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Check the key national holiday dates in India for 2026 and use them while preparing your annual employee holiday calendar.
National holidays are important dates to consider when preparing an organization's annual holiday calendar. In India, Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti are widely observed national occasions. However, the complete holiday calendar for employees can also depend on the applicable state rules, establishment type and company holiday policy.
Use this guide to identify key national dates and plan your annual employee holiday calendar for 2026.dized guidance and legally vetted templates for HR and payroll compliance.
The three widely recognized national occasions are:
Republic Day - 26 January 2026
Independence Day - 15 August 2026
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti - 2 October 2026
Organizations should consider these dates while preparing their yearly holiday schedule. The actual holiday entitlement and applicable rules may differ depending on the state, establishment and employment regulations applicable to the organization.
An annual holiday calendar helps HR teams communicate holidays clearly, plan employee leave, manage attendance and coordinate payroll processing.
Advance planning is particularly useful for businesses operating across multiple locations, shifts, factories, offices or field teams.
A structured holiday calendar can help HR teams:
Plan annual holidays in advance
Communicate holidays with employees
Coordinate leave and attendance
Avoid confusion around working and non-working days
Support payroll and workforce planning
Maintain location-wise holiday records
National holidays are different from state-specific holidays. State governments and applicable labour or establishment rules may determine additional holidays for employees depending on the location and type of establishment.
Businesses operating in multiple states should therefore review the applicable state holiday notifications before finalizing their annual holiday calendar.
Start by listing key national holidays, then add applicable state holidays, company holidays, restricted or optional holidays and other approved leave days. If your organization operates across different locations, maintain separate holiday calendars where required.
Always verify the final holiday schedule against the latest applicable government notifications and your organization's HR policy.
What are the three major national holidays in India?
Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti are the three widely recognized national occasions.
Are all holidays the same across India?
No. Holiday schedules can vary by state, establishment type and applicable rules.
Can companies create their own holiday calendar?
Organizations generally prepare an annual holiday calendar based on applicable requirements and their internal HR policies.
Should HR verify government notifications?
Yes. HR teams should check the latest applicable notifications before publishing the final holiday calendar.
Managing holidays becomes easier when employee records, attendance, leave and payroll are connected. OceanHR helps growing businesses manage essential HR processes from one connected HRMS platform.
Download legally vetted letters, policies, and statutory formats designed for Indian HR professionals.