5 Day Banking: Govt refuses to provide any Update

An RTI was filed to know the status of the implementation of 5-Day Banking. The implementation has been pending for quite some time now. The IBA says the proposal is pending with the DFS, while the DFS states that the proposal is under consideration. But how long will it take?

To get clarity on the matter, an RTI was filed, but the Government refused to provide any update. The reply stated that no information can be shared until the matter is finalized.

An appeal was filed with the Appellate Authority against the RTI reply, but the Appellate Authority also denied providing any information.

Despite repeated discussions, the Government has failed to take any concrete decision on the implementation of 5-Day Banking. Employees and unions have been demanding this reform for years, but the matter is stuck in endless files between the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).

Earlier, when the issue was raised in Parliament, the Government chose to give only vague and non-committal replies instead of providing a clear timeline. Even after more than a year, no progress has been made. This delay shows a lack of seriousness and accountability towards the banking workforce. Click here to read Government’s Reply in Parliament.

Such repeated delays raise questions: If the Government truly cares about the welfare of bank employees and improving efficiency in the sector, why is it unable to implement a long-pending reform like 5-Day Banking?