The Government of Bihar has notified the holiday calendar for 2027, covering general holidays, optional/restricted holidays, public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act and annual bank accounts closing.
The notification provides an early reference for preparing office calendars, planning employee leave and coordinating banking activities during 2027.
Particulars | Notification details |
|---|---|
Issuing department | General Administration Department, Government of Bihar |
Notification number | 3/H-01/2026-19063/सा.प्र. |
Notification date | 15 October 2026 |
Gazette publication | Bihar Gazette Extraordinary, No. 1280, dated 15 October 2026 |
Calendar year covered | 2027 |
The official Bihar e-Gazette portal lists Notification No. 19063 under the subject “Holiday 2027.”
Four Separate Holiday Schedules
The notification divides the holiday calendar into four schedules. Their purpose and coverage should be understood separately.
Schedule | Category | Key provision |
|---|---|---|
Schedule 1 | General holidays under executive orders | Lists 12 occasions for offices under the State Government and revenue magistrate courts. |
Schedule 2 | Optional/restricted holidays | Lists 22 occasions, from which eligible State Government personnel may take a maximum of three holidays during the year, subject to prior approval. |
Schedule 3 | Public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 | Declares public holidays in Bihar; the notification expressly extends these holidays to State Government offices and revenue magistrate courts. |
Schedule 4 | Annual bank accounts closing | Specifies 1 April 2027, Thursday, for annual bank accounts closing. |
Important Festival Dates for Planning
Among the notified public holidays are Bihar Diwas on 22 March, Holi on 23–24 March, Durga Puja on 7–9 October, Deepawali on 29 October, and Chhath Puja on 4–5 November 2027.
The calendar also places Independence Day and the birthday of Hazrat Mohammad Sahib on the same date—15 August 2027, Sunday. HR teams should account for overlapping occasions when preparing their calendar.
Restricted Holidays Require Prior Approval
The notification permits a maximum of three optional/restricted holidays during the year. Approval must be obtained from the authority competent to sanction casual leave, keeping government work requirements in view. This facility extends to regular, contractual and outsourced personnel working under the State Government.
Muslim festival dates may change depending on moon sighting. The existing five-day working week for Secretariat departments and directorates, and six-day working week for field offices, continue as before.
What Should Employers and HR Teams Do?
Before issuing the 2027 holiday calendar:
Identify which notification schedules apply to the establishment.
Distinguish government holidays, restricted holidays and bank closing.
Check overlapping holidays against weekly offs.
Plan staffing and leave around major festival periods.
Monitor subsequent government changes to festival dates.
For private establishments: this notification expressly addresses government-office holidays and NI Act public holidays. Its wording should not be treated as establishing identical holiday entitlements for every private workplace; the establishment’s applicable requirements and employment terms need separate review.