automatically apply to private establishments.

Ignoring Bank Holidays

Bank holidays can affect payroll credits, statutory payments and vendor settlements even when the organisation remains operational.

Incorrect Payroll Configuration

An incorrect holiday code can lead to wrong attendance, wage or overtime calculations.

Missing Compensatory Holidays

Employees may work on holidays, but the corresponding compensatory entitlement may not be recorded or provided.

Delayed Publication

Holiday lists may require prior display, submission or approval. Preparing the list after the year has started can create compliance issues.

Unverified Festival Dates

Certain religious festival dates may change following official announcements.

Weak Contractor Oversight

Contractors may deploy workers on holidays without maintaining the necessary wage and compensatory-off records.

How FACILE Supports Holiday Compliance Management

FACILE can help organisations manage national, state, festival and location-specific holiday requirements through a structured digital platform.

State-Wise Holiday Masters

Maintain separate holiday calendars according to state, establishment and business location.

Government Notification Repository

Store government orders, holiday notifications and supporting documents in one central location.

Multi-Location Holiday Mapping

Assign the appropriate holiday calendar to factories, offices, branches, warehouses and project sites.

Automated Alerts

Notify HR and compliance teams about holiday-list preparation, submission, display and renewal deadlines.

Approval Workflows

Create maker-checker processes for preparing, reviewing and approving annual holiday calendars.

Attendance and Payroll Coordination

Connect approved holiday dates with attendance and payroll processes to reduce calculation errors.

Working-Holiday Monitoring

Track employees and contractors deployed on notified holidays.

Compensatory-Off Tracking

Record compensatory-holiday entitlement, due date, usage and pending status.

Contractor Compliance Management

Collect holiday attendance, wage and compensatory-off records from contractors.

Digital Audit Trail

Maintain a history of holiday-calendar changes, approvals, supporting records and employee communications.

Benefits of Automating Holiday Compliance with FACILE

Better Multi-State Compliance

Each establishment can follow the holiday requirements applicable to its state and location.

Fewer Payroll Errors

Approved holiday masters help reduce incorrect attendance deductions and overtime calculations.

Improved Employee Communication

Employees can access accurate location-specific holiday information through a centralised system.

Stronger Contractor Governance

Organisations can monitor whether contract workers receive applicable holiday wages and compensatory benefits.

Timely Calendar Publication

Automated workflows and reminders help teams prepare the next year’s calendar before the deadline.

Centralised Documentation

Notifications, approved lists, acknowledgements and payroll evidence remain organised for audits and inspections.

Greater Management Visibility

Dashboards can show holiday-calendar status, pending approvals and working-holiday obligations across locations.

Holiday Compliance Checklist for Employers

Before finalising the 2026 holiday calendar, employers should confirm that:

• The latest Central and state notifications have been reviewed
• The correct law has been identified for each establishment
• National holidays have been included
• Required festival holidays have been selected
• State and regional holidays have been considered
• Bank holidays affecting business operations have been reviewed
• Restricted or optional holidays are clearly identified
• The prescribed minimum number of holidays is provided
• The holiday list has received internal approval
• Statutory submission requirements have been completed
• The holiday list is displayed at the workplace
• Employees and contractors have received the calendar
• Attendance and payroll systems have been updated
• Holiday-work approval procedures are documented
• Overtime and compensatory-off rules are configured
• Supporting notifications and acknowledgements are stored
• Changes based on moon sightings or local orders are monitored

Stay Connected. Stay Compliant.

Holiday management should not depend on outdated spreadsheets, copied calendars or assumptions that one list applies to every establishment.

FACILE helps HR, payroll and compliance teams maintain state-wise holiday calendars, monitor statutory requirements, organise government notifications and track employees working on holidays.

Stay connected. Stay compliant. Manage government and public holiday compliance across India with FACILE.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the national holidays in India in 2026?

The three nationally significant holidays are Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday on 2 October.

2. How many gazetted holidays are listed for Central Government offices in Delhi and New Delhi in 2026?

The published 2026 calendar lists 17 gazetted holidays for Central Government offices in Delhi and New Delhi.

3. Is every government holiday mandatory for private companies?

No. Private-company obligations depend on the applicable state law, establishment category, government notifications, employment conditions and company policies.

4. Are state government holidays the same throughout India?

No. Each state publishes its own holiday calendar based on regional, religious, cultural and administrative requirements.

5. What is a restricted holiday?

A restricted holiday is an optional holiday that eligible employees may select from an approved list, subject to the applicable employment rules.

6. Are bank holidays applicable to private offices?

A bank holiday does not necessarily require a private office to close. However, it can affect branch banking, cheque clearing, payroll transfers and statutory payments.

7. Can a company remain open on a national or festival holiday?

This depends on the applicable law and nature of operations. If employees work on a notified holiday, additional wages, a substituted holiday or compensatory time off may be required.

8. Is Diwali a Sunday in 2026?

Yes. Diwali is listed for Sunday, 8 November 2026, in the Central Government calendar.

9. Is an additional holiday automatically provided when a festival falls on Sunday?

Not necessarily. An alternative holiday depends on the applicable law, government notification, employment policy or settlement.

10. Can Islamic festival dates change?

Yes. Dates for festivals such as Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad may be revised based on moon sightings and official announcements.

11. Should companies prepare different holiday lists for different states?

Yes. Multi-state employers should prepare location-specific calendars based on the laws and notifications applicable to each establishment.

12. Must the holiday list be displayed at the workplace?

Many state laws require covered establishments to display the approved holiday list. Employers should verify the applicable form, location and deadline.

13. What records should be maintained when employees work on holidays?

Employers should preserve attendance, approvals, hours worked, holiday wages, overtime calculations and compensatory-off records.

14. Are contract workers entitled to holiday benefits?

Contract workers may be entitled to notified holidays, additional wages or compensatory holidays under the applicable law. Employers and contractors should verify the relevant provisions.

15. When should employers prepare the 2026 holiday calendar?

The calendar should be prepared and communicated before the beginning of the year or within the period prescribed under the applicable state legislation.

16. Can FACILE manage state-wise holiday calendars?

Yes. FACILE can maintain and monitor separate holiday calendars for different states, establishments and business locations.

17. Does holiday-management software replace legal advice?