2 days ago
PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake All-Saturdays Bank Holiday Notification
A notice online said that banks owned by the government would close every Saturday.
The government’s fact-checking team said the notice is fake.
No official order has made every Saturday a bank holiday.
Bank unions do want employees to work five days a week.
Their proposal would make both Saturday and Sunday days off.
The unions and the banks’ association agreed to set up a committee to look at this and other issues.
For now, banks generally close on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
The other Saturdays are usually working days.
PIB Fact Check said a social media document claiming every Saturday is a public holiday for public sector banks is fake.
The government has issued no such notification, according to PIB Fact Check.
The document claims the change took effect immediately and is dated September 30, 2026.
Bank unions have sought a five-day workweek, with Saturdays and Sundays off; a committee will examine unresolved issues.
Banks currently generally close on the second and fourth Saturdays, while the first, third and fifth are working days.
- Who
- PIB Fact Check debunked the claim; bank unions have separately called for a five-day banking week.
- What
- A purported government notification declaring every Saturday a public holiday for public sector banks was identified as fake.
- Where
- The claim circulated on social media and concerned public sector banks in India.
- When
- The clarification was reported after bank unions deferred a strike planned for September 28–30; the circulating document is dated September 30, 2026.
- Why
- The clarification addressed a false claim circulating amid discussions about bank unions’ demand for a five-day working week.
Key facts
- Claim
- Every Saturday was declared a public holiday for public sector banks, including SBI.
- Fact-check finding
- PIB Fact Check said the circulating document is fake and no such notification was issued.
- Document date
- September 30, 2026.
- Union proposal
- A Monday-to-Friday workweek, with Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays.
- Current Saturday schedule
- Banks generally observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays; other Saturdays are usually working days.
- Next step
- The United Forum of Bank Unions and the Indian Banks’ Association agreed to form a high-level committee to examine unresolved issues, including the five-day-week demand.
- Other union concern
- Unions also raised concerns about the Performance Linked Incentive scheme, alleging it was introduced unilaterally by the Department of Financial Services.
Quotes
PIB Fact Check
The government’s fact-checking unit.
“A Gazette circulating on social media, purportedly issued by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Financial Services), claims that the Central Government has declared every Saturday a public holiday for all Public Sector Banks, including SBI.”
livemint.com
“The document being circulated is fake. No such notification has been issued by @FinMinIndia declaring every Saturday as public holiday for public sector banks.”
livemint.com
Sources
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