IndiaPrime | Business Desk Tejasvi Singh | India | Bank holidays in India can often cause inconvenience for the public. Although the rise of mobile banking in recent decades has reduced foot traffic in bank branches by nearly 50%, bank closures still create hurdles, especially for those who depend on in-person services. In May alone, banks remain shut on regular weekends and an additional 6 days—creating challenges for millions.
In a country with over 1.4 billion people, around 700 million still rely on physical bank branches. This dependence is particularly high among individuals aged 50 and above, who often carry the financial responsibilities of households. Many in this group struggle to adopt digital banking platforms and instead rely on others—an issue that increases the risk of cyber fraud.
This article offers a complete guide to India’s bank holidays from May to December 2025, while also emphasizing the increasing importance and convenience of digital banking alternatives during holidays and weekends.
“Bank Holidays in India 2025: Key Dates You Need to Know!”
Monthly Bank Holiday Breakdown:
May 2025: 6 holidays including Labour Day (1 May) and Buddha Purnima (14 May).
June 2025: 3 holidays including Rath Yatra (21 June) and the 2nd & 4th Saturdays (14 & 28 June).
July 2025: 3 holidays including Muharram (17 July) and the 2nd & 4th Saturdays (12 & 26 July).
August 2025: 4 holidays including Independence Day (15 August) and Janmashtami (30 August).
September 2025: 2 holidays including the 2nd & 4th Saturdays (13 & 27 September).
October 2025: 4 holidays including Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) and Dussehra (22 October).
November 2025: 4 holidays including Diwali (12 November) and the 2nd & 4th Saturdays (8 & 22 November).
December 2025: 3 holidays including Christmas Day (25 December) and the 2nd & 4th Saturdays (13 & 27 December).
Smartphones (with UPI support)
🔹 “Bank in your pocket – Stay connected even on holidays!”
Samsung Galaxy M14, Redmi Note 13, OnePlus Nord CE 3
Month-wise Bank Holidays (May to December 2025)
May 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type | States Affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Thursday | Labour Day / May Day / Maharashtra Day | Bank + Govt Holiday | MH, TN, KA, KL, AP |
| 7 May | Wednesday | Basava Jayanti | State Govt Holiday | Karnataka |
| 8 May | Thursday | Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti | State Holiday | West Bengal |
| 10 May | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
| 14 May | Wednesday | Buddha Purnima | Public Holiday | All India |
| 24 May | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
Biometric Security Devices for Internet Banking
🔹 “Secure your digital banking – because safety never takes a holiday.”
Mantra MFS100 Fingerprint Scanner
June 2025
| 14 June | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 21 June | Saturday | Rath Yatra | State Holiday | Odisha | | 28 June | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
July 2025
| 12 July | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 17 July | Thursday | Muharram | Public Holiday | All India | | 26 July | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
August 2025
| 9 August | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 15 August | Friday | Independence Day | Public Holiday | All India | | 23 August | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 30 August | Saturday | Janmashtami | Public Holiday | UP, MP, HR, OR, Other States |
September 2025
| 13 September | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 27 September | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
Power Banks
🔹 “No power, no problem – never miss a UPI payment!”
Mi 20000mAh Power Bank, Ambrane 10000mAh
October 2025
| 2 October | Thursday | Gandhi Jayanti | Public Holiday | All India | | 11 October | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 22 October | Wednesday | Dussehra | Public Holiday | All India | | 25 October | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
November 2025
| 1 November | Saturday | Karnataka Rajyotsava | State Holiday | Karnataka | | 8 November | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 12 November| Wednesday | Diwali | Public Holiday | All India | | 22 November| Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
December 2025
| 13 December| Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India | | 25 December| Thursday | Christmas Day | Public Holiday | All India | | 27 December| Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday | All India |
WiFi Routers
🔹 “Strong internet, smooth transactions – upgrade your home banking hub.”
TP-Link Archer C6, D-Link DIR-615
Digital Banking vs. Branch Visits in India
India’s banking behavior is rapidly shifting from physical visits to digital channels:
- 🏦 Branch footfall has dropped by 40%–50% due to digital alternatives.
- 📱 Over 15.88 billion mobile banking transactions were recorded in January 2025.
- 🌐 UPI alone processed 15.04 billion transactions worth ₹20.64 lakh crores (as of Sept 2024).
Age-Wise Digital Banking Adoption
| Age Group | Mobile Banking (%) | Online Banking (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 15–24 | 74.1% | 13.6% |
| 25–34 | 69.4% | 18.7% |
| 35–44 | 60.5% | 24.8% |
| 45–54 | 49.1% | 22.8% |
| 55–64 | 33.2% | 27.3% |
| 65+ | 15.3% | 28.2% |
How to Use Internet Banking During Holidays
Even when banks are closed, most services remain available online:
Services You Can Use
- Fund transfers (IMPS, UPI, NEFT*)
- Credit card bill payment
- Account management
- Fixed deposit creation
- Loan repayments
*NEFT and RTGS may be queued depending on the holiday.
Document Organizers & Cash Boxes
🔹 “Organized today, stress-free tomorrow – keep your banking documents safe!”
AmazonBasics Expanding File Folder, Godrej Cash Box
Services Affected During Holidays
| Service | Status |
|---|---|
| Cheque Clearance | Paused |
| NEFT/RTGS (manual) | Delayed/Queued |
| Branch Operations | Fully Closed |
Tips for Holiday Banking
- Schedule NEFT/RTGS one day early
- Use mobile apps like SBI YONO, HDFC Mobile, ICICI iMobile
- Enable alerts for all transactions
- Keep cash backup for emergency ATM downtimes
Mobile Banking Guide Book (Hindi/English)
🔹 “Learn the smart way – a guide to digital banking made easy.”
“Digital India: Understanding E-Banking & Online Payments”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🔹 1. Is today a bank holiday in India?
Answer:Bank holidays in India vary by state and occasion. To check if today is a bank holiday, refer to the official RBI calendar or state government holiday list. You can also use your bank’s mobile app or website to verify branch closure for your region.
🔹 2. Which are the major bank holidays in India from May to December 2025?
Answer:Major holidays include Labour Day (May 1), Buddha Purnima (May 14), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Dussehra (October 22), Diwali (November 12), and Christmas (December 25). Additionally, banks are closed every 2nd and 4th Saturday.
🔹 3. Can I transfer money through UPI or net banking on bank holidays?
Answer:Yes, UPI and IMPS work 24×7 even on bank holidays. However, NEFT and RTGS may be delayed or queued depending on the bank’s backend process. Always use UPI or IMPS for instant transfers during holidays.
🔹 4. Are ATMs available on bank holidays?
Answer:Yes, ATMs remain operational during all holidays. However, in high-demand times like festivals or long weekends, some machines may run out of cash. It’s a good idea to keep some cash in hand in advance.
🔹 5. What services are not available on bank holidays?
Answer:On bank holidays, in-branch services such as cheque clearance, passbook updates, and manual NEFT/RTGS processing are unavailable. Most digital services remain active through net banking and mobile apps.
🔹 6. How do I use internet banking during a holiday?
Answer:Log in to your bank’s official website or mobile app. You can manage accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, check balances, and set up fixed deposits. Make sure you’ve registered for online banking and enabled transaction alerts.
🔹 7. Why are 2nd and 4th Saturdays bank holidays?
Answer:As per RBI guidelines, Indian banks observe a holiday on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month since 2015 to balance staff work-life and reduce operational costs.
Budget Planners / Financial Diaries
🔹 “Plan your spending, even during bank shutdowns.”
Luxor Daily Budget Planner, Factor Notes Finance Diary
