New Delhi, January 14, 2026, 14:28 (IST)
- Bank branches in Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh will be closed on Jan. 14 for Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu
- On Jan. 15, additional closures will occur across several states for Pongal and related harvest-festival holidays
- Even when branches close, ATMs and digital payment options like UPI and online transfers stay operational
Bank branches in Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh remained closed on Wednesday in observance of Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu, per the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday schedule.
The timing is tricky. It falls mid-week, right when various states celebrate harvest-festival holidays on different dates, leaving customers unsure if their local branch will be open.
India’s bank holidays vary by region. The central bank releases a list specific to cities and states, and banks shut branches only where the holiday is officially recognized.
On Jan. 14, jurisdictions marking the holiday list it under the Negotiable Instruments Act — the statute that regulates cheques and similar payment tools — allowing counter services and cheque processing to grind to a halt.
Holiday chatter ramped up this week following Lohri. Although Tuesday wasn’t a bank holiday nationwide—so banks stayed open—Jan. 14 and 15 will see state-specific closures. For some customers, this could push regular branch services into next week.
On Thursday, banks will be closed in several states due to Pongal, Uttarayana Punyakala, and Maghe or Makara Sankranti. The affected states include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Maharashtra.
The holiday roster extends further. Banks will shut in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on Jan. 16 for Thiruvalluvar Day, then again in Tamil Nadu on Jan. 17 for Uzhavar Thirunal. Several states observe closures on Jan. 23 for Saraswati Puja and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti, leading up to the nationwide bank holiday on Jan. 26 for Republic Day.
Most customers can still transfer funds. ATMs and digital platforms usually remain operational, including UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and online transfer systems like NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer), IMPS (Immediate Payment Service), and RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement). Tasks requiring branch visits, however, must wait until counters reopen.
The reality is that the list varies city by city, and that’s where confusion sets in. Certain areas might not mark Makar Sankranti as a holiday at all — for instance, banks in Delhi-NCR usually stay open unless the RBI calendar specifies a closure for that location. This patchwork can trip up travelers and businesses working across different states.
When it comes to urgent branch tasks, the simplest move is to consult the RBI holiday calendar for your city and schedule accordingly. Digital payments handle transfers and bills, but cheques, paperwork, and cash services at branches require them to be open.
