Andhra Pradesh Government Notifies General and Optional Holidays for 2026

The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued a Notification, G.O.Rt.No.2276, through the General Administration (Political.B) Department on December 4, 2025, formally announcing the General Holidays and Optional Holidays for the calendar year 2026. This directive specified the days to be observed as holidays by all State Government offices, while also outlining provisions for optional leaves for employees. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette. It detailed that General Holidays listed in Annexure-I would be observed, with exceptions for those falling on Second Saturdays or Sundays as indicated in Annexure-I(A) (though Annexure-I(A) itself was not provided in the text). Similarly, Optional Holidays from Annexure-II (not provided) were to be observed, excluding those falling on Second Saturdays or Sundays as specified in Annexure-II(A). A key provision mandated that all State Government offices would 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 General Holidays, State Government employees were granted the discretion to avail up to five Optional Holidays during 2026 from the festivals or occasions listed in Annexure-II. This provision allowed employees to choose holidays based on their preference and irrespective of the festival's religious affiliation, requiring prior written application and approval from competent superior officers, unless exigencies of government work necessitated an employee's presence. The notification also clarified that these General Holidays would not ipso-facto (by the fact itself) apply to Industrial Establishments, Public Sector Undertakings under State Government control, workmen in the Public Works Department, and Educational Institutions. Separate orders for holiday observance in these entities were to be issued by their respective Administrative Departments within the Secretariat. Furthermore, the notification addressed potential date changes for festivals such as Ramzan, Bakrid, Moharrum, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, and certain Hindu festivals, stipulating that any such changes, based on moon sighting or other announcements, would be communicated via electronic or print media. All Secretariat Departments, Heads of Departments, and District Collectors were directed to act upon such announcements without awaiting formal orders for date alterations.

The primary objective of this notification was to establish a clear and uniform holiday schedule for the State Government offices and its employees for the upcoming year, thereby ensuring administrative clarity and facilitating planning. By specifying both General and Optional Holidays, the government aimed to balance operational requirements with the personal and religious observances of its workforce. The provision for optional holidays, allowing employees to select up to five days from a designated list, reflected a policy rationale to accommodate the diverse cultural and religious landscape of the state, granting flexibility in personal holiday choices. The directive to close offices on all Sundays and Second Saturdays aimed to standardize weekly off-days across the government machinery. The legislation also sought to address practical issues, such as the variable dates of lunar-based festivals, by establishing a mechanism for immediate action based on public announcements, thus preventing delays in holiday observance. By explicitly stating that General Holidays do not automatically apply to certain industrial, public sector, and educational entities, the notification aimed to maintain operational continuity in these critical sectors, allowing for tailored holiday schedules to be determined by their respective administrative bodies. This approach ensured that while government offices observed a standard holiday calendar, other state-controlled institutions could adapt their schedules to their specific operational needs.

Keywords: Andhra Pradesh, Government Holidays, 2026, General Holidays, Optional Holidays, State Government Employees, Notification, Public Sector Undertakings, Educational Institutions

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: Not Applicable