The banking system across India is expected to be disrupted on January 27, 2026, as nearly 8 lakh bank employees and officers will participate in a one-day nationwide strike.
Employees are protesting to demand a five-day work week. This strike will affect public, private, foreign, rural, and cooperative banks.
The main reason for the strike is the demand for a five-day work week, which has been under discussion for several years.
Background and Strike Details
Bank employees have been requesting a five-day working week for a long time. The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) proposed this change, but the government has not made a final decision in the past two years.
According to bank unions, this demand was part of an agreement made between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)
and the IBA on December 7, 2023, and was again mentioned in a settlement and joint note on March 8, 2024.
The proposal suggests working 40 minutes less daily from Monday to Friday, and making all Saturdays a holiday. Since the demands have not been met, unions have decided to call for a nationwide strike on January 27.
Organisations Supporting the Strike
The strike is being led by the United Forum of Bank Unions, which includes nine major bank employee and officer organizations:
All India Bank Officers’ Confederation
All India Bank Employees Association
National Confederation of Bank Employees
All India Bank Officers’ Association
Bank Employees Federation of India
Indian National Bank Employees Federation
Indian National Bank Officers’ Congress
National Organisation of Bank Workers
National Organisation of Bank Officers
Impact on Banking Services
Customers may face difficulties with banking services during the last week of January. Banks may be closed for four consecutive days:
January 24 (Saturday) – Fourth Saturday
January 25 (Sunday) – Weekly holiday
January 26 (Monday) – Republic Day
January 27 (Tuesday) – Bank employees’ strike