India Public Holidays and Administrative Planning Calendar

Understanding the time required to complete administrative work in India

At Indian Heritage Services (IHS), we support clients in the United Kingdom and overseas.

One of the most important things to understand when dealing with administrative matters in India is that progress often requires patience, persistence and consistent follow-up.

India is a large and diverse country with central government departments, state governments, district offices, courts, banks and other public authorities. These organisations do not necessarily follow the same holiday calendar. National holidays, state-specific holidays, religious festivals, local observances and departmental closures can all affect when work can be undertaken.

A date that is a normal working day in one state may be a holiday in another. Even where an office is officially open, the particular officer needed to progress a case may be unavailable.

Why holidays can affect your case

When an application or document request is being handled in India, a delay does not necessarily mean that the work has stopped or that the application has been refused.

A public holiday may prevent a planned meeting, an official's absence may require a new appointment, or a department may need additional time to locate and verify historical records. Where several authorities are involved, these delays can accumulate.

This is particularly relevant when dealing with:

• Nativity Certificates and Nationality or Ancestry Certificates, where applicable.

• Birth, marriage and other historical records.

• Ancestral land and property records.

• Inheritance, succession and mutation documentation.

• Government applications requiring verification or an authorised officer's decision.

• Appointments, certified copies and official correspondence.

IHS plans its work with these practical considerations in mind. We aim to keep matters progressing through organised document preparation, appropriate follow-up and coordination with the relevant offices.

India holiday calendar: October 2026 to December 2026

The following period covers the remaining months of 2026.

Please note: This is a planning guide, not a complete list of closures for every Indian government office. The official holiday calendars for each relevant state, district, court or department should be checked before arranging a visit or setting a deadline. Some festival dates depend on religious calendars and may be amended by the relevant authority.

October–December 2026

Important dates during this period include:

• 2 October 2026 — Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (Gandhi Jayanti).

• 20 October 2026 — Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), according to the published central holiday list.

• 8 November 2026 — Diwali (Deepavali), according to the published central holiday list.

• 24 November 2026 — Guru Nanak's Birthday, according to the published central holiday list.

• 25 December 2026 — Christmas Day.

The dates on which particular offices close may differ from this central list. Diwali and other major festivals may also affect local business and administrative activity beyond the official holiday itself.

India: January–December 2027 public holidays

The following is the central-government gazetted holiday list for Delhi/New Delhi, a useful reference for clients planning administrative work. Islamic festival dates may be subject to moon sighting.

The Government of India’s 2027 Central Government holiday order was issued on 16 July 2026, so you can now use confirmed central-government dates for your IHS website. These dates apply to the relevant central-government holiday schedule; individual state and district offices may follow different arrangements.

Date Day Holiday

26 January 2027 Tuesday Republic Day

10 March 2027 Wednesday Eid-ul-Fitr*

23 March 2027 Tuesday Holi

26 March 2027 Friday Good Friday

15 April 2027 Thursday Ram Navami

19 April 2027 Monday Mahavir Jayanti

17 May 2027 Monday Eid-ul-Zuha

20 May 2027 Thursday Buddha Purnima

16 June 2027 Wednesday Muharram*

15 August 2027 Sunday Independence Day

15 August 2027 Sunday Milad-un-Nabi

25 August 2027 Wednesday Janmashtami

2 October 2027 Saturday Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday

9 October 2027 Saturday Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)

29 October 2027 Friday Diwali (Deepavali)

14 November 2027 Sunday Guru Nanak’s Birthday

25 December 2027 Saturday Christmas Day

Source: Government of India’s 2027 central holiday order, issued 16 July 2026.

Official holiday calendars and useful links

For the most reliable information, consult the relevant official source:

• Government of India — National Portal holiday calendar: india.gov.in/calendar
  View central holidays and select the relevant state or Union Territory.

• India Post — Holiday lists: indiapost.gov.in/holidays-list
  Useful for checking holidays by postal circle and year. Postal holidays may not match every government office's calendar.

• Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT): dopt.gov.in
  Check official circulars for central government holiday arrangements.

• Supreme Court of India — Court calendar: sci.gov.in/calendar
  Relevant where a matter involves the Supreme Court. High Courts and district courts publish their own calendars.

The IHS approach: steady progress, one step at a time

Administrative work in India can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain. Documents may need to be located, names and dates checked, records obtained from different locations and applications followed up with the appropriate officials.

The process may not always move at the speed a client would prefer. There can be periods when progress is limited by public holidays, staffing, official procedures or the availability of records.

Our approach is to keep working methodically: prepare the evidence, identify the next practical step, follow up appropriately and address outstanding requirements as they arise.

Persistence matters. A complex matter that cannot be completed in one visit may still progress through a series of smaller, well-managed steps. Consistent effort and realistic planning can make a significant difference over time, although no particular outcome or completion date can be guaranteed.

What clients can do to help

You can help keep your matter moving by:

1. Supplying requested documents and accurate family or property details promptly.

2. Allowing reasonable time for official responses and verification.

3. Keeping copies of correspondence, applications, receipts and supporting records.

4. Remaining available when clarification or a signature is required.

5. Avoiding non-refundable travel arrangements until the relevant appointment and office opening have been confirmed.

6. Understanding that government decisions and processing times remain outside IHS's direct control.

Our commitment

Indian Heritage Services recognises that these matters can be important to families, their heritage and their future. We aim to provide clear communication, organised assistance and persistent follow-up throughout the agreed scope of work.

We believe in approaching each matter with patience, preparation and determination: slowly and consistently working through the mountain, one step at a time.

Indian Heritage Services — Your UK–India Support Network

Preserving Heritage. Protecting Legacy. Building Futures.

Disclaimer: This calendar is intended for general planning and information only. It does not constitute a definitive list of closures for any particular office. Dates and closure arrangements may change. Always confirm with the relevant authority before relying on a date or arranging travel. Processing times and outcomes depend on the circumstances of each case and the authorities involved.