The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared Monday, 9 November 2026, as an additional local holiday following the Diwali festival, which falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The announcement was issued by the Public (Miscellaneous) Department through G.O. (1D) No. 547, dated 28 October 2026.
The additional holiday applies throughout Tamil Nadu to all government offices, public sector undertakings, schools, colleges, and educational institutions. To compensate for the holiday, the government has declared Saturday, 28 November 2026, a working day.
Key Highlights of the Tamil Nadu Diwali Holiday Notification
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Department | Public (Miscellaneous) Department |
| Government Order Number | G.O. (1D) No. 547 |
| Date of notification | 28 October 2026 |
| Diwali festival date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Additional holiday | Monday, 9 November 2026 |
| Compensatory working day | Saturday, 28 November 2026 |
| Geographical coverage | Throughout Tamil Nadu |
| Signatory | E. Sundaravalli, Government Secretary |
Why Has the Government Declared an Additional Holiday?
According to the government order, requests were received from various quarters seeking an additional holiday on Monday, 9 November 2026, following Diwali.
The purpose is to enable students, their parents, teachers, and government employees to travel to their native places, celebrate the festival, and return conveniently.
After considering these requests, the Government of Tamil Nadu approved the additional local holiday throughout the state for the specified institutions.
Which Establishments Are Covered by the Notification?
The notification declares Monday, 9 November 2026, a local holiday for the following establishments throughout Tamil Nadu:
- All government offices
- Public sector undertakings
- Schools
- Colleges
- All educational institutions
Private-sector businesses should separately verify whether the additional holiday applies to their establishments under relevant state holiday requirements and applicable employment rules. The notification does not explicitly declare this holiday mandatory for every private-sector establishment.
Saturday, 28 November 2026, Declared a Working Day
To compensate for the additional holiday, the government has declared Saturday, 28 November 2026, a working day.
Relevant institutions should update their November 2026 calendars and communicate the revised schedule to employees, students, parents, and other concerned stakeholders, as applicable.
Important Clarification Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
The notification expressly states that the additional local holiday on 9 November 2026 has not been declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Therefore, this notification should not be interpreted as a declaration of a holiday under that Act.
The government has also requested District Collectors to ensure that district treasuries and sub-treasuries continue functioning with sufficient staff to handle urgent official work.
What Should HR and Payroll Teams Do?
HR, payroll, and compliance teams should review the notification and assess its applicability to their respective organisations.
Recommended actions include:
- Review the November 2026 holiday calendar.
- Verify whether the notification applies to the organisation under the relevant rules.
- Update attendance and leave calendars where applicable.
- Communicate any approved holiday or working-day changes to employees.
- Ensure payroll inputs and attendance records reflect the organisation’s applicable holiday policy and legal requirements.
Employers should avoid automatically treating this notification as a mandatory holiday for every private-sector establishment without verifying the applicable requirements.
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Download the Official Government Notification
For complete details, refer to the official government order issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Download the English notification: Tamil Nadu Additional Diwali Holiday Notification – PDF
Download the Tamil notification: Tamil Nadu Additional Diwali Holiday Notification in Tamil – PDF
Source: Government of Tamil Nadu, Public (Miscellaneous) Department, G.O. (1D) No. 547, dated 28 October 2026, issued by order of the Governor and signed by E. Sundaravalli, Government Secretary.