Central Government Holidays for 2025: A Comprehensive Overview
As the year 2025 approaches, the Indian government has officially announced the list of holidays for central government employees, providing a structured framework for time off throughout the year. This announcement is particularly significant for employees working in administrative offices located in Delhi and New Delhi, as well as those stationed outside the capital. The holiday schedule not only includes mandatory holidays but also offers flexibility through optional holidays, allowing employees to tailor their time off according to personal and cultural preferences.
Mandatory Holidays for Central Government Employees
Central government administrative offices located outside Delhi/New Delhi will observe a set of compulsory holidays in addition to three holidays selected from a list of 12 optional holidays. The mandatory holidays for 2025 include:
- Republic Day – January 26
- Independence Day – August 15
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday – October 2
- Buddha Purnima – May 12
- Christmas Day – December 25
- Dussehra (Vijay Dashami) – October 2
- Diwali (Deepavali) – October 20
- Good Friday – April 18
- Guru Nanak’s Birthday – November 5
- Id-ul-Fitr – March 31
- Id-ul-Zuha – June 7
- Mahavir Jayanti – April 10
- Muharram – July 6
- Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday (Id-e-Milad) – September 5
These holidays reflect a blend of national, religious, and cultural observances, ensuring that employees can celebrate significant events throughout the year.
Optional Holidays: Flexibility for Employees
In addition to the mandatory holidays, central government employees are entitled to choose three holidays from a list of 12 optional holidays. This provision allows employees to select days that resonate with their personal beliefs and cultural practices. The optional holidays for 2025 are as follows:
- An additional day for Dussehra
- Holi – March 14
- Janmashtami (Vaishnavi) – August 16
- Ram Navami – April 6
- Maha Shivratri – February 26
- Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayak Chaturthi – Date varies
- Makar Sankranti – January 14
- Rath Yatra – June 27
- Onam – Date varies
- Pongal – Date varies
- Sri Panchami / Basant Panchami – February 2
- Vishu / Vaisakhi / Vaisakhadi / Bhag Bihu / Mashadi Ugadi / Chaitra Sukladi / Cheti Chand / Gudi Padava / 1st Navratra in Nauraz / Chhath Puja / Karva Chauth – Date varies
This flexibility is particularly beneficial for employees who wish to observe festivals and cultural events that may not align with the national holidays.
Detailed Holiday Schedule for Delhi/New Delhi
For central government administrative offices located in Delhi/New Delhi, the holiday schedule for 2025 is as follows:
| S.No. | Holiday | Date | Saka Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic Day | January 26 | Magha 06 | Sunday |
| 2 | Maha Shivaratri | February 26 | Phalguna 07 | Wednesday |
| 3 | Holi | March 14 | Phalguna 23 | Friday |
| 4 | Id-ul-Fitr | March 31 | Chaitra 10 | Monday |
| 5 | Mahavir Jayanti | April 10 | Chaitra 20 | Thursday |
| 6 | Good Friday | April 18 | Chaitra 28 | Friday |
| 7 | Buddha Purnima | May 12 | Vaisakha 22 | Monday |
| 8 | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | June 7 | Jyaishtha 17 | Saturday |
| 9 | Muharram | July 6 | Ashadha 15 | Sunday |
| 10 | Independence Day | August 15 | Sravana 24 | Friday |
| 11 | Janmashtami | August 16 | Sravana 25 | Saturday |
| 12 | Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad | September 5 | Bhadra 14 | Friday |
| 13 | Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday | October 2 | Asvina 10 | Thursday |
| 14 | Dussehra | October 2 | Asvina 10 | Thursday |
| 15 | Diwali (Deepavali) | October 20 | Asvina 28 | Monday |
| 16 | Guru Nanak’s Birthday | November 5 | Kartika 14 | Wednesday |
| 17 | Christmas Day | December 25 | Pausha 04 | Thursday |
This detailed schedule provides clarity for employees to plan their personal and professional commitments around these holidays.
Restricted Holidays: Additional Options
In addition to the mandatory and optional holidays, central government offices in Delhi also have a list of restricted holidays. Employees can choose any two holidays from this list, which includes:
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday – January 6
- Makar Sankranti/Magha Bihu/Pongal/Hazrat Ali’s Birthday – January 14
- Basant Panchami – February 2
- Guru Ravi Das’s Birthday – February 12
- Shivaji Jayanti – February 19
- Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati – February 23
- Holika Dahan – March 13
- Dolyatra – March 14
- Jamat-Ul-Vida – March 28
- Chaitra Sukladi/Gudi Padava/Ugadi/Cheti Chand – March 30
- Ram Navami – April 6
- Vaisakhi/Vishu – April 13
- Meshadi (Tamil New Year’s Day) – April 14
- Vaisakhadi (Bengal)/Bahag Bihu (Assam) – April 15
- Easter Sunday – April 20
- Guru Rabindranath’s Birthday – May 9
- Rath Yatra – June 27
- Raksha Bandhan – August 9
- Parsi New Year’s Day/Nauraj – August 15
This additional layer of holiday options allows employees to further customize their time off, ensuring that they can observe important cultural and religious events that matter to them.
Conclusion
The holiday schedule for central government employees in 2025 reflects a thoughtful approach to work-life balance, cultural diversity, and personal choice. By providing a mix of mandatory, optional, and restricted holidays, the government aims to foster an environment where employees can celebrate their traditions while fulfilling their professional responsibilities. As the year unfolds, employees can look forward to a well-structured holiday calendar that supports both their personal and professional lives.