National and regional bank holidays observed under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Banks remain closed on all 2nd & 4th Saturdays and every Sunday.
Bank holidays in India are governed primarily by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (NI Act), which empowers state governments to declare holidays for banks within their jurisdiction. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) publishes an annual holiday list under three schedules: holidays for RBI offices, holidays at banking institutions under the NI Act, and account closure days. Unlike central government public holidays, bank holidays can vary significantly by state - a holiday declared in Tamil Nadu may not be observed in Maharashtra on the same date.
Certain holidays are observed uniformly across all states: Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) are national bank holidays. Beyond these, each state observes regional festivals - Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Onam in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Good Friday, Christmas, Diwali, Dussehra, and many more. Banking on second and fourth Saturdays is also closed since 2015, and all Sundays are weekly off days for most banks.
Knowing bank holidays is critical for NEFT/RTGS/IMPS settlement planning - while IMPS operates 24/7, RTGS and some inter-bank processes follow RBI settlement windows tied to working days. Businesses making payroll runs, GST payments, TDS challans, and EMI auto-debits must account for holidays to avoid penalties. This calendar covers all RBI-listed holidays for 2026 and 2027, filterable by state, helping individuals and finance teams plan transactions and due dates accurately.