Government employees in Madhya Pradesh MP will enjoy 127 days off in 2026, the highest holiday count in recent years, according to the newly released official calendar. The state government has finalised a comprehensive schedule that balances work requirements with employee rest periods.
Government offices across Madhya Pradesh will operate for 238 days in the coming year. The 127 holidays include 52 Saturdays, 52 Sundays and 23 public holidays. This marks an increase of one public holiday compared to 2025.
The additional holiday comes from the inclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14 in the official list. This brings the total count of mandatory public holidays to 23 for all government departments.
The government notification, noted that employees will also have access to 62 optional holidays from which they can select any three according to their personal requirements.
Despite the generous holiday allocation, employees face a setback as six major festivals fall on weekends in 2026. This means workers cannot claim additional leave for these celebrations, effectively reducing opportunities for extended vacation planning.
The overlap of important festivals with Saturdays and Sundays limits the possibility of long weekend breaks that employees typically use for travel or family gatherings.
Five-Day Work Week Stays
The government has decided to continue the five-day working system implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices will remain operational from Monday to Friday only, with Saturdays and Sundays designated as weekly offs.
There had been widespread speculation about reverting to the older system where the first and third Saturdays were working days. However, officials have chosen to maintain the current arrangement for now.
A proposal to increase daily working hours was also submitted but failed to receive approval. The Chief Secretary’s office rejected the plan, keeping existing duty hours unchanged.
Major Leave Rule Changes from January
The government has introduced significant amendments to the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Leave Rules of 1977, effective from January 1, 2026. These changes will directly impact how employees utilize their leave entitlements.
The most notable modification concerns childcare leave for female employees. Women government workers will now receive full salary for the first 365 days of childcare leave. However, only 80 percent of salary will be paid for the second 365 days. This leave applies to children up to 18 years of age.
New restrictions limit childcare leave to three occasions per calendar year for regular female employees. Single mothers receive special consideration with eligibility to take this leave up to six times annually.
More than 450,000 teachers employed by the state government will benefit from a new provision granting ten days of earned leave annually. This represents a significant improvement in leave benefits for the education workforce.
The Bhopal district administration had submitted a proposal for local leave to the General Administration Department before Dussehra. While the department forwarded the recommendation, it did not receive clearance from the Chief Secretary’s office. Officials cited concerns that October already contained numerous holidays and adding more could disrupt essential government operations.
Complete List of Public Holidays 2026
| Sr. No. | Festival/Occasion | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic Day | 26 January | Monday |
| 2 | Holi | 4 March | Wednesday |
| 3 | Gudi Padwa | 19 March | Thursday |
| 4 | Cheti Chand | 20 March | Friday |
| 5 | Ram Navami | 26 March | Thursday |
| 6 | Mahavir Jayanti | 31 March | Tuesday |
| 7 | Good Friday | 3 April | Friday |
| 8 | Dr Ambedkar Jayanti / Baisakhi | 14 April | Tuesday |
| 9 | Parshuram Jayanti | 20 April | Monday |
| 10 | Buddha Purnima | 1 May | Friday |
| 11 | Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 27 May | Wednesday |
| 12 | Maharana Pratap Jayanti / Chhatrasal Jayanti | 17 June | Wednesday |
| 13 | Muharram | 26 June | Friday |
| 14 | Milad-un-Nabi | 26 August | Wednesday |
| 15 | Raksha Bandhan | 28 August | Friday |
| 16 | Janmashtami | 4 September | Friday |
| 17 | Ganesh Chaturthi | 14 September | Monday |
| 18 | Gandhi Jayanti | 2 October | Friday |
| 19 | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | 20 October | Tuesday |
| 20 | Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti | 26 October | Monday |
| 21 | Govardhan Puja | 9 November | Monday |
| 22 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | 24 November | Tuesday |
| 23 | Christmas | 25 December | Friday |
Holiday Breakdown
| Category | Number of Days |
|---|---|
| Working Days | 238 |
| Saturdays | 52 |
| Sundays | 52 |
| Public Holidays | 23 |
| Total Holidays | 127 |
| Optional Holidays Available | 62 (choose any 3) |
The 2026 calendar reflects the government’s attempt to balance operational efficiency with employee welfare while adapting to post-pandemic work patterns.
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