All Saturdays Now Bank Holidays? PIB Debunks Viral Gazette Notification
A Gazette notification claiming that the Central Government has declared every Saturday a public holiday for all Public Sector Banks, including State Bank of India (SBI) is being widely circulated on social media and online platforms.
The PIB Fact Check Unit has debunked the claim, confirming that no such notification has been issued by the Ministry of Finance.
What Does the Viral Notification Claim?
The document circulating online is dated September 30, 2026, and carries the notification number S.O. 4275(E). It appears to have been issued by the Ministry of Finance's Department of Financial Services.
According to the purported notification, the Central Government had invoked Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, to declare every Saturday a public holiday for all Public Sector Banks, including SBI, with immediate effect.
The document also features an official-looking file number and the name of a purported Joint Secretary, giving it the appearance of an authentic government order.
PIB Fact Check Calls the Document Fake
The PIB Fact Check Unit has categorically rejected the claim and said that the Ministry of Finance has not issued any notification declaring all Saturdays as public holidays for Public Sector Banks.
The fact-check agency warned people against believing or sharing the fake Gazette document circulating online. It also advises citizens to flag suspicious information related to the Central Government.
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.#PIBFactCheck:
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) October 1, 2026
The document… pic.twitter.com/ClCqEt2UAX
What Is the Current Bank Holiday Rule for Saturdays?
Under the existing arrangement, the second and fourth Saturdays of every month are public holidays for Public Sector Banks. The system was introduced in 2015, while the remaining Saturdays continue to be working days.
Although bank employees have long demanded a five-day banking week, the proposal has not resulted in an official change to the existing Saturday holiday schedule.
The Indian Banks' Association has previously submitted a proposal seeking a five-day banking week, but this should not be confused with an approved government notification.
Therefore, the viral Gazette document claiming that all Saturdays are now bank holidays is fake, and there has been no official change to the existing bank holiday rules. ALSO READ: Stabbed by Co-Pilot at 34,000 Feet: How Indian Pilot Fought Back and Helped Save 174 Lives; Netanyahu, Modi Call Him ‘Hero’
