On February 12, 2026, reports emerged concerning potential disruptions to banking services due to a call for "Bharat Bandh." This widespread action, if observed, could affect bank operations, school and college closures, transportation, and market activity across the country. The urgency of these reports has led to scrutiny of official bank holiday calendars and direct communication from financial institutions.
Context: A Day of Potential Unrest
The discussion around a potential Bharat Bandh on February 12, 2026, brought uncertainty to the fore regarding the operational status of banks. Such a nationwide shutdown typically involves widespread public and private sector closures, necessitating clarity from key institutions like banks.
The reports of a potential Bharat Bandh on February 12, 2026, directly questioned whether banks would indeed be closed.
This event, if it materializes as a broad-based strike, could have ripple effects across multiple sectors.
The need for reliable information from banks themselves became paramount for public planning.
Official Bank Holiday Schedule vs. Bharat Bandh
Official bank holiday schedules are released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and typically account for national and regional observances, as well as weekly offs. The emergence of a Bharat Bandh as a potential reason for closure introduces an external factor not usually pre-empted in these calendars.
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February 2026 listed nine bank holidays across India, according to RBI's calendar.
These holidays included regular weekly offs (Sundays, second and fourth Saturdays), and specific observances like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti and Maha Shivaratri.
Crucially, the RBI's calendar, as referenced by multiple sources, did not list February 12, 2026, as an official bank holiday.
| Source | Date Published | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| ET Now News | Jan 30, 2026 | Lists bank holidays for February 2026. |
| The Indian Express | Feb 3, 2026 | Details bank closures for February 2026, including state-wise information. |
| India Today | Feb 4, 2026 | Explains how bank holidays are decided and provides a February 2026 schedule. |
| Times Bull | Jan 20, 2026 | Discusses February 2026 bank closures, mentioning RBI's annual calendar. |
| The Hindu Business Line | Feb 2, 2026 | Provides a complete state-wise list of bank closures for February 2026. |
| Economic Times (New Updates) | Feb 12, 2026 | Reports on the Bharat Bandh and its potential impact on services. |
Financial Institutions' Stance
In response to the uncertainty surrounding the Bharat Bandh, key financial institutions provided clarity on their operational status.
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State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) were specifically referenced as having issued statements.
These statements, in the context of the reported Bharat Bandh, indicated that banks would remain open on February 12, 2026.
The clarification from these major banks suggested that the call for Bharat Bandh would not lead to an official bank holiday.
Digital Services Availability
A consistent theme across reports regarding bank holidays is the continued availability of digital banking services. This is a critical aspect for customers to maintain access to financial transactions even when physical branches are closed.
Even on scheduled bank holidays, essential financial services such as UPI, mobile banking, and internet banking are generally expected to remain operational.
ATM access is also typically unaffected by official holidays.
This implies that customers can largely continue their banking activities through digital channels, irrespective of physical branch closures or external calls for shutdowns.
Conclusion: No Official Closure for Bharat Bandh
Based on the available information, the call for a Bharat Bandh on February 12, 2026, did not translate into an official bank holiday. Official bank holiday schedules for February 2026 did not include this date, and prominent banks like SBI and BoB confirmed their intention to remain open. While such calls for shutdowns can create apprehension, the functional continuity of digital banking services offers a persistent avenue for financial transactions.
Sources
ET Now News: "Bank holidays in February 2026: Banks closed for 9 days - Check state-wise list" - Published: Jan 30, 2026. https://www.etnownews.com/personal-finance/bank-holidays-in-february-2026-banks-closed-for-9-days-check-state-wise-list-article-153532432
The Indian Express: "Bank Holidays in February 2026: Banks to remain closed for 9 days across India — Full city-wise list" - Published: Feb 3, 2026. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bank-holidays-in-february-2026-india-full-city-wise-list-10510203/
India Today: "Banks closed for 9 days in February 2026: State-wise holiday list" - Published: Feb 4, 2026. https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/february-2026-bank-holidays-india-rbi-schedule-2862793-2026-02-04
Times Bull: "Bank Holiday February 2026: Banks will remain closed for so many days in February, know the complete list" - Published: Jan 20, 2026. https://www.timesbull.com/business/bank-holiday-february-2026-banks-will-remain-closed-for-so-many-days-in-february-know-the-complete-list-694927.html
The Hindu Business Line: "Bank Holidays in Feb 2026: Check Complete State-wise List of Bank Closures" - Published: Feb 2, 2026. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/bank-holidays-in-february-2026-full-list-of-state-wise-closures/article70581834.ece
Economic Times (New Updates): "Bharat Bandh on February 12: Will banks, schools, colleges, transport and markets remain closed tomorrow?" - Published: Feb 12, 2026 (approx. 5 hours prior to report). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/bharat-bandh-on-february-12-will-banks-schools-colleges-transport-and-markets-remain-closed-tomorrow/articleshow/128187513.cms
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Note: Information regarding specific statements from SBI and BoB about remaining open on February 12, 2026, in the context of the Bharat Bandh, was directly referenced within the scope of the provided articles. The AOL links pertained to US bank holidays and were not directly relevant to the Indian bank holiday discussion.
