DOPT Holidays List 2026 – Gazetted and Restricted Holidays for Central Government Employees

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DOPT Holidays List 2026 is an essential calendar for all Central Government employees. It includes both gazetted and restricted holidays that allow employees to plan their work and personal time effectively.

DOPT Holidays List

DOPT holidays list is an annual notification that provides the complete calendar of holidays for Central Government offices.
It ensures that all government offices across India follow a uniform holiday schedule. List usually includes major national festivals, religious occasions, and important national days.

Holiday list is divided into two main categories:

  • Gazetted Holidays (Mandatory Holidays)
  • Restricted Holidays (Optional Holidays)

Gazetted Holidays 2026 (Mandatory)

Gazetted holidays are compulsory public holidays. All Central Government offices remain closed on these days.

MonthDateDayHoliday
January26 JanMondayRepublic Day
March4 MarWednesdayHoli
March21 MarSaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Tentative)
March26 MarThursdayRama Navami
March31 MarTuesdayMahavir Jayanti
April3 AprFridayGood Friday
May1 MayFridayBuddha Purnima
May27 MayWednesdayId-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (Tentative)
June26 JunFridayMuharram (Tentative)
August15 AugSaturdayIndependence Day
August26 AugWednesdayId-e-Milad (Tentative)
September4 SepFridayJanmashtami
October2 OctFridayMahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October20 OctTuesdayDussehra
November8 NovSundayDiwali (Deepavali)
November24 NovTuesdayGuru Nanak Jayanti
December25 DecFridayChristmas Day

These holidays are observed nationwide by all central government departments and offices.

Restricted Holidays 2026 (Optional)

Restricted holidays are optional holidays. Central Government employees can choose any two holidays from this list based on their religion or personal choice.

MonthDateDayHoliday
January1 JanThursdayNew Year's Day
January3 JanSaturdayHazarat Ali's Birthday
January14 JanWednesdayPongal / Makar Sankranti
January23 JanFridayVasant Panchami
February1 FebSundayGuru Ravidas Jayanti
February12 FebThursdayMaharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
February15 FebSundayMaha Shivaratri
February19 FebThursdayShivaji Jayanti
March3 MarTuesdayHolika Dahan
March19 MarThursdayUgadi / Gudi Padwa
March20 MarFridayJumat-ul-Vida
April5 AprSundayEaster Sunday
April14 AprTuesdayVaisakhi / Mesadi
April15 AprWednesdayBohag Bihu
May9 MaySaturdayRabindranath Tagore Jayanti
July16 JulThursdayRath Yatra
August26 AugWednesdayOnam
August28 AugFridayRaksha Bandhan
September14 SepMondayGanesh Chaturthi
October18 OctSundayMaha Saptami
October19 OctMondayMaha Ashtami
October26 OctMondayMaharishi Valmiki Jayanti
October29 OctThursdayKarva Chauth
November9 NovMondayGovardhan Puja
November11 NovWednesdayBhai Dooj
November15 NovSundayChhath Puja
November24 NovTuesdayGuru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day
December23 DecWednesdayHazarat Ali's Birthday
December24 DecThursdayChristmas Eve

Employees can select these optional holidays depending on their religious beliefs and cultural traditions.

List of Holidays 2026 DOPT PDF

Download PDF of the list of holidays to be observed in Government offices during the year 2026 from the link below.

List of Holidays 2026

List of Holidays 2026

https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02est/Holidays%20to%20be%20observed%20in%20Central%20Government%20Offices%20during%20the%20year%2020265vgBs.pdf

https://cag.gov.in/uploads/media/Holiday-List-2026-06938f52e290858-66208785.pdf

Read: RBI Holiday List 2026 Month Wise

Importance of DOPT Holiday List

DOPT holiday list is important for both employees and government departments.

  • Work Planning
    Government departments can plan official activities and schedules efficiently.
  • Leave Management
    Employees can plan vacations and personal leave according to the holiday calendar.
  • Cultural Recognition
    The holiday list reflects India's cultural and religious diversity by including festivals from different communities.
  • Uniform Holiday System
    All central government offices follow the same official holiday schedule.

Read: NSE Holiday List 2026

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