The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues official holiday calls for scheduled bank branches across India in accordance with the Negotiable Instruments Act. In 2026, bank employees will most likely take a break from work as a result of a festive calor wherein they may have a behind-foot holiday that comes in over Weekends and these are the national holidays on which the bank is closed. However, since RBI declared 2026 a festival calendar, it is important to refer to what the headquarters/view point of the bank has to elaborate on that date. Knowing the public safety and European standards community, these enriching holidays are displayed so that all who plan at the very last minute to dump their valuable capital into another banking transaction within this window.
2026 India Bank Holiday Structure
As advised in the RBI holiday calendar for 2026, banks are now closed for national days, normal weekends, second and fourth Saturdays, and those days peculiar to a state to wind up a waiting discussion. Supply and referral per each city due to distance and other reasons. However, specified holidays may be preserved in the country regarding the festivals present. Divided across the geography, the sector-specific holidays are seen about those geographies.
Some of the public holidays that we observed included Republic Day on 26 January, Maha Shivaratri on 15 February, Holi on 3 March, Ugadi on 20 March, Good Friday on 3 April, May Day on 1 May, Independence Day on 15 August, Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October, Diwali on 8/9 November, and Christmas on 25 December.]
In addition to holidays, banks will remain closed on every second and fourth Saturday of the month. All Sundays will naturally be observed holidays as per the alternate-day formula, in line with general RBI-approved weekly breaks.
Plan Ahead for Either a 5-Day Bank Closure Gap Around Holidays
One of the most frequently noticed patterns for 2026 bank closure are likely to repeat this year as a run of four non-banking days, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (holiday) and holiday (Tuesday), observed around particulate national holidays. For instance, a far overwhelming majority had a bank holiday stretching from January 24 up to January 27 consequent to weekends plus Republic Day and any additional state holiday that ensured a four-hour long break in many states. Advance planning averted possible limbo on account of the odd inclusion of branch service issues during those periods.
Bank holidays in India differ from state to state. Within the RBI calendar, each state announces additional holidays for the banks functioning within their realm. This discrepancy is attributable to local festivals which are celebrated and lead to a bank holiday in one state but a working day in another. For instance, though Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is a bank holiday in states like Maharashtra on February 19, it could be a regular working day for most other regions.
Moreover, banks might remain closed due to any special occasions announced as public holidays by state governments-like election days. If additional cancellations are notified by any state government, they will supercede the national list certified by the RBI.
Important information about RBI: March 31, 2026
According to an advisory from the Reserve Bank of India, many bank branches would be required to stay open on March 31, 2026, even though Mahavir Jayanti had been initially listed as a holiday in some regions’ calendars. To ensure the end-of-year financial transactions ran smoothly and other essential jobs, such as the filing of tax and payments to the government, RBI mandated that banks should be operational that day. Digital Banking Services etc. shall continue.
Digital Banking Service Availability
Digital banking services like UPI payments, internet banking, mobile banking, NEFT/RTGS (during allowed times), ATMs, and card transactions continue to function normally on days when physical bank branches are closed. These services help ensure customers can still carry out most financial tasks even if the bank is closed for any reasons.
Share some tips for bank visits in 2026.
Check for a state-wise list of holidays before scheduling visits to branches, especially around major festivals or public holidays. Confirm anything needed with the local branch or just examine the relevant RBI calendar for your city to avoid a futile visit. This acts as a preventive measure against visits threatened by applying wrong holidays, since not all holidays are universally applicable throughout states.