As Per RBI Circular Are Banks Closed On All Saturdays?
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There has been a practice in recent years where banks have been granted holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays. On these days, banks operate only for half a day, while full working days are observed on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays. This arrangement was implemented by nationalized banks across India starting from September 2015.
However, bank employees have been advocating for every Saturday to be declared a holiday. Their request has been under consideration by the central government, and discussions have taken place between bank employees and government officials regarding this matter. During these discussions, a demand was made to designate Saturdays as public holidays for banks.
Simultaneously, it is being reported that there might be a change in the working hours from Monday to Friday, with plans to extend the daily working hours by approximately one hour. An official announcement regarding the proposed increase in working hours on weekdays and the replacement of all Saturdays as holidays is expected soon.
The Saturday holiday policy is said to be applicable to public sector banks, private banks, foreign banks, cooperative banks, rural banks, and local banks. The news of an imminent announcement declaring all Saturdays as public holidays for banks has brought joy to bank employees.
The consideration to grant a holiday on all Saturdays for banks encompasses various types of banks, including public sector banks, private banks, foreign banks, cooperative banks, rural banks, and local banks. If this proposal is approved, it would bring uniformity to the banking sector and provide a consistent weekly off for employees.
The potential announcement of all Saturdays being designated as public holidays for banks has created a sense of anticipation and happiness among bank employees. Having a fixed day off every week would provide them with a much-needed opportunity for rest, relaxation, and personal commitments.
It's important to note that along with the possibility of Saturday becoming a holiday, there are discussions about adjusting the working hours from Monday to Friday. The proposed plan involves extending the daily working hours by about one hour to compensate for the additional day off on Saturdays. This adjustment aims to ensure that customer service and banking operations continue smoothly while still meeting the needs of employees.
Overall, the potential declaration of all Saturdays as public holidays for banks marks a significant development in the banking industry. The final decision on this matter, as well as any adjustments to working hours, will be communicated by the authorities in due course.