Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026: Government Holidays

The Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026 lists a total of 44 holidays for the year, comprising 11 general holidays, 15 public holidays, and 17 optional or restricted holidays that government employees can choose from. The calendar covers national holidays, state-specific observances like Bihar Divas, and major religious festivals celebrated across the state. Bank holidays in Bihar broadly follow this same state government notification, so it helps to keep the full list handy when planning branch visits or leave.

Looking for last year's calendar? The Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2025 followed a similar structure. This page covers the confirmed Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026.

What Is the Bihar Sarkar Calendar?

The Bihar Sarkar Calendar is the official holiday notification released by the Government of Bihar each year, listing gazetted public holidays, restricted (optional) holidays, and general holidays applicable to state government offices, revenue courts, schools, and, by extension, most bank branches operating in the state. Like the rest of India, Bihar observes the three constitutional national holidays, Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti, alongside major festivals such as Holi, Eid, Durga Puja, Chhath Puja, Diwali, and Christmas, plus the state's own commemorative day, Bihar Divas, marking the state's formation from the Bengal Presidency on 22 March 1912.

Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026: Key Public Holidays

Date | Day | Holiday
26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day
3 March 2026 | Tuesday | Holi
21 March 2026 | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr*
22 March 2026 | Sunday | Bihar Divas
3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday
27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Eid al-Zuha (Bakrid)*
15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day
4 September 2026 | Friday | Krishna Janmashtami
2 October 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti
8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali
15-16 November 2026 | Sunday-Monday | Vijaya Dashami and Chhath Puja
25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas

*Dates marked with an asterisk depend on moon sighting and may shift by a day.

Is Every Day on the Bihar Sarkar Calendar a Bank Holiday?

Not exactly. Bank holidays in Bihar generally align with the state government's gazetted public holiday list, along with all Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, as mandated by the RBI. However, some of Bihar's 17 restricted or optional holidays are not automatically bank holidays; they apply mainly to government offices and are taken as leave by individual employees rather than resulting in a state-wide closure. For actual bank branch closures, it is best to cross-check the Bihar-specific RBI holiday notification alongside the state government's gazetted list.

With 44 holidays on the Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026, bank branches will be shut on quite a few days through the year. CreditMitra's short-term personal loans can be applied for entirely online, so a state holiday never has to delay something urgent.

What Works and What Doesn't on a Bihar Bank Holiday

Service | Available on a Bihar Bank Holiday?
UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM) | Yes, 24/7
IMPS transfers | Yes, 24/7
NEFT transfers | Yes, 24/7
ATM withdrawals | Yes, 24/7
Mobile and internet banking | Yes
RTGS transfers | No, resumes next working day
Cheque clearance (CTS) | No, resumes next working day
Branch services (cash deposit, DD, documents) | No, branch closed
NACH EMI auto-debit | Processed on the next working day if due date falls on a Bihar holiday

What Happens If Your EMI Is Due on a Bihar Sarkar Calendar Holiday?

If your personal loan, home loan, or credit card EMI due date falls on one of Bihar's gazetted holidays, such as Bihar Divas, Chhath Puja, or a major festival, the NACH auto-debit is typically processed on the next working day rather than being skipped. This is a routine processing delay and is not automatically treated as a default. Chhath Puja in particular is a multi-day observance in Bihar, so it is worth keeping your EMI balance ready well in advance if your due date falls during that period.

Planning Around the Bihar Sarkar Calendar

With festivals like Holi, Eid, Chhath Puja, and Diwali clustered through the year, and Chhath Puja involving several consecutive closure days, it is worth checking the full Bihar Sarkar Calendar 2026 ahead of any major banking task, loan application, or travel plan. Keeping short-term funds arranged in advance for festival-heavy months can help you avoid delays caused by branch closures.

Planning ahead for a festival stretch on the Bihar Sarkar Calendar? CreditMitra's short-term personal loans offer a fully online application and quick disbursal, so multi-day closures like Chhath Puja don't get in the way of your plans.