Government bank employees across India are on strike on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, following a call by the United Forum of Bank Unions, affecting the normal functioning of public sector banks.
The strike has been announced primarily to press for the immediate implementation of a five-day working week in the banking sector. Public sector banks, including State Bank of India, are expected to witness disruptions in routine operations.
The United Forum of Bank Unions decided to proceed with the nationwide strike after conciliation talks with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23 failed to yield any concrete assurance on key demands. Following the unsuccessful meeting, the unions resolved to observe a strike on January 27.
The United Forum of Bank Unions is a joint platform of nine bank employee and officer organisations representing staff working in public sector banks.
Bank employee unions have been demanding the implementation of a five-day working week with all Saturdays designated as holidays, similar to other corporate and government institutions.
According to Rupam Roy, General Secretary of the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, an agreement was reached in March 2024 during wage revision negotiations between the Indian Banks’ Association and the United Forum of Bank Unions to grant holidays on all Saturdays. The agreement has not been implemented so far.
Employee unions have stated that the proposed five-day working week would not lead to a reduction in total working hours. They have indicated readiness to work an additional 40 minutes per day from Monday to Friday.
Rupam Roy said it was unfortunate that the government had not provided a concrete response to a demand that had already been agreed upon. Employees have stated that improved work-life balance would strengthen the banking system.
The National Confederation of Bank Employees has stated that the strike is not directed against customers. Its General Secretary, L Chandrashekhar, said the agitation is aimed at creating a sustainable and humane banking system.
Banking services have been disrupted for three consecutive days, with banks closed on January 25 due to Sunday, January 26 on account of Republic Day, and the strike on January 27.
Customers requiring cash-related transactions, cheque clearance, or branch-based services may face inconvenience.
The strike is expected to have the maximum impact on public sector banks, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India. Services such as cash deposits, cash withdrawals, cheque settlement, draft issuance and administrative functions may be affected.
Private sector banks are not participating in the strike, and operations at banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank are expected to remain largely normal, although minor impacts on clearing or interbank processes may be seen in some areas.
Customers may need to rely on digital banking services during the strike. Net banking, mobile banking, UPI, ATM and card-based services are expected to function normally, while branch-dependent services may remain affected.
