Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open or Closed on 31st March for Mahavir Jayanti 2026?

New Delhi, March 30: As the financial year 2025–26 draws to a close, millions of taxpayers and businesses are looking to complete pending transactions before the March 31 deadline.

However, this year's closing day coincides with Mahavir Jayanti, a major gazetted holiday marking the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir.

While Mahavir Jayanti is a scheduled holiday in several Indian states and cities, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Ministry of Finance have issued specific directives to ensure that essential banking services remain operational on this critical financial date.

Special Directives for Year-End Closing In a move to facilitate government accounting and taxpayer convenience, the RBI has directed all branches of agency banks to remain open for over-the-counter transactions on Tuesday, March 31.

This mandate overrides the standard Mahavir Jayanti holiday for most commercial and public sector banks. Bank Holidays March 30-April 5: Banks To Remain Closed for 5 Days Next Week; Check Details.

The decision ensures that government receipts and payments, including tax collections through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Income Tax portals, are processed within the current fiscal year.

Customers can expect branches to remain open during regular working hours, though some states may observe a partial holiday for non-essential administrative staff.

City-Wise Variations and Exceptions While the federal directive applies to all agency banks handling government business, some private and cooperative banks in specific regions may still observe Mahavir Jayanti as a holiday for the general public banking.