The Union territory of Puducherry, on November 13, 2025, issued an Extraordinary Gazette Notification declaring the list of Public Holidays for the Calendar Year 2026. This declaration, made in exercise of powers under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, applies to all Government Offices/Institutions under the control of the Government of the Union territory of Puducherry, and also separately declares holidays for all Banking Institutions, including Co-operative Banks.
The notification outlines different holiday schedules for the three primary regions: Puducherry & Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam, acknowledging their distinct regional festivals. For Government Offices, each region has 17 public holidays, while Banking Institutions have 18, including a specific holiday for the Annual Closing of Bank Accounts on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, across all regions. Notable holidays like Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Christmas (December 25) are common across all regions and categories.
Furthermore, the document includes a comprehensive list of 39 Restricted Holidays for 2026, such as Bhogi, Holi, Ugadi, and Deepavali Eve. It is important to note that the dates for key festivals like Ramzan, Bakrid, and Milad-Un-Nabi are marked with an asterisk (*), indicating they are subject to change depending on the appearance of the moon. This notification serves to officially inform all government and banking institutions of their non-working days for the coming year.
[Notification No. 117]
