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Indian Banks to Close for Holidays Next Week

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Banks across India will remain closed on several days next week because of two festivals, Eid-e-Milad and Raksha Bandhan. Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which sets the official bank holiday calendar, banks will be shut for a total of four days next week in different parts of the country.

In one particular state, banks will close for three days in a row. This means normal banking operations, such as deposits, withdrawals, and other counter services, will stop completely during that time.

Bank holidays in India are not the same everywhere. They depend on regional festivals and events, so a holiday in one state may not apply in another.

Because of the closures, people have been advised to complete urgent bank work on Monday, before the holidays begin. This is especially important for anyone needing to withdraw cash or complete paperwork in person.

Digital banking services, such as online transfers and mobile apps, usually continue to work even when physical branches are closed, though this can vary by bank.

Customers are encouraged to check the official RBI holiday list to confirm which days banks in their state will be closed. This helps avoid unnecessary trips to a branch that is shut.

Vocabulary5 words

Reserve Bank of India
the top bank that controls all banks in India
bank holiday
an official day when banks are closed
banking operations
the normal work banks do, like giving out cash
regional
related to one specific area, not the whole country
branches
local offices of a bank

Quiz

1. What two festivals are causing the bank closures?
2. Who decides the official bank holiday calendar in India?
3. True or false: Bank holidays are exactly the same in every Indian state.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Banks across India will remain closed on several days next week because of two _____.

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between _____ and sisters.

According to the Reserve Bank of India, which sets the official bank _____ calendar, banks will be shut for four days.

In one particular _____, banks will close for three days in a row.

Normal banking _____, such as deposits and withdrawals, will stop completely.

Bank holidays in India depend on _____ festivals and events.

People have been advised to complete urgent bank work on _____.

Digital banking services usually continue even when physical _____ are closed.

Customers are encouraged to check the official RBI _____ list.

Discussion questions

  1. Do banks in your country close for religious festivals? Which ones?
  2. Why might it be useful to check a bank holiday list before visiting a branch?
  3. How has digital banking changed the impact of bank holidays on daily life?
  4. Should banking holidays be the same across an entire country, or can regional differences make sense?

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