Bank Holiday on October 2: Branches to Remain Closed Nationwide

Bank Holiday October 2, 2026: Customers planning to visit a bank on Friday should take note that bank branches across India will remain closed on October 2, 2026, on account of Gandhi Jayanti. The holiday applies nationwide, so customers are advised to complete urgent branch-related work either before the holiday or on the next working day.

October also has several other bank holidays linked to weekends and regional festivals such as Durga Puja, Dussehra and other local observances. However, unlike the October 2 closure, many of these holidays are state-specific and do not mean that banks will be closed simultaneously across India.

Customers should therefore check the holiday calendar applicable to their state before planning a branch visit.

Why Are Banks Closed on October 2?

October 2 marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and is observed as a national holiday across India.

As a result, bank branches will not conduct regular customer-facing operations on Friday, October 2. Customers who need services that require a physical branch visit should plan accordingly.

Activities such as depositing certain documents, accessing branch-specific services or completing transactions requiring bank staff may have to wait until branches reopen.

October 2026 Has Several Bank Holidays

Bank holidays in India vary according to state and region because many holidays are declared for local festivals and observances. Apart from these regional holidays, banks also remain closed on Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

Here are some of the major bank holidays mentioned for October 2026:

October 2, Friday: Gandhi Jayanti – bank branches closed across India.

October 10, Saturday: Mahalaya Amavasya in applicable regions; the date is also the second Saturday of the month.

October 11, Sunday: Weekly bank holiday across India.

October 17, Saturday: Maha Saptami holiday in applicable locations such as Agartala.

October 18, Sunday: Weekly holiday across India.

October 19, Monday: Bank holidays linked to Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Durga Puja in applicable cities and states, including places such as Kolkata, Patna, Guwahati and Ranchi.

October 20, Tuesday: Dussehra/Vijayadashami holiday in many parts of the country.

October 21 to October 23: Regional holidays associated with Durga Puja, Dashain and Vijaya Dashami may affect banking operations in locations such as Gangtok, Kolkata and Agartala.

October 24, Saturday: Fourth Saturday bank holiday across India.

October 25, Sunday: Weekly bank holiday.

October 26, Monday: Holidays related to observances such as Lakshmi Puja and Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti in applicable regions, including Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar and Agartala.

October 29, Thursday: Karwa Chauth holiday in applicable locations such as Shimla.

October 31, Saturday: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti holiday in applicable locations such as Ahmedabad.

Customers should remember that this is not a uniform nationwide closure schedule for every date listed above. Except for nationwide holidays and regular weekend closures, the availability of banking services can differ from one state to another.

Will UPI and Online Banking Work on Bank Holidays?

A bank branch holiday does not usually mean that customers lose access to all banking facilities.

Most digital banking services are designed to remain available even when physical branches are closed. Customers can generally continue making payments and carrying out routine transactions through mobile and internet banking.

UPI services can also be used for payments and money transfers through supported apps. Similarly, customers can access their bank's mobile application or internet banking platform for many routine services.

Payment systems such as IMPS and NEFT are also available electronically, subject to normal banking-system availability and applicable rules.

Will ATMs Remain Available?

ATMs generally continue operating on bank holidays, allowing customers to withdraw cash and use other supported services.

However, people expecting to need significant amounts of cash during a long sequence of holidays may prefer to make arrangements in advance, as individual ATMs can occasionally face temporary cash shortages or technical issues.

Digital payments can provide an alternative for many everyday transactions.

What Happens to Cheques and Branch-Based Work?

While digital services largely remain accessible, transactions that depend on a physical branch or processing on a working day can be affected by holidays.

Customers submitting cheques, requesting certain drafts, handling documentation or completing other branch-dependent work should account for the holiday schedule. Processing may resume on the next applicable working day.

Similarly, customers with time-sensitive banking work should avoid assuming that every October holiday applies nationwide. Regional bank holidays are determined according to the calendar applicable to individual states and locations.

Check Your State's Holiday Calendar Before Visiting a Branch

The most important date for customers immediately is Friday, October 2, 2026, when bank branches will remain closed nationwide for Gandhi Jayanti.

For the rest of October, the situation varies considerably by location. Durga Puja, Dussehra and other regional observances can lead to consecutive branch closures in some states while banks elsewhere may remain open.

Therefore, customers planning important branch visits during the festive month should verify the holiday applicable to their city or state beforehand. Digital banking, UPI and ATM facilities can continue to handle most routine financial needs even when bank counters are unavailable.