Central Government Holidays List 2026 PDF Download
The Union Government has officially released the Central Government Holidays List 2026 for all central government offices across India. These holidays are applicable to employees working in ministries, departments, and various central bodies. The list includes compulsory gazetted holidays, optional/restricted holidays, and the special holiday list for Delhi/New Delhi. Central government staff can now plan their year in advance—whether for travel, festivals, or personal commitments.
Central Government Holidays 2026 (All India)
These holidays are observed across India and every central government office remains closed on these days:
- Republic Day
- Independence Day
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
- Buddha Purnima
- Christmas Day
- Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi)
- Diwali (Deepavali)
- Good Friday
- Guru Nanak’s Birthday
- Idu’l Fitr
- Idu’l Zuha
- Mahavir Jayanti
- Muharram
- Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday (Id-e-Milad)
These are the 14 national-level compulsory holidays for employees working outside Delhi/New Delhi. Along with these, they must choose three optional holidays from the optional list issued by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee of their respective state.
Optional Holidays (Restricted Holidays) Across India – 2026
These holidays are optional, which means employees can choose any three holidays (for offices outside Delhi/New Delhi) from the list below:
- Additional day for Dussehra
- Holi
- Janamashtami (Vaishnavi)
- Ram Navami
- Maha Shivratri
- Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayak Chaturthi
- Makar Sankranti
- Rath Yatra
- Onam
- Pongal
- Sri Panchami / Basant Panchami
- Festivals such as Vishu, Vaisakhi, Bhag Bihu, Ugadi variants, Cheti Chand, Gudi Padava, 1st Navratra, Naoraz, Chhath Puja, Karva Chauth
For Delhi/New Delhi, DoPT finalises two restricted holidays every year from a similar list.
Gazetted Holidays in Delhi/New Delhi – 2026
These are the official gazetted holidays for all central government offices located in Delhi/New Delhi:
| S.No | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic Day | Jan 26 | Monday |
| 2 | Holi | Mar 4 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Id-ul-Fitr | Mar 29 | Sunday |
| 4 | Ram Navami | Mar 31 | Tuesday |
| 5 | Mahavir Jayanti | Apr 1 | Wednesday |
| 6 | Good Friday | Apr 3 | Friday |
| 7 | Buddha Purnima | May 31 | Sunday |
| 8 | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Jun 26 | Friday |
| 9 | Muharram | Jun 26 | Friday |
| 10 | Independence Day | Aug 15 | Saturday |
| 11 | Janmashtami | Sep 4 | Friday |
| 12 | Milad-un-Nabi / Id-e-Milad | Sep 24 | Thursday |
| 13 | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday | Oct 2 | Friday |
| 14 | Dussehra | Oct 21 | Wednesday |
| 15 | Diwali | Nov 21 | Saturday |
| 16 | Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Nov 29 | Sunday |
| 17 | Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Friday |
These holidays apply only to central government offices in the national capital.
Restricted Holidays – 2026 (Delhi/New Delhi)
Central government employees in Delhi/New Delhi may pick any two holidays from the list below:
| S.No | Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Thursday |
| 2 | Makar Sankranti | Jan 14 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Basant Panchami | Jan 16 | Friday |
| 4 | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Feb 12 | Thursday |
| 5 | Maha Shivratri | Feb 26 | Thursday |
| 6 | Holika Dahan | Mar 3 | Tuesday |
| 7 | Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi | Mar 19 | Thursday |
| 8 | Easter Sunday | Apr 5 | Sunday |
| 9 | Tagore Jayanti | May 8 | Friday |
| 10 | Onam / Thiru Onam | Aug 26 | Wednesday |
| 11 | Raksha Bandhan | Aug 26 | Wednesday |
| 12 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Sep 14 | Sunday |
| 13 | Dussehra (Saptami, Ashtami, Navami) | Oct 18–20 | — |
| 14 | Karva Chauth | Oct 30 | Thursday |
| 15 | Chhath Puja | Nov 19 | Wednesday |
| 16 | Christmas Eve | Dec 24 | Thursday |
Employees in other states will follow the restricted holiday list issued by their State Coordination Committee.
Important Note on Holidays Based on Moon Sighting
The dates of these holidays may change depending on the appearance of the moon:
- Idu’l Fitr
- Idu’l Zuha
- Muharram
- Id-e-Milad
If the date changes, the central government will issue a separate order.
Why This Holiday List is Important
The Central Government Holidays 2026 list is very useful for:
- Planning yearly leave
- Scheduling travel and family functions
- Managing school or college calendars
- Organising examinations or official events
- Ensuring smooth functioning of public offices
Government employees should always keep a copy of this holiday list for quick reference.
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.
The Government of India publishes the holiday list every year to maintain uniformity across central offices. Employees must follow the gazetted holidays, and they can choose their restricted holidays based on rules. If you work outside Delhi, your optional holidays may vary depending on the State Coordination Committee.
Download Central Government Holidays 2026 List PDF
Click the button below to download Central Government Holidays List 2026 PDF format:
Official Source & Website
This holiday list is taken directly from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) official notification. You can also check the latest updates on the official Department website: https://dopt.gov.in/