inclusion of more holidays in National Calendar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-596
ANSWERED ON-20.07.2017

Inclusion of more holidays in National Calendar

596 . Shri K. Bhabananda Singh

(a) whether Government has received any proposal to make Patriots Day, observed on 13th August, and Ningol Chakkouba, which coincides with Bhai Duj, as restricted holidays and include them in the National Calendar;

(b) if so, the details of action taken thereon and by when Government would declare them so as to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Manipur;

(c) whether it is a fact that not even a single day related to the culture, festivals and historical symbols of Manipur is included in the National Calendar; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the plan of Government in this regard?

ANSWER
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir.

As per existing policy, the Central Government administrative offices observe 17 holidays in a year. Out of these 17 holidays, 14 are pre-notified, compulsory holidays, which include three National holidays, namely, Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The remaining three holidays are required to be selected, by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee (CGEWCC), functioning in respective states, from another list of 12 occasions. In addition, individual employees are allowed two restricted holidays in a year to be selected from a notified list of such Restricted Holidays.

In view of the ceiling on the total number of holidays that can be declared in a year by the Government, it has not been found possible to declare additional Restricted Holiday for the above occasions.

(c) & (d): As per policy, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals choose three holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance.

Source: Rajya Sabha

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