The Indian government has released the official list of public holidays for the year 2025, applicable to all central government offices. This annual holiday calendar includes both Gazetted Holidays and Restricted Holidays, providing government employees with a well-structured break schedule for the coming year.
According to the list, government employees will be entitled to 17 gazetted holidays in 2025, which are compulsory across all government offices. Additionally, the holiday calendar features 34 restricted holidays, out of which employees can choose a maximum of three days based on their personal preferences.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 holiday schedule.
Gazetted Holidays for 2025
Gazetted holidays are mandatory public holidays that all government offices observe. The central government has confirmed 17 such holidays for 2025. These holidays include key national celebrations like Republic Day and Independence Day, as well as major religious festivals. Here’s the full list of gazetted holidays for the upcoming year:
- Republic Day – 26 January (Sunday)
- Maha Shivratri – 26 February (Wednesday)
- Holi – 14 March (Friday)
- Eid-ul-Fitr – 31 March (Monday)
- Mahavir Jayanti – 10 April (Thursday)
- Good Friday – 18 April (Friday)
- Buddha Purnima – 12 May (Monday)
- Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) – 7 June (Saturday)
- Muharram – 6 July (Sunday)
- Independence Day – 15 August (Friday)
- Janmashtami – 16 August (Saturday)
- Milad-un-Nabi (Eid-e-Milad) – 5 September (Friday)
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti – 2 October (Thursday)
- Dussehra – 2 October (Thursday)
- Diwali – 20 October (Monday)
- Guru Nanak Jayanti – 5 November (Wednesday)
- Christmas – 25 December (Thursday)
These holidays ensure that government offices across the country remain closed, allowing employees to celebrate significant festivals and national events.
Restricted Holidays in 2025
In addition to gazetted holidays, the government also offers restricted holidays, which give employees the flexibility to choose holidays based on their personal or religious preferences. There are 34 restricted holidays for 2025, out of which employees can select any three. Some popular restricted holidays include:
- New Year’s Day – 1 January (Wednesday)
- Makar Sankranti/Pongal – 14 January (Tuesday)
- Basant Panchami – 2 February (Sunday)
- Shivaji Jayanti – 19 February (Wednesday)
- Rath Yatra – 7 July (Monday)
- Ganesh Chaturthi – 27 August (Wednesday)
- Karva Chauth – 10 October (Friday)
- Chhath Puja – 28 October (Tuesday)
- Christmas Eve – 24 December (Wednesday)
These optional holidays cater to the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds of employees, giving them the freedom to take leave for celebrations unique to their community.
Flexibility for Employees
Government employees have the advantage of not only getting the 17 gazetted holidays but also being able to choose up to three restricted holidays. This flexible system allows them to align their leaves with personal religious, cultural, or family celebrations, without hampering the workflow of government offices.
Importance of the Holiday List
The holiday list plays a crucial role in ensuring employees have a proper work-life balance while also recognizing the importance of diverse cultural, national, and religious celebrations in India. The list, which has been implemented across all central government offices, provides clarity and structure to holiday planning for the year.
Whether it’s Republic Day, Diwali, or Christmas, government employees can plan their vacations and celebrations well in advance. This system also enables the government to maintain an efficient operational calendar while honoring the varied traditions observed across the country.
