Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Wednesday (September 23) announced that it has decided to pay the salary and pension for September 2026 on September 25 amid a nationwide bank strike from 28-30 September 2026.
Posting on X, MoF wrote, “Ministry of Finance has decided that the salary/wages and pension for September 2026 may be disbursed on 25 September 2026 (Friday) in view of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from 28-30 September 2026.
The measure covers Central Government employees and pensioners, including Defence, Posts & Telecommunications.”
As per an official document, MoF said, “It has been stated that a three-day nationwide bank strike has been proposed from 28.09.2026 to 30.09.2026 and there is likelihood of disruption in banking transactions during the said period. Hence, the Government has decided that the salary/wages/pensions of all Central Government Employees for the month of September 2026 may be drawn and disbursed by the Central Government offices (including Defence, Posts & Telecommunications) on 25th September 2026 (Friday).”
The wages for September 2026 of the industrial employees of Central Government may also be disbursed in advance on 25th September 2026. The pension for September, 2026 of all Central Government Pensioners may also be disbursed by Bank/PAOs on 25th September 2026, the government said.
According to the Centre, the salary/wages/pension so disbursed is to be treated as advance payments and will be subject to adjustment after the full month’s salary/wages/pension of each employee/pensioner is determined. The adjustment, if any, will be made without exception from the salary/wages for October 2026.
As the strike period coincides with the closing days of the current quarter, payments and other banking transactions scheduled towards the end of September 2026 may also be processed in advance, wherever feasible, to avoid delays and disruptions.
Bank to remain open on Sunday, September 27
Meanwhile, the on Sunday, September 27, 2026, ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30. The government has decided to keep Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) operational on September 27 to ensure that customers can access essential banking services before the proposed strike.
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the operation of bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and Currency Chests on September 27.
Bank strike on September 28-30
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026. The bank unions had initially raised two principal demands – implementation of a five-day banking week and withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The government has since decided to keep the PLI scheme in abeyance. However, the proposed three-day strike remains scheduled, with the government now citing five-day banking as the remaining principal demand.
According to the September 1 union statement, the UFBU comprises seven unions — AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBOC and INBEF and claims to represent more than 90 per cent of the banking workforce.
However, digital banking services such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI and ATMs are expected to remain available, though customers may face disruptions in some services during the strikes.