Closed Holidays 2020 cannot be changed – DoPT Clarification

The request for changing of Closed Holidays 2020 in respect of Dusshera Festival from Central Government Employees co ordination committee from many states cannot be considered in the line of Closed Holiday Policy

The DoPT Clarification is given below

Closed Holidays Clarification

F.No.12/1/2019-JCA2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 20th December, 2019

Office Memorandum

Subject: Closed Holidays for the year 2020 [ Read this OM ]– Date for Dusshera regarding.

In continuation of this Department’s OM of even number dated 18-6-2019 circulating therewith List of holidays for the year 2020, the undersigned is directed to state that some Central Government Employees Coordination Committees located in different States have sent representations for change in the date of Dusshera (Vijaya Dasami) holiday on 26-10-2020 (Monday) instead of 25-10-2020 (Sunday) in their States.

It is hereby informed that the decision of CGEWCCs located in different States, to declare Dussehra as closed holiday for the Central Govt. Offices on 26-10-2020 (Monday), is not in accordance with the holiday policy of the Government of India. However, Restricted Holiday on 26-10-2020 (Monday) for Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi) can be celebrated by the Central Government Offices, as specifically mentioned in DoPT’s OM No.12/1/2019/JCA 2 dated 18.06.2019 [ Read this OM ] , at para 3.1 that “no change of dates is permissible in regard to festivals and dates indicated”.

The List of Holidays 2020 for central Government employees

DoPT has issued OM dated 18.6.2019 to declare the Holidays for Central Government Offices for the year 2020. According to this OM, a list of 14 Compulsory Holidays announced. These are as follows

1. REPUBLIC DAY
2. INDEPENDENCE DAY
3. MAHATMA GANDHI’S BIRTHDAY
4. BUDDHA PURNIMA
5. CHRISTMAS DAY
6. DUSSEHRA (VIJAY DASHMI)
7. DIWALI IDEEPAVALI)
8. GOOD FRIDAY
9. GURU NANAK’S BIRTHDAY
10. IDU’L FITR
11. IDU’L ZUHA
12. MAHAVIR JAYANTI
13. MUHARRAM
14. PROPHET MOHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)

 In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State. The final list applicable uniformly to Central Government offices within the concerned State shan be notified accordingly and no change can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates as indicated.

1. AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR DUSSEHRA
2. HOLI
3. JANAMASHTAMI (VAISHNAVI)
4. RAM NAVAMI
5. MAHA SHIVRATRI
6. GANESH CHATURTHI / VINAYAK CHATURTHI
7. MAKAR SAKARANTI
8. RATH YATRA
9. ONAN
10. PONGAL
11. SRI PANCHAML / BASANT PANCH.AMI
12. VISHU/ VAISAKHI / VAISAKHADI / BHAG BKHU / MASHADI UGADI / CENTRA SUKLADI / CHETI CHAND / GUDL PADAVA 1st NAVRATRA /NAURAJ/CHHATH POOJA/KARVA CHAUTH.

The 17 Holidays to observed during the year 2020 for Administrative Offices of Central Government Located at Delhi/ New Delhi is given below

Restricted Holidays 2020

List of restricted Holidays during the year 2020 for Administrative Offices Of Central Government Located at Delhi/ New Delhi Restricted Holidays 2020

Holiday 2020 for Central Government Offices in union Territory

Union Territory Administrations shall decide the list of holidays in terms of Instructions issued in this regard by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Holiday for Central Government offices in States for the year 2020

The list of Restricted Holidays shown above is meant for Central Government Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance but the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1 above, are to be included in the list of restricted holidays.

Bank Holidays 2020

In respect of Banks, the holidays shall be regulated in terms of the extant instructions issued by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

All public sector and private banks will remain closed on Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) besides some other festivals. Banks in different regions have different sets of holidays depending upon the state and what festivals are prominent in the region. For example banks in Andhra are closed for Ugadi while banks in West Bengal open on this day

Here’s the complete list of bank holidays in 2020

View the Order