The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published a calendar in which it has specified the dates on which the banks will remain closed for business in March.
In addition to five festival holidays, banks will also remain shut on four Sundays and two Saturdays — making the total holidays 11 days.
Bank holidays will differ according to states and are sometimes not observed by all banks. Holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in a particular state.
The country's central bank categorises its holidays under categories: Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act, and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday Banks' Closing of Accounts.
List of bank holidays for March 2021:
March 5: Banks will remain closed on account of the celebration of Chapchar Kut in Mizoram
March 11: Banking operations will be closed because of Mahashivratri celebrations
March 13: Being the second Saturday, banks will remain closed for the day
March 22: Bihar banks closed due to Bihar Day
March 27: Banks will remain closed due to the fourth Saturday
March 29, 30: Banks will remain closed on these two days due to Holi celebrations.
A two-day strike has been announced by the apex body of nine bank employee unions (UFBUs) from March 15 to protest against the proposed privatisation of two public sector banks. However, there is no update regarding if the banks will remain closed on these two days or not.
Internet banking will be available on all bank holidays.