Salary Update: Salaries & Pensions to Be Released Before Holi – Big Relief for Lakhs

Salary Increase: Exciting news for government workers in Uttar Pradesh! Schools and offices related to basic and secondary education have been instructed to disburse salaries and honorariums ahead of Holi. The UP government has mandated that salaries and pensions for February 2026 be paid out on February 28, 2026. This payment, which usually takes place in the first week of March, will instead be completed by the end of February due to the Holi festivities. As a result, millions of government employees in Uttar Pradesh will receive their salaries this week.

Official notifications regarding this were released on Wednesday (February 25th) by the Director General of School Education, Monica Rani. It is anticipated that similar directives will be forthcoming for other departments. The Director General has emphasized to officials in the Basic and Secondary Education Departments the importance of ensuring that all officers, teachers, and staff receive their salaries before March 2nd.

As per the Finance Department’s guidelines, March 2, 2026, is designated as a public holiday for Holika Dahan, and March 4, 2026, is for Holi. Additionally, since March 1 falls on a Sunday (a general holiday), the usual salary and pension distribution process may be affected. To prevent any inconvenience for employees regarding shopping and other festival-related expenses, the government, with the Governor’s consent, has decided to offer Holi gifts this year.

These directives also apply to employees of the Midday Meal Authority and Directorate. Moreover, the Uttar Pradesh government has instructed all district magistrates and treasury officers to ensure prompt adherence to this order so that salaries are credited to bank accounts before Holi. Currently, there are about 1.8 million government employees in Uttar Pradesh, all eagerly awaiting their salaries before the festival.

Holi, the colorful festival of colors, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm across India and the world in March 2026. Considered the second largest Hindu festival after Diwali, Holi symbolizes the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Holika Dahan is performed after sunset during the auspicious time, while Rangwali Holi is celebrated with colors the following morning.