Public Holidays in India 2026: List of National and Government Holidays
Public holidays play an important role in helping people plan their work schedules, travel, festivals, and family time. In india, holidays are broadly divided into National Holidays, Gazetted (Government) Holidays, and Restricted Holidays, many of which vary from state to state.Here’s a detailed look at the National and major government holidays in india for 2026, along with important notes every employee and citizen should know.🇮🇳 National Holidays in india 2026National holidays are observed across all states and Union Territories, and government offices, schools, banks, and many private institutions remain closed.DateDayHoliday26 january 2026MondayRepublic Day15 august 2026SaturdayIndependence Day2 october 2026FridayGandhi Jayanti👉 These three holidays are mandatory nationwide and cannot be replaced or shifted.🏛️ Major government (Gazetted) Holidays in india 2026Gazetted holidays are officially declared by the government of india and are usually observed by central government offices, PSUs, banks, and many private organizations.DateDayHoliday1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year’s Day14 JanuaryWednesdayMakar sankranti / Pongal23 JanuaryFridayNetaji subhas chandra bose Jayanti18 FebruaryWednesdayMaha Shivratri6 MarchFridayHoli3 AprilFridayGood Friday22 AprilWednesdayRam Navami1 MayFridayLabour Day25 MayMondayBuddha Purnima17 JuneWednesdayBakrid / Eid-ul-Adha16 JulyThursdayMuharram15 AugustSaturdayIndependence Day19 AugustWednesdayRaksha Bandhan5 SeptemberSaturdayTeachers’ Day2 OctoberFridayGandhi Jayanti24 OctoberSaturdayDussehra12 NovemberThursdayDiwali25 DecemberFridayChristmas⚠️ Note: Dates of Islamic festivals may change depending on moon sighting.🏦 Bank Holidays vs government Holidays
- Bank holidays are declared by the Reserve bank of india (RBI) and may vary by state.
- State-specific holidays (like regional festivals) are decided by state governments.
- Private companies may follow different holiday calendars.
- State government notifications
- RBI bank holiday list
- Your organization’s internal holiday circular
- Only 3 National Holidays are compulsory across India
- Government employees get gazetted + restricted holidays
- Private sector holidays may vary
- Festival holidays depend on religion, region, and state rules
- Helps in leave planning and long weekends
- Useful for travel and festival planning
- Important for exam schedules and office planning
- Helps businesses plan operations and deadlines