What happened
Bank branches in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, were closed on Thursday, 29 October 2026, for Karwa Chauth, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday schedule, as reported by Mint and CNBC-TV18.
The closure covered public and private lenders, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda, Mint reported. It was a regional holiday, so branches elsewhere followed their own local calendars.
Mint also noted the next closures: 31 October (Saturday) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday, and 1 November across India, which is a Sunday.
What it means for you
Branch work such as cash deposits and withdrawals, document submission and anything needing in-person verification had to wait until the branch reopened, CNBC-TV18 said.
Digital services continue on bank holidays. You can send and receive money through UPI or your bank’s app, and use net banking. Electronic transfers through NEFT and RTGS can be started through digital channels, subject to each bank’s procedures. UPI may occasionally pause for scheduled maintenance, which banks announce in advance.
Banks also remain shut on every Sunday and on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
Background
The RBI releases its annual bank holiday list in January. Holidays differ by state and city depending on local festivals, so it is sensible to check your own branch before visiting.
For November 2026, Mint counted 16 closure days including weekends and regional holidays. Key dates it listed:
- 9 November: Diwali-related holidays in cities including Agartala, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kanpur and Lucknow.
- 10 November: Bali Pratipada and related occasions in cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Nagpur.
- 16 November: Chhath Puja in Patna and Ranchi.
- 24 November: Guru Nanak Jayanti and other observances in many cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
- 14 and 28 November (Saturdays) and the Sundays: closed across India.
