Public Holidays 2025: The year 2024 is ready to say goodbye and the year 2025 is about to knock. Even before the beginning of the new year, people have started looking for holidays available throughout the year. The Government of India has announced gazetted holidays for 2025.
The government has also announced optional holidays along with gazetted holidays. Gazetted holidays are mandatory government holidays, while optional holidays are discretionary of the employees. These vary according to the institution and the state. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has also issued a circular announcing 17 gazetted and 34 restricted holidays. In total, 41 holidays have been notified by the government in the year 2025. Let us know on which days and dates holidays have been declared in the year 2025.
What is a gazetted holiday?
Gazetted holidays are holidays in India that are notified by the Government of India. They are listed in the Government Gazette. These holidays are applicable nationwide or state-specific. These holidays are valid for government employees, educational institutions and generally in public and private organizations. Gazetted holidays are often declared for days of national importance (such as Republic Day, Independence Day) and major religious festivals (such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas).
Is there optional or restricted leave?
Optional holidays are often called “RH” or “Restricted Holidays”. These are the leaves that employees can choose as per their choice or requirement. These leaves are not compulsory and are mainly used to take into account various religious, cultural or personal needs. This leave is completely at the discretion of the employee. The organization provides a list of all optional holidays and employees can avail a limited number of these. Optional holidays are listed in the government gazette, but are not mandatory to observe.
Gazetted Holidays
- Republic Day: January 26 (Sunday)
- Mahashivratri: February 26 (Wednesday)
- Holi: March 14 (Friday)
- Eid-ul-Fitr: March 31 (Monday)
- Mahavir Jayanti: April 10 (Thursday)
- Good Friday: April 18 (Friday)
- Buddha Purnima: May 12 (Monday)
- Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid): June 7 (Saturday)
- Muharram: 6 July (Sunday)
- Independence Day: August 15 (Friday)
- Janmashtami: August 16 (Saturday)
- Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad): September 5 (Friday)
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday: October 2 (Thursday)
- Dussehra: October 2 (Thursday)
- Diwali (Deepawali): October 20 (Monday)
- Guru Nanak’s Birthday: 5 November (Wednesday)
- Christmas Day: December 25 (Thursday)
Optional or restricted holidays
- New Year: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti: January 6 (Monday)
- Makar Sankranti/Magh Bihu/Pongal: January 14 (Tuesday)
- Basant Panchami: February 2 (Sunday)
- Guru Ravidas Jayanti: February 12 (Wednesday)
- Shivaji Jayanti: 19 February (Wednesday)
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti: 23 February (Sunday)
- Holika Dahan: March 13 (Thursday)
- Dolyatra: 14th March (Friday)
- Ram Navami: April 16 (Sunday)
- Janmashtami (Smart): 16 August (Friday)
- Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayak Chaturthi: 27 August (Wednesday)
- Onam or Thiruonam: September 5 (Friday)
- Dussehra (Saptami): September 29 (Monday)
- Dussehra (Mahastami): September 30 (Tuesday)
- Dussehra (Mahanavami): October 1 (Wednesday)
- Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti: 7 October (Tuesday)
- Karak Chaturthi (Karva Chauth): October 10 (Friday)
- Narak Chaturdashi: October 20 (Monday)
- Govardhan Puja: October 22 (Wednesday)
- Bhai Dooj: October 23 (Thursday)
- Pratihara Shashthi or Surya Shashthi (Chhath Puja): October 28 (Tuesday)
- Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur: 24 November (Monday)
- Christmas Eve: December 24 (Wednesday)
