Bank Holidays In July 2023: Banks Will Be Closed For 15 Days Across States In July, Check Full State-Wise Bank Holiday List

After the list of June 2023 bank holidays, it's time for the sixth month of the new year, and with it comes a new set of bank holidays.

Banks will be shut for 15 days in July 2023 including second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks will be closed on all public holidays with some regional holidays depending on the particular state. Regional holidays are decided by respective state governments.

The month of July observes 15 bank holidays - the first holiday starts from Guru Hargobind Ji's Birthday on July 05 and other holidays like Muharram on July 29 will be observed holidays which are applicable to all banks in India except some states.

AFP

Most Indian banks¡¯ functions are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, and banking schedules and holidays are also governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations. Public sector banks and private sector banks both are not working on Sundays and on second and fourth Saturdays.

Bank holidays in India come in a variety of flavours -- it's a mix of mandated holidays by the banking sector, plus a whole set of festive and commemorative holidays authorised by various states.

In June 2023, there are only 15 days when many private and public sector banks will remain closed due to bank holidays including weekends. Banks will be shut for 15 days in July 2023 including the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.

People will not face any problems with bank-related work as holidays are not frequent or are at short intervals; ATMs, cash deposits, online banking and mobile banking will continue to function. These holidays in July vary from state to state as holidays are determined keeping in mind the local festivals.

Banks will be closed on all public holidays with some regional holidays, depending on the particular state. Regional holidays are decided by the respective state governments; they are not mentioned on RBI's official website.

According to RBI guidelines, banks are closed on Sundays as well as on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, RBI has declared bank holidays on July 5,6,11,13,17,21,28, and 29. Apart from this, there are five Sundays in July falling on July 2,9,16,23, and 30 also on the second and fourth Saturdays on July 08 and 22.

According to the Reserve Bank's calendar, apart from the weekends, there are 8 bank holidays in July. The central government divided the holidays into three categories, under the Negotiable Instruments Act, of 1881.

Those who have to complete important work related to the bank in July, should see the list of holidays and plan their work in advance.

Check out the state-wise list of bank holidays in July 2023:

1. July 02, 2023 (Sunday) - Weekend Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 02 July 2023.

2. July 05, 2023 (Tuesday) - Guru Hargobind Ji's Birthday

Banks will be closed on the occasion of Guru Hargobind Ji's Birthday in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, July 05, 2023. Guru Hargobind Ji was the sixth Sikh Guru who transformed the Sikh community. He wore two swords symbolizing temporal and spiritual authority, emphasizing the need to defend against oppression. He built the Akal Takht (God's throne) the temporal seat of Sikh authority in front of Harmandar Sahib in 1606 and led Sikhs in armed resistance against Mughal persecution.

3. July 06, 2023 (Wednesday) - MHIP Day

National Holiday

Banks will remain shut in Mizoram due to MHIP Day in Mizoram on Wednesday, July 05, 2023. MHIP Day in Mizoram is celebrated on July 6th each year and was established on the 6th of July 1974. The MHIP operates as a philanthropic Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

It commemorates the founding of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl, a women's organisation dedicated to empowering and uplifting women and children in the state. The MHIP works to improve the lives of women in Mizoram through education, health care, and economic empowerment. On MHIP Day, people across the state come together to celebrate the achievements of women and to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality.

4. July 08, 2023 (Saturday) - Second Saturday Of The Month

All the banks across the country remain closed on the second Saturday of the month on 08 July 2023.

5. July 09, 2023 (Sunday) - Weekend Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 09 July 2023.

6. July 11, 2023 (Tuesday) - Ker Puja

Banks will be shut in Tripura on the occasion of Ker Puja on Tuesday, July 11 2023. Ker Puja is a traditional tribal ritual celebrated in the Indian state of Tripura. The Hindu festival is performed to worship the goddess Ker, the guardian deity of the Vastu Devata, Tripura¡¯s dynasty of deities, who is believed to bring prosperity and protect the community from evil spirits.

