RBI Banking Calendar: Understanding Saturday Operations and Upcoming February Holidays
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintains a structured calendar for bank holidays across the country, with specific guidelines governing Saturday operations. According to established RBI protocols, both public and private sector banks in all Indian states remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, in addition to the standard Sunday closures.
Today's Banking Status: Fifth Saturday Operations
Since January 31 falls as a fifth Saturday in the calendar month—neither the second nor fourth Saturday—banks across India are operational today. This means banking institutions will open their doors and resume regular day-to-day operations, allowing working professionals and customers to complete essential financial transactions and banking tasks without interruption.
The RBI's framework ensures that unless specific public or regional holidays are declared, banks remain fully functional on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month, providing consistent service windows for customers throughout the year.
February 2026 Bank Holiday Schedule
With today marking the end of January, attention naturally turns to the banking schedule for the coming month. The complete list of bank holidays for February 2026 has been confirmed:
- 1 February — Sunday (Weekly Holiday)
- 8 February — Sunday (Weekly Holiday)
- 14 February — Second Saturday (Monthly Holiday)
- 15 February — Sunday (Weekly Holiday)
- 22 February — Sunday (Weekly Holiday)
- 28 February — Second Saturday (Monthly Holiday)
It's noteworthy that Mahashivratri, observed as a bank holiday in certain regions of India, falls on February 15 this year. Since this date already coincides with a Sunday—a standard weekly bank holiday—no additional closure is required for this festival.
Digital Banking Services During Holidays
While physical bank branches follow the holiday schedule, digital banking services continue uninterrupted throughout the year. Customers can access a full range of digital financial services on all days, including bank holidays:
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs across the country
- Digital payments through UPI platforms
- Internet banking transactions
- Mobile banking services
This ensures that daily digital transactions proceed without disruption, providing continuous financial access regardless of branch operating schedules.
Budget 2026 and Market Operations
Anticipation is building across economic sectors for the upcoming Union Budget presentation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Budget on Sunday, February 1—marking the first Sunday Budget presentation since 1999. Last year's Budget was presented on a Saturday, with markets remaining open for trading.
In preparation for this significant economic event, Indian stock exchanges have announced a special trading session on Budget Day, February 1. According to official circulars from the exchanges, markets will operate with regular trading hours from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, ensuring market participants can respond to Budget announcements in real-time.
The coordinated approach between banking schedules, digital service availability, and market operations demonstrates the structured financial ecosystem maintained by regulatory authorities in India, balancing operational requirements with customer convenience across both traditional and digital banking platforms.
