PIB Fact Check: Fake news on Saturday bank holidays
PIB Fact Check clarifies that a viral Gazette claiming all Saturdays are bank holidays for public sector banks is fake. No such notification exists.
The government's official fact-checking unit has stepped in to debunk a viral social media claim suggesting that all Saturdays have been declared holidays for public sector banks. PIB Fact Check has officially confirmed that the circulating news, which includes major institutions like the State Bank of India (SBI), is entirely false.
The Viral Fake Gazette
A document, masquerading as an official Gazette from the Ministry of Finance (Department of Financial Services), has been spreading across various social media platforms. This fraudulent document claims that the Central Government has mandated every Saturday to be a public holiday for all public sector banks with immediate effect.
Upon investigation, PIB Fact Check revealed several red flags:
- False Notification: No such order has been issued by the Ministry of Finance.
- Incorrect Dating: The fake document being circulated is curiously dated September 30, 2026.
- Misleading Content: The claim that "every Saturday" is now a holiday is completely baseless.
Context Behind the Rumour
The timing of this misinformation is particularly sensitive. It follows a period of tension between bank unions and the government. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) had recently planned a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, primarily to demand a five-day banking week.
A five-day week would have effectively turned all Saturdays into holidays for bank staff. However, the strike was deferred following discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). While both parties have agreed to form a high-level committee to address pending issues—including the five-day week demand—no official policy change has been implemented.
Current Banking Schedule
For those confused by the viral posts, the current working schedule for Indian banks remains unchanged:
- Second and Fourth Saturdays: These remain official holidays.
- First, Third, and Fifth Saturdays: These remain regular working days for public sector banks.
The PIB has advised citizens to remain vigilant and to flag any suspicious content claiming to be from the Central Government for proper verification before believing or sharing it.