Andhra Pradesh Government Notifies General and Optional Holidays for 2026

The Government of Andhra Pradesh, through G.O.Rt.No.2276, issued by the General Administration (Political.B) Department on December 4, 2025, formally notified the list of General Holidays and Optional Holidays for all State Government offices for the calendar year 2026. This notification, published in The Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, No. 821, on the same date, came into force immediately upon its publication. The directive aims to provide a clear and structured holiday schedule for the upcoming year, ensuring administrative clarity and facilitating planning for government employees.

The notification specifies that the days listed in Annexure-I are to be observed as General Holidays by all State Government offices, with the explicit exclusion of those holidays that coincide with Second Saturdays or Sundays, as detailed in Annexure-I(A). Similarly, Annexure-II outlines the Optional Holidays, from which those falling on Second Saturdays or Sundays, as shown in Annexure-II(A), are also excluded. The Government further directed that all offices under the State Government shall remain closed on all Sundays and Second Saturdays throughout 2026. The legislation provided: “The Government of Andhra Pradesh direct that the days specified in Annexure-I shall be observed as General Holidays by all the State Government offices excluding the holidays falling on Second Saturdays/Sundays shown in Annexure-I(A) and Optional Holidays shown in Annexure-II except the Optional Holidays falling on Second Saturdays/Sundays shown in Annexure-II(A) during the year 2026.”

In addition to the mandated General Holidays, State Government employees are permitted to avail themselves of up to five Optional Holidays during 2026 from the list provided in Annexure-II. This provision allows employees to choose holidays based on festivals or occasions that are significant to them, irrespective of their religious affiliation. To avail these optional holidays, employees are required to submit a written application in advance, which will normally be granted by their Superior Officers competent to sanction Casual Leave, unless their presence is deemed necessary due to exigencies of government work. The notification also clarified that these General Holidays do not automatically extend to Industrial Establishments, Public Sector Undertakings under the State Government's control, workmen engaged in the Public Works Department, and Educational Institutions within the State. Separate orders concerning holidays for these entities are to be issued by their respective Administrative Departments of the Secretariat. Furthermore, the notification includes a crucial provision for flexibility regarding the dates of certain festivals. In the event of any change in the dates for Ramzan, Bakrid, Moharrum, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, as determined by moon sighting, or any Hindu festival, such changes will be announced through electronic or print media. All Secretariat Departments, Heads of Departments, and District Collectors are mandated to act upon such announcements without awaiting a formal government order regarding the date change.

The policy rationale behind this annual notification is to establish a uniform and predictable holiday calendar for the State administration, which is a standard practice to ensure smooth functioning and employee welfare. By clearly delineating General and Optional Holidays, the government addresses the need for a structured framework for public holidays. The provision for optional holidays specifically aims to accommodate the diverse cultural and religious landscape of the state, offering employees personal choice in observing significant occasions. This mechanism also addresses the practical challenge of fixed holiday schedules for festivals whose dates are determined by lunar cycles or other variable factors. The directive for immediate action based on media announcements for such date changes streamlines the process, preventing delays and ensuring timely observance of festivals. This comprehensive approach ensures that both administrative requirements and the diverse needs of the workforce are met, thereby enhancing efficiency and employee satisfaction within the State Government.

Keywords: Andhra Pradesh, Government Holidays, 2026 Holidays, General Holidays, Optional Holidays, State Government Offices, Notification, G.O.Rt.No.2276, Public Administration Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: Not Applicable