Maharashtra Declares January 15, 2026, as a Public Holiday for Civic Polls

The Maharashtra government has announced a public holiday on January 15, 2026, to facilitate voting for local body elections across several municipal jurisdictions. 

The decision, notified under the Negotiable Instruments Act, applies to select civic bodies and was not part of the previously declared state holiday calendar. 

However, uncertainty remains around banking and stock market operations.

Public Holiday Announcement by Maharashtra Government

The Maharashtra government has declared January 15, 2026, as a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act to enable voters to participate in local body elections. 

The announcement was made through an official release outlining the scope of the decision.

Municipal Corporations Covered Under the Holiday

The public holiday will apply to 29 municipal corporations across the state. 

This includes Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). 

The holiday is limited to areas where elections are scheduled.

Not Included in the Official 2026 Holiday List

Notably, January 15 was not included in the list of 24 public holidays for 2026 that the Maharashtra government had announced earlier. 

The holiday has been declared specifically for election-related purposes and applies only to the notified local government bodies.

Will Banks Be Closed on January 15, 2026?

As of now, the Reserve Bank of India has not issued any communication regarding bank closures for January 15, 2026. 

The date is also not reflected as a bank holiday in Mumbai’s RBI holiday calendar, leaving the status of banking operations unclear.

Status of Stock Market Operations on Jan 15, 2026

There has been no official communication from stock exchanges regarding trading activity around the election period.

Read More: NITI Aayog Proposes Fiscal Incentives to Support Affordable Housing Development in India.

Conclusion

January 15, 2026, has been declared a public holiday in Maharashtra for local body elections in select jurisdictions. While the move aims to facilitate voter participation, clarity is still awaited on bank and stock market operations. 

Stakeholders are likely to look for further notifications from the RBI and stock exchanges for confirmation.

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