Who declares gazetted holidays
The central government publishes a list for its offices each year, with compulsory holidays that include the national holidays and a set of festivals, plus a separate list of restricted holidays. Each state government publishes its own list for state offices, which includes regional festivals such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam or Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. Banks follow the holidays that apply to them, which is why bank holidays can differ from other offices in the same state.
Gazetted holidays and private employers
The gazette list is written for government offices. A private employer's holidays come from the holiday laws, Shops and Establishments rules, standing orders or settlements that apply to it, and from its own policy. Most private companies still use the gazette as a starting point, choosing the holidays relevant to their location and workforce. Check the rules for your state to confirm the number and type of paid holidays you must give.
Gazetted versus public and restricted holidays
A gazetted holiday is defined by who notified it: the government, in its gazette. A public holiday is the everyday term for a day off for the general public, and inside a company it means a holiday for all staff. A restricted holiday is an optional day off picked from a list. So one festival can be gazetted for government offices, a public holiday at one private company and only a restricted holiday at another.
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What does gazetted holiday mean?
A gazetted holiday is a holiday officially notified by the central or a state government in its gazette, the government's official publication. Government offices covered by that notification close on these days. The term is used mostly in the public sector, while private companies usually speak of public or company holidays in their own holiday calendar.
Are gazetted holidays applicable to private companies?
The gazette list is issued for government offices, so it does not by itself set a private company's holidays. Private employers follow the holiday laws, Shops and Establishments rules, standing orders and settlements that apply to them, plus their own policy. Many companies still pick most of their holidays from the state's gazetted list for convenience.