India welcomes New Year 2026 with packed markets, partial closures of schools and banks, and heightened security across major cities.
Delhi: India celebrated the New Year 2026 with great vigor throughout the nation on Thursday, despite a number of limitations imposed by authorities in various regions. Markets and places of worship have been packed with people on this New Year’s day. However, in honor of the New Year, a few of locations are anticipated to remain closed on Thursday.
What will continue to be open and what will remain closed?
- Government offices: Since New Year’s Day is a restricted national holiday, government offices will operate as usual.
- Emergency services and hospitals: All of these facilities will run as usual.
- Banks: On this New Year’s Eve, some banks will stay closed, but others may be open. The following states will continue to have closed banks: Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Meghalaya.
- Indian stock market: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will continue to operate.
- Facilities for public transportation will continue to run as usual.
- Schools and colleges: Similar to banks, schools and colleges may continue to operate in some states and union territories (UTs) while temporarily closing in others. Schools in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, for example, have been ordered to remain closed.
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India’s security level has increased.
In anticipation of the New Year, security has been strengthened throughout India, especially in the cities. About 20,000 police officers were sent by security agencies to Delhi as part of their monitoring strategy. Additionally, the police have threatened to take severe punishment against anybody who break the rules.
The Mumbai Police have also stationed about 17,000 officers throughout the financial center. In addition, Home Guards, Riot Control Police, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been stationed at strategic locations.
To prevent any unpleasant circumstance, around 20,000 personnel are still posted in Bengaluru. Women’s safety has been our first priority. Despite the fact that the events were not particularly serious, we are not taking any chances and have increased the number of female employees, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh stated on Wednesday.