Holiday lists
National and festival holidays by state
Three national holidays fall on the same dates across India. Festival holidays are set state by state, and their dates move from year to year.
The three national holidays
IndiaJan
26
Republic DayTue 2027
Aug
15
Independence DaySun 2027
Oct
2
Gandhi JayantiSat 2027
Next: Republic Day, Tuesday 26 January 2027 · in 97 days
National holidays
Three dates that never move
Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. The Department of Personnel and Training lists all three as compulsory holidays in every Central Government office, in Delhi or outside it.
State holiday laws for shops, offices and factories make them paid holidays for employees. The weekday changes each year, which matters for shift rosters and the weekly off.
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Day26 January | MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday |
| Independence Day15 August | SatSaturday | SunSunday | TueTuesday |
| Gandhi Jayanti2 October | FriFriday | SatSaturday | MonMonday |
How holidays are set
Four layers, from the Code to the circular
Each layer adds to the one before it. For shops and offices, the state's Shops and Establishments law also covers working hours and holidays.
Layer 01
Weekly holiday
- Set by
- The OSH Code
- Changes
- Fixed in the Code
No worker may work more than six days in a week. Where an exemption takes a weekly holiday away, the worker gets the same number of compensatory holidays within that month or the two months after it.
Source: OSH Code, 2020, section 26
Layer 02
National holidays
- Set by
- Fixed dates
- Changes
- Never
26 January, 15 August and 2 October. All three are compulsory holidays in every Central Government office. State holiday laws for shops, offices and factories make them paid holidays for employees.
Source: DoPT O.M. of 16 July 2026
Layer 03
Festival holidays
- Set by
- State law and the employer
- Changes
- Every year
In most states, the National and Festival Holidays Act, or the Shops and Establishments Act, sets how many festival holidays you give. The employer picks them from the state's list after consulting employees, and displays the list at the workplace. In Tamil Nadu, the Inspector must approve them first. Where standing orders apply, now under the Industrial Relations Code, they also tell workers how holidays are notified.
Source: State law
Layer 04
Declared holidays
- Set by
- State government circular
- Changes
- During the year
A state can declare an extra holiday by circular. Puducherry, for example, declared a holiday on 6 October 2026 by circular, for the Thattanchavady Assembly constituency.
Source: State circulars
Karnataka
Our home state's holiday list
Karnataka publishes its list of holidays for each year. Every other state does the same. Festival dates move from one year to the next, so last year's list is no guide.
We share the current national and festival holiday list with every client, for each state they operate in.Needs client review
- The law
- Industrial establishments follow the Karnataka Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1963, and its 1964 Rules.
- National holidays
- The Act names five: 26 January, 1 May, 15 August, 2 October and 1 November.
- Holidays a year
- Ten in all, with the festival holidays the employer chooses.
- Festival holidays
- Chosen by the employer from the state's list after consulting employees, and displayed at the workplace.
FAQ
Questions about holidays
Can't find your answer? Ask us on WhatsApp and we'll reply within 2 working hours.
What are the national holidays in India?
Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and Gandhi Jayanti, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, on 2 October. The Department of Personnel and Training lists all three as compulsory holidays in every Central Government office. State holiday laws for shops, offices and factories also make them paid holidays for employees.
How many paid holidays must an employer give in a year?
It depends on the state, and on whether the workplace is a shop, an office or a factory. In Karnataka, industrial establishments give ten national and festival holidays a year. We work out the number for each of your locations as part of our labour law compliance work.
Who chooses the festival holidays?
In most states, the employer picks its festival holidays from the state's list after consulting employees, and displays the list at the workplace. Tamil Nadu also needs the Inspector's approval. The festivals on the list stay the same; their dates move from year to year.
Is the weekly off a holiday under the law?
Yes. Under section 26 of the OSH Code, no worker may work more than six days in a week. If an exemption takes a weekly holiday away, the worker gets the same number of compensatory holidays within that month or the two months after it.
Does the Central Government's holiday list apply to private employers?
The Department of Personnel and Training issues it for Central Government offices: 14 compulsory holidays, plus 3 chosen in each state capital from 12 optional ones. A private establishment follows its own state's holiday law instead.
Can a state declare a holiday at short notice?
Yes. States declare extra holidays by circular during the year. Puducherry, for example, declared a holiday on 6 October 2026 for the Thattanchavady Assembly constituency.
Does NK One share the holiday list each year?Needs client review
Yes. We share the current national and festival holiday list with every client, for each state they operate in.Needs client review
Enquiry
Talk to a compliance expert
Share your states and headcount, and we will get back to you within 2 working hours.
- Call+91 98457 40938
- WhatsApp+91 98457 40938
- Emailinfo@nkonehrsolutions.com
- Head office, Bengaluru1163, 9th Main, 11th A Cross, Nagapura, Mahalakshmipuram, near Rajajinagar Metro Station, Rajajinagar 1st Block, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560086
