TOPIC: DoPT Holiday List 2026
STATUS: Official Gazette Notification
UTILITY: Leave Planner
DoPT Holiday List 2026: Official Gazetted Holidays & Long Weekend Planner
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📅 Quick Summary: 2026 Calendar
The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has confirmed 17 Gazetted Holidays for 2026.
• Key Observation: January 2026 offers the best leave opportunity (4-day weekend).
• Note: Diwali (Nov 8) and Independence Day (Aug 15) fall on weekends.
The Central Government Holiday Calendar is divided into two categories: Gazetted Holidays (Compulsory for all administrative offices) and Restricted Holidays (Optional). Below is the confirmed schedule.
1. Official Gazetted Holidays 2026
All Central Government Administrative Offices will remain closed on the following dates:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| January 26 | Monday | Republic Day |
| March 04 | Wednesday | Holi |
| March 21 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr |
| March 26 | Thursday | Ram Navami |
| March 31 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| April 03 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 01 | Friday | Buddha Purnima |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| June 26 | Friday | Muharram |
| August 15 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| August 26 | Wednesday | Id-e-Milad |
| September 04 | Friday | Janmashtami |
| October 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday |
| October 20 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| November 08 | Sunday | Diwali (Deepavali) |
| November 24 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak’s Birthday |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
2. Smart Leave Planner (7 Long Weekends)
By combining weekends with one casual leave (CL) or Restricted Holiday (RH), you can secure extended breaks:
| Dates | Leave Strategy | Total Off |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 23 – Jan 26 | Take Basant Panchami (RH) on Jan 23 (Fri). Fri (RH) + Sat + Sun + Mon (Republic Day) |
4 Days |
| Mar 26 – Mar 29 | Take 1 CL on Mar 27 (Fri). Thu (Ram Navami) + Fri (CL) + Sat + Sun |
4 Days |
| Apr 03 – Apr 05 | None (Automatic). Fri (Good Friday) + Sat + Sun |
3 Days |
| May 01 – May 03 | None (Automatic). Fri (Buddha Purnima) + Sat + Sun |
3 Days |
| Oct 02 – Oct 04 | None (Automatic). Fri (Gandhi Jayanti) + Sat + Sun |
3 Days |
| Dec 25 – Dec 27 | None (Automatic). Fri (Christmas) + Sat + Sun |
3 Days |
3. Restricted Holidays (RH) Selection
☑️ Recommended RH Picks
Employees are entitled to 2 Restricted Holidays per year. To maximize utility, we suggest:
- January 23 (Friday): Basant Panchami (Connects with Republic Day weekend).
- September 14 (Monday): Ganesh Chaturthi (Creates a 3-day weekend).
- November 9 (Monday): Govardhan Puja (Compensates for the Sunday Diwali).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Diwali not a holiday in the list?
Diwali falls on November 8, 2026, which is a Sunday. While it is a Gazetted Holiday, no compensatory off is provided for holidays falling on weekends.
Is this list applicable to Railways?
This list applies to Railway Administrative Offices. However, ‘Line Staff’ (Open Line) follow a separate roster based on operational requirements.
सारांश (2026 की छुट्टियां)
- कुल छुट्टियां: 17 राजपत्रित (Gazetted) छुट्टियां घोषित।
- लंबा वीकेंड: जनवरी में 4 दिन की छुट्टी (23-26 Jan) सबसे बेहतर विकल्प है।
- सलाह: अपनी 2 RH छुट्टियों का उपयोग लंबे वीकेंड बनाने के लिए करें।
Official Reference: DoPT OM No. 12/5/2025-JCA-2.
Verification: Official DoPT Holiday Circulars.