India, Dec. 30 -- Public holidays decide when offices pause, schools shut, and travel plans quietly take form. Several public holidays - a mix of national observances and cultural occasions - fall across the month of January in 2026. Some will shut offices entirely. Others remain optional, depending on workplace policy.

Public holidays in India generally fall into two categories: restricted and gazetted holidays. Gazetted holidays are officially declared by the government. Most central and state offices remain closed. These dates are listed in the official Gazette and apply uniformly across institutions.

Restricted holidays, on the other hand, are optional. Employees can choose to take them off based on personal or religious preference....