INDIA

November 2025 brings a festive pause for Indian banks with five key closures under the RBI calendar, alongside routine Sundays and second/fourth Saturdays—totaling up to 11 off-days depending on the state. Highlights include Kannada Rajyotsava (Nov 1, Karnataka), Guru Nanak Jayanti/Kartika Purnima (Nov 5, nationwide in major regions), Kanakadasa Jayanti (Nov 8, Bengaluru), and Wangala Festival (Nov 23, Meghalaya). While branches close, digital banking (UPI, NEFT, RTGS) remains fully operational. December 2025 is lighter, with Christmas Day (Dec 25) as the sole national holiday, plus routine Saturdays and Sundays. Plan ahead—check local RBI lists, go cashless, and use breaks to review finances. From cultural pride to spiritual reflection, these holidays blend tradition with practicality.

The Kerala High Court-appointed SIT has made its third arrest in the Sabarimala Temple gold artefacts theft case, uncovering a network of corruption and asset manipulation inside one of India’s most sacred temples. Former executive officer D. Sudheesh Kumar, priest-turned-businessman Unnikrishnan Potti, and ex-TDB official Murari Babu have all been arrested for allegedly misreporting and misappropriating gold-plated temple artefacts. The case has triggered widespread calls for digital asset tracking, blockchain auditing, and governance reforms across India’s temple administration system.