Holidays to
be observed in Central Government
Offices during the year 2026
DOPT OFFICE
MEMORANDUM DATED 03.07.2025
REGARDING HOLIDAYS TO BE OBSERVED IN
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES DURING
THE YEAR 2026
As per
Annexure-I to O.M. dated 3rd July, 2025, holidays will be observed in all the
Administrative Offices of the Central Government located at Delhi/New Delhi
during the year 2026. In addition, each employee shall be allowed to avail
himself/herself of any two holidays to be chosen by him/ her out of the list
Restricted Holidays specified in Annexure-II.
PARAGRAPHS OF THE O.M. ARE AS UNDER:
2. Central
Government Administrative Offices located outside Delhi / New Delhi shall
observe the following holidays compulsorily in addition to three holidays, to
be chosen out of the 12 optional holidays indicated below at para 3.1:
1. REPUBLIC
DAY
2. INDEPENDENCE
DAY
3. MAHATMA
GANDHI’S BIRTHDAY
4. BUDDHA
PURNIMA
5. CHRISTMAS
DAY
6. DUSSEHRA
(VIJAY DASHMI)
7. DIWALI
(DEEPAVALI)
8. GOOD
FRIDAY
9. GURU
NANAK’S BIRTHDAY
10. IDU’L
FITR
11. IDU’L
ZUHA
12. MAHAVIR
JAYANTI
13. MUHARRAM
14. PROPHET
MOHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)
3.1 For
offices located in New Delhi/Delhi, three holidays are selected by the D/o
Personnel & Training and for the offices located outside Delhi/New Delhi
three holidays are to be chosen by the Central Government Employees Welfare
Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation
with Coordination Committees at other places in the State, from the list
indicated below. The final list, applicable uniformly to all Central Government
offices within the concerned State, shall be notified accordingly and no change
can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is
permissible in the festivals and dates, as indicated at Annexure - and Annexure-II
baring a few exceptions indicated at para 5.1 and 5.2 hereinafter. The 12
optional holidays are as follows:
1. AN
ADDITIONAL DAY FOR DUSSEHRA
2. HOLI
3. JANAMASHTAMI
(VAISHNAVI)
4. RAM
NAVAMI
5. MAHA
SHIVRATRI
6. GANESH
CHATURTHI / VINAYAK CHATURTHI
7. MAKAR
SANKARANTI
8. RATH
YATRA
9. ONAM
10. PONGAL
11. SRI
PANCHAMI/ BASANT PANCHAMI
12. VISHU/
VAISAKHI / VAISAKHADI / BHAG BIHU / MASHADI UGADI / CHAITRA SUKLADI / CHETI
CHAND / GUDI PADAVA /1ST NAVRATRA / NAORAZ/CHHATH POOJA/KARVA CHAUTH.
3.2 No
substitute holiday should be allowed if any of the festival holidays, initially
declared, subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other non-working
day or in the event of more than one festival falling on the same day.
4. The
list of Restricted Holidays appended as Annexure-Il to this O.M. is meant for
Central Government Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Coordination
Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted
Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance. However, the 9
occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1 above,
are also to be included in the list of restricted holidays
5.1 For
offices in Delhi / New Delhi, any change in the date of holidays in respect of
Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, depending upon
sighting of the Moon, would be declared by the Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions, after ascertaining the position from the Govt. of NCT
of Delhi (DCP, Special Branch, Delhi Police).
5.2 For
offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination
Committees at the State Capitals are authorised to change the date of holiday,
if necessary, based on the decision of the concerned State Governments / Union
Territories, in respect of Idu'lFitr, Idu'lZuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.
5.3 It
may happen that the change of date in respect of the above occasions has to be
declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be
made through P.I.B/T.V./A.I.R./ Newspapers and the Heads of Department /
Offices of the Central Government may take action according to such an
announcement, without waiting for a formal order, about the change of date.
6. During
2026, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Sunday, November 08, 2026 (Kartika 17). In
certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advance,
i.e., on "Naraka Chaturdasi Day". In view of this, there is no
objection if holiday on account of Deepavali is observed on "Naraka
Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) in the Central Government Offices in
a State if in that State that day alone is declared as a compulsory holiday for
Diwali for the offices of the State Government.
7. Central
Government Organisations which include industrial, commercial and trading
establishments would observe upto 16 holidays in a year including three
national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's
birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays / occasions may be
determined by such establishments/organisations themselves for the year 2026,
subject to para 3.2 above.
8. Union
Territory Administrations shall decide the list of holidays in terms of
Instructions issued in this regard by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
9. In
respect of Indian Missions abroad, the number of holidays may be notified in
accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's O.M.
No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17th December, 2002. In other words, they will have the
option to select 12 (Twelve) holidays of their own only after including in the
list, three National Holidays, Id-ul-Fitr and Diwali, included in the list of
compulsory holidays and falling on days of weekly off.
10. In
respect of Banks, the holidays shall be regulated in terms of the extant
instructions issued by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of
Finance.
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Gazetted Holidays
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| Restricted Holidays 2026 |
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| Restricted Holidays 2026 |
CLICK HERE TO SEE DOPT HOLIDAYS 2026 O.M.
