February 2026; Lucknow
The General Administration Department of the Uttar Pradesh Government has issued a notification declaring 03 March 2026 as a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, on the occasion of Holi. The decision has been taken as a modification to the previously notified list of gazetted holidays for the year 2026.
As per the earlier notification dated 17 November 2025, 02 March 2026 was declared a holiday for Holika Dahan and 04 March 2026 for Holi. With the latest order, 03 March 2026, Tuesday, has also been declared a public holiday. Consequently, holidays will now be observed on 02, 03, and 04 March 2026.
The government clarified that the earlier notification stands amended to this extent. All departments and offices have been instructed to ensure compliance with the revised holiday schedule.
In a related decision, the state government has announced that due to the additional holiday on 03 March 2026, all government offices, institutions, banks, and treasuries across the state will remain open on 28 February 2026, Saturday, functioning as a regular working day. This arrangement has been made to maintain administrative continuity.
Copies of the notification have been forwarded to senior administrative officials, department heads, divisional commissioners, district magistrates, the Reserve Bank of India, the State Level Bankers’ Committee, and relevant ministries of the Government of India for necessary action.
The decision aims to balance festive observance with administrative efficiency, ensuring adequate holiday for citizens while maintaining uninterrupted governance.
