The streets of India are buzzing on Thursday as the onset of the New Year, 2026, was welcomed by celebrations and festivities by the citizens of the nation, despite the fact that the entire nation was engulfed by extreme cold waves and the presence of severe security measures in major cities by the authorities.
Check what’s closed and what’s open today
Governmental offices and public services
Most government offices were open on the first day of 2026, as New Year’s Day is marked as a restricted holiday. Emergency services, as well as government hospitals, remained open as usual, providing necessary health services to all citizens.
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Schools and colleges
Schools and colleges generally stayed open for most regions; though, some areas have extended the winter vacation due to bad weather conditions. Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that all government, aided, recognised, and private schools will remain closed till January 7 due to dense fog and the ongoing cold wave. Like this, the schools in Guwahati are set to reopen on the 7th of January with an extended winter vacation, considering the cold weather.
Public transport remains operational
Commuters were not severely affected, as metro services, buses, and taxi services were operating normally as per scheduled timings. Metro stations in major cities such as Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi had enhanced security, while some had extended metro services due to the New Year crowd.
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Bank and stock markets
While banks in several regions, including Aizwal, Chennai, Gangtok, Imphal, Itanagar, Kolkata, and Shillong, remained shut on the occasion of New Year's Day, financial markets were active. The Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange had normal operations today, January 1, 2026.
From Connaught Place in Delhi to Shri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, people gathered to mark the beginning of the year with prayers, festivities, and communal celebrations. Fireworks lit up the night sky in major cities, creating a lively start to 2026 for citizens across the country.
