Bank Holiday Status for October 31, 2026 in India
Regional holiday in Gujarat impacts bank operations while other states remain fully functional.
1Regional Holiday Status
Bank branches across most of India will remain operational today, Saturday, October 31, 2026. However, customers located in Gujarat must note that all public and private sector banks are closed. This specific closure is due to the state-observed public holiday marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
2Fifth Saturday Rule
Under the Reserve Bank of India guidelines, banks are mandated to close only on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Since October 31, 2026, falls on the fifth Saturday, it is considered a regular working day for banking institutions across the country, excluding regions with specific state-declared holidays.
3Gujarat Official Notification
The closure in Gujarat is backed by official government notification number GS/22/2025/JSR/2025/509/GH, issued on November 27, 2025. This document, created in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India in Ahmedabad, explicitly lists October 31 as a public holiday for all banking operations within the state to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
4Impacted Banking Institutions
The holiday mandate applies universally to all financial entities operating within Gujarat. Major lenders including SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank will keep their branches shut throughout the state. Customers in these regions should plan their financial transactions accordingly, as physical branch services will be unavailable for the entire day.
5Operational Status Elsewhere
In major financial hubs such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai, banking services will continue as per normal schedules. These states have not issued any separate holiday notifications for this date. Consequently, all scheduled and non-scheduled banks in these regions will remain open to serve their respective customer bases.
6Scope of Regulations
State-specific bank holidays are strictly limited to the notified geographical regions. While the Gujarat government has declared a holiday for its jurisdiction, this does not extend to the rest of India. Therefore, the operational status of a bank branch depends entirely on the specific state or union territory where it resides.
7Customer Advisory
For individuals requiring urgent banking services in Gujarat, it is recommended to utilize digital banking platforms or ATMs, which typically remain functional despite branch closures. Customers are advised to verify the latest operational status by visiting the official websites of their respective banks to avoid any inconvenience during their financial planning.
8Regulatory Context
The Reserve Bank of India maintains a standardized holiday calendar, but it allows for regional variations based on local festivals or commemorative events. This dual-layer system ensures that while national banking standards are maintained, local cultural and historical observances are respected, creating a flexible yet structured framework for the Indian banking sector.
Original article: mint - money — Bank Holiday Status for October 31, 2026 in India