Bank Holiday Today, March 17, 2026? Know if Banks Are Open or Closed on Tuesday for Shab-E-Qadr?

Mumbai, March 17: Banking operations in certain parts of India will be suspended today, March 17, as per the official holiday calendar released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). While most banks across the country will remain open for regular business, branches in Jammu and Srinagar will observe a holiday in observance of Shab-e-Qadr (Laylat al-Qadr or Laylatul Qadr) and other regional festivities. Customers are advised to plan their financial tasks, as physical branch services, including cash deposits and cheque clearances, will be unavailable in these specific areas for the duration of the day.

Regional Holiday Breakdown

The RBI classifies bank holidays into three categories: Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays, and Banks' Closing of Accounts. Tomorrow's closure falls under the regional category. Bank Holidays March 16-22: Banks To Remain Closed for 5 Days Next Week; Check Details.

Banks in both Jammu and Srinagar will remain shut to mark Shab-i-Qadr (the Night of Power), a significant observance during the holy month of Ramadan (Ramzan). It is worth noting that Laylatul Qadr is also known as Laylat al-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr. In all other major metropolitan areas - including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru - banks will function as per their standard working hours.

Digital Banking and ATM Accessibility on March 19

Despite the physical closure of branches in the affected states, the RBI ensures that essential financial services remain accessible.

• Mobile and Net Banking: Services such as IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS will remain operational 24/7.
• UPI Payments: Digital payment platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm will continue to function without interruption.
• ATMs: Cash withdrawal and deposit machines will be available for public use throughout the holiday.

Upcoming Bank Holidays This Week

The holiday on March 17 is the first in a series of mid-week breaks for the banking sector. The RBI calendar indicates a busy week for closures in various states. Banks in Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Srinagar and Vijayawada will remain closed on Thursday, March 19, for Gudhi Padwa/Ugadi Festival/Telugu New Year's Day/Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba)/1st Navratra. Laylatul Qadr 2026 Date, Signs and Significance of the ‘Night of Power’.

On the other hand, banks will observe closure in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada on Friday, March 20, for Eid al-Fitr. On Saturday, March 21, banks will stay shut in all cities except Kochi, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada for Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr) (Shawal-1)/Khutub-E-Ramzan/Sarhul.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2026 07:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).