March 2026 Bank Holiday Calendar: Essential Guide for Customers
As March 2026 unfolds, banking customers across India are strongly advised to proactively review the official holiday schedule before planning any in-person branch visits. This proactive measure is crucial to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and ensure smooth financial transactions. Banks in India adhere to a dual holiday system, observing both nationally recognized holidays and state-specific festivals, leading to varied closure dates that differ significantly from one region to another.
Key Closure Dates and Regional Variations
In addition to the standard closures on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, as mandated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, numerous banks will remain shut on specific dates for state and festival observances. Customers should strategically plan for large cash deposits, cheque clearances, loan applications, and other services that require physical branch presence around these dates.
Detailed March 2026 Bank Holiday List:
- 2 March: Banks closed in Uttar Pradesh for Holika Dahan.
- 3 March: Widespread closures in states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Goa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh for Holi (Second Day), Dol Jatra, Dhulandi, Holika Dahan, and Attukal Pongala.
- 4 March: Multiple states like Tripura, Gujarat, Mizoram, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Himachal Pradesh observe Holi, Dhuleti, or Yaosang (2nd Day).
- 13 March: Mizoram banks closed for Chapchar Kut.
- 17 March: Jammu & Kashmir observes Shab-I-Qadr.
- 19 March: Closures in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Srinagar for Gudhi Padwa, Ugadi Festival, Telugu New Year, Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba), and 1st Navratra.
- 20 March: Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Srinagar, and Andhra Pradesh mark Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan) or Jumat-ul-Vida.
- 21 March: Extensive closures across Assam, Gujarat, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Srinagar for Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr), Khutub-E-Ramzan, or Sarhul.
- 26 March: Banks shut in Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh for Shree Ram Navami.
- 27 March: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh observe Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain).
- 31 March: Closures in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand for Mahavir Janmakalyanak or Mahavir Jayanti.
Digital Banking: Your Uninterrupted Financial Lifeline
Despite physical branch closures, customers can rely on a full suite of digital banking services that remain fully operational on all holidays. This includes ATMs for cash withdrawals, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for instant transfers, online banking portals, and mobile applications. These platforms enable seamless fund transfers, bill payments, balance inquiries, and other routine financial activities without any interruption, ensuring that banking needs are met efficiently from the comfort of home or on the go.
By staying informed about the holiday schedule and leveraging digital tools, customers can navigate March 2026 with minimal disruption to their financial routines. Always verify specific dates with your local bank branch or official RBI announcements for any last-minute changes.