7. July 13, 2023 (Thursday) - Bhanu Jayanti

Banks will be closed on the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti in Sikkim on Thursday, 13 July 2023. Bhanu Jayanti in Sikkim is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya born on July 13, 1813, the renowned Nepali poet and translator of the Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali for the first time. It is marked with cultural programs, recitations of his literary works, and tributes to his contributions to the Nepali language and literature.

8. July 16, 2023 (Sunday) - Weekend Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 16 July 2023.

9. July 17, 2023 (Monday) - U Tirot Sing Day

National Holiday

Banks remain shut due to U Tirot Sing Day in Meghalaya on Monday, 17 July 2023. U Tirot Sing Day is a regional public holiday in the Indian state of Meghalaya, celebrated on July 17. The holiday commemorates the death of Tirot Sing, a Khasi freedom fighter who led a revolt against the British in the early 19th century. Tirot Sing was captured and executed by the British in 1835, but his legacy continues to inspire people in Meghalaya and across India.

10. July 21, 2023 (Friday) - Drukpa Tshe-zi

Banks across the Sikkim will be cloesd due to Drukpa Tshe-zi on Friday, 21 July 2023. Drukpa Tshe-zi is a Buddhist festival that celebrates the first sermon of Lord Buddha. It is observed on the fourth day of the sixth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. The festival is marked by prayers, religious ceremonies, and yak races. It is a day to remember the teachings of Lord Buddha and to celebrate the path to enlightenment.

11. July 22, 2023 (Saturday) - fourth Saturday Of The Month

All the banks across the country remain closed on the fourth Saturday of the month on 22 July 2023.

12. July 23, 2023 (Sunday) - Weekend Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 23 July 2023.

13. July 28, 2023 (Friday) - Ashoora

Banks remain shut in Jammu & Kashmir on the occasion of Ashoora on Friday, 28 July 2023. Ashura is a significant observance in the Islamic calendar, commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. It is marked with solemnity and mourning by Shia Muslims worldwide, symbolising sacrifice, resilience, and the struggle against injustice. The event is characterised by processions, self-flagellation, and acts of charity.

14. July 29, 2023 (Saturday) - Muharram (Tajiya)

BCCL

Banks will be closed across the country except for Gujarat, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Goa and Meghalaya on the occasion of Muharram (Tajiya) on Saturday, 29 July 2023. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It holds significant importance for Muslims, especially the Shia community, as they mourn the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Commemorative rituals, processions, and gatherings are held to remember the tragic events of Karbala in the year 680 AD.

15. July 30, 2023 (Sunday) - Weekend Holiday

Banks across the country will be closed on their weekly off on Sunday, 30 July 2023.

Bank employees may soon work a five-day week

Bank employees across the country are likely to get a 5-day work week soon. The Indian Banks Association (IBA) and United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has proposed a 5-day work week for bank employees, and the finance ministry has said that it has no objection to the proposal. The IBA has said that the 5-day work week will be implemented in phases, and that it could be in place by the end of 2023.

According to CNBC, in a notification dated July 19, UFBU said the issue of a 5-day work week was under ¡®active¡¯ consideration of stakeholders.

¡°IBA informed that the issue is under active consideration of various stakeholders and the same is being pursued. We asked the IBA to expedite the same so that 5 banking days per week is introduced without further delay,¡± the notification stated.

Currently, the bank employees get off on the first and fourth Saturday. The demand caught hold since the government implemented the rule of five working days in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Under the proposed 5-day work week, bank employees will work for an additional 40 minutes each day. This means that they will work from 9:45 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Saturdays will be a holiday for all bank employees.

The 5-day work week has been a long-standing demand of bank unions. They have argued that it will improve the work-life balance of bank employees and make it easier for them to attend to personal and family commitments.

However, Online bank services such as - Internet Banking, Mobile banking, etc, and ATM machines and Bank Kisoks will remain on working.

The implementation of the 5-day work week for bank employees is still pending final approval from the government. However, it is likely to be implemented in the near future. This will be a welcome change for bank employees, who have been working on alternating Saturdays for many years.

Here is the complete list of Bank Holidays in 2023:

Bank Holidays 2023 in India state-wise:

Bank Holidays 2023 month-wise

As per the RBI rules, there are three categorised holidays and they are as follows:

1. Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act

2. Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday

3. Banks' Closing of Accounts

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