Four-Day Bank Holiday Next Week: Check the Dates Now Banks across several Indian cities will remain closed for four consecutive days starting next week due to public holidays. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the annual bank holiday calendar, which outlines the specific dates and locations where banking services will be unavailable. Customers are advised to check the holiday schedule for their respective cities before planning visits to financial institutions. On March 17, banks in Jammu and Srinagar will be closed on Tuesday to commemorate Shab-e-Qadr, a significant Islamic observance. In other parts of the country, normal banking operations will continue as usual. The following day, March 19, will see closures in multiple cities including Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Srinagar, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, and Vijayawada. This holiday is observed for several festivals such as Gudi Padwa (a traditional Marathi New Year), Ugadi Festival (Kannada New Year), Telugu New Year’s Day, Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba, a Manipuri festival), and the first day of Navaratri. On March 20, banks in Jammu, Srinagar, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, and other locations will remain closed to mark Eid-ul-Fitr, a major Islamic holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. The final day of the four-day closure will be March 21, when banks across the country will be shut down to observe Ramadan-Eid, a festival marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. The RBI’s holiday schedule highlights the cultural and religious significance of these dates, which vary by region and community. Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly to avoid disruptions in banking services.#srinagar #bengaluru #reserve_bank_of_india #jammu #belapur
New Voter Data Released: A Deep Dive into Jammu and Kashmir's Electoral Roll Revision The latest electoral roll revision in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in the addition of over 160,000 new voters, alongside the removal of 67,690 names and the correction of 229,920 entries. Official reports highlight the scale of the update, which aims to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the voter database across the Union Territory. Among the districts, Jammu recorded the highest number of deletions, attributed to duplicate and shifted entries, while Srinagar saw the most significant increase in new registrations. The revision reflects broader efforts to modernize and refine the electoral process in the region. Initiatives such as the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program are playing a key role in this effort, focusing on expanding voter awareness and registration, particularly among youth, women, and marginalized communities. These programs underscore the government’s commitment to making electoral participation more inclusive and accessible. The data also reveals the challenges inherent in maintaining an accurate voter list. The removal of 67,690 entries underscores the need to address outdated or incorrect information, while the correction of 229,920 records highlights the complexity of reconciling discrepancies. Such updates are critical for ensuring fair and transparent elections, as they help prevent issues like voter fraud and ensure that every eligible citizen is properly represented in the electoral rolls. The revision comes at a time when voter registration and participation are central to political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir. The SVEEP program, which has been active in the region, is part of a larger national initiative to boost voter enrolment and engagement.#srinagar #jammu_and_kashmir #electoral_roll_revision #jammu #sveep_program
