Streets across India came alive with celebrations as people joined the rest of the world in welcoming the New Year 2026 on Thursday. Festivities took place amid biting cold conditions and heightened security in major cities. While several services remain operational on the first day of the year, some institutions are shut as New Year’s Day is observed as a restricted holiday.
What’s Open and What’s Closed Today
Government offices and departments:
Most government offices are expected to function as usual, as New Year’s Day is not a gazetted holiday but a restricted one.
Schools and colleges:
Schools and government-run colleges are largely expected to remain open. However, winter vacations have been extended in some regions due to severe cold and fog.
In Punjab, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced holidays for all government, aided, recognised, and private schools until January 7, citing dense fog and extreme cold affecting children’s health.
Similarly, schools in Guwahati will remain closed for a week and reopen on January 7 due to harsh winter conditions and an ongoing cold wave, news agency PTI reported.
Hospitals and healthcare services:
Emergency services and government hospitals will continue to operate normally.
Public transport:
Public transport services, including the Delhi Metro, buses, and taxis, are running as per schedule. Ahead of New Year celebrations, several cities—such as Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi—implemented heightened security at metro stations. In some locations, metro services were extended to accommodate late-night commuters.
Banks and stock markets:
Banks in certain parts of the country are closed on account of New Year’s Day. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday list, banks in Aizawl, Chennai, Gangtok, Imphal, Itanagar, Kolkata, and Shillong are shut today.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange are operating as usual, as January 1, 2026, is not listed as a trading holiday.
India witnessed grand New Year celebrations marked by fireworks and special events. In the national capital, large crowds gathered at prominent locations such as Connaught Place to usher in 2026, PTI reported. In Amritsar, devotees thronged the Shri Harmandir Sahib to offer prayers and seek blessings for the year ahead.
