The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the bank holiday that was earlier planned for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Earlier, banks were supposed to remain closed on this day due to Mahavir Jayanti in some states.
However, according to the RBI’s new order, banks will now remain open on March 31, 2026. This means customers will be able to use all essential banking services on that day.
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Why Did RBI Change the Holiday Decision?
March 31 is the last day of the financial year. On this day, all government receipts and payments must be properly recorded.
Because of this, the government requested the RBI to ensure that banking work related to government transactions is completed on time.
Following this request, the RBI instructed all agency banks to keep their branches open on March 31, 2026, especially for government-related work.
Earlier, according to the RBI holiday calendar, banks were to remain closed on March 31 due to Mahavir Jayanti in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, New Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. But this holiday has now been canceled.
Bank Holidays in February 2026
Banks will be closed on:
February 18, 2026, in Sikkim for the Losar festival.
February 19, 2026, in Maharashtra for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.
February 20, 2026, in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh for Statehood Day/State Formation Day.
Bank Holidays in March 2026
In March, banks will remain closed on different dates in various states due to festivals and events:
March 2, 3, and 4: Holi
March 13: Chapchar Kut
March 17: Shab-e-Qadr
March 19: Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Telugu New Year / Sajibu Nongmapanaba (Cheiraoba) / First Navratri
March 20 and 21: Eid
March 26 and 27: Ram Navami
Apart from these, Sunday is a weekly holiday for banks. Banks also remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays in most states.
Who Is Affected by Bank Holidays?
Bank holidays mainly affect services that require visiting a bank branch in person. However, online banking services such as mobile banking, internet banking, and ATM services usually continue to work normally.