Business
oi-Prakash KL
The Finance Ministry has advanced September salary, wage and pension payments for central government employees to September 25, seeking to prevent disruption from a three-day nationwide bank strike beginning September 28.
The United Forum of Bank Unions, which says it represents nearly 90% of the banking workforce, has called the strike from September 28 to 30. Its demands include a five-day banking week. The agitation also coincides with the half-yearly closing of bank accounts on September 30.
Central government employees’ September salary, wages, and pensions were advanced to September 25 by the Finance Ministry to prevent disruption from a bank strike starting September 28, with public sector banks operating September 27 to ensure service continuity.
According to an order issued by the Controller General of Accounts, central government offices-covering defence, postal and telecom departments-can draw and disburse salaries and wages on September 25. Industrial employees will also be paid early. Pensioners will receive their September 2026 pension the same day from banks and Pay and Accounts Offices.
The payments will be treated as advances. Adjustments, if any, will be made from the October 2026 payout after the full month’s salary, wages or pension is finalised. Departments have been directed to complete other payments and banking transactions due late September in advance where possible. The RBI has been asked to pass on the instructions to paying bank branches.
To limit the fallout for customers, public sector banks and regional rural banks will remain open on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The RBI has approved branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests to operate that day.
September 26 is a second Saturday, and September 27 would normally be a holiday, but the government decided to keep banks open because the strike starts right after the weekend. The government said the move was needed to prevent a long break in banking services.
