Restricted Holidays (RH) — 2026

Restricted Holidays are optional leaves that central government employees can elect from a notified list, typically choosing any two per year. The list covers regional, religious, and cultural observances not included in the compulsory national holiday calendar. For HR teams, communicating the RH list clearly and tracking selections consistently is the main practical requirement. This page lists the expected Restricted Holidays for 2026 based on prevailing central government practice.Unlike gazetted public holidays, Restricted Holidays are discretionary. Central government employees may select two from the official list issued each year, allowing for personal observance of festivals not on the compulsory calendar. For HR and payroll teams, the administrative work is modest but needs to be handled consistently to avoid confusion around leave balances. The 2026 list here follows the established pattern of RH notifications from prior years.The Restricted Holiday system allows central government employees to observe two days of their choosing from a longer notified list each year. This accommodates the regional and religious diversity of the workforce without expanding the number of compulsory public holidays. HR teams managing compliance with this need a current, accessible list and a simple way to record individual selections. This page provides the expected 2026 RH list for planning and reference purposes.