Delhi gets BRICS holiday: Central govt offices to remain closed on September 11
Central government offices in Delhi and New Delhi will remain closed on September 11, 2026, as India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, with the move aimed at easing the impact of security and traffic arrangements in the capital.
Why will central government offices be closed?
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued an official memorandum on Thursday announcing the closure of central government offices located in Delhi and New Delhi on Friday, September 11.
The ministry said the decision was taken considering the scale of the BRICS Business Forum and Leaders’ Summit, the logistical arrangements required and the need to minimise inconvenience to the public.
The Delhi government had earlier declared September 11 a holiday for government offices, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings under its administration.
September 12 and 13 are Saturday and Sunday respectively, meaning the closure coincides with the weekend.
When and where is the BRICS Summit being held?
The BRICS Business Forum and the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit are scheduled to take place from September 11 to 13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The summit is expected to bring together leaders from around 30 BRICS member and partner countries, along with heads of international organisations and business representatives from BRICS nations.
The high-level gathering is expected to involve extensive security measures and traffic arrangements across parts of the national capital.
What does the government order say?
The official memorandum states that central government offices in Delhi and New Delhi will remain closed on September 11 because of the magnitude of the event and the substantial logistical arrangements involved.
The ministry also said the move was intended to minimise inconvenience to the general public during the summit.
The order has been circulated to the concerned authorities for implementation.
India’s BRICS chairship
India assumed the BRICS chairship on January 1, 2026. The theme for its chairship is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
According to the government, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements have been held across more than 25 Indian cities during the year.
These engagements have focused on three broad BRICS pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Why the closure matters
The decision comes as Delhi prepares for a major international diplomatic gathering involving several foreign leaders and senior officials.
Closing central government offices on September 11 is expected to reduce the number of daily commuters travelling through the capital while security restrictions and traffic management measures are implemented for the summit.
For people working in affected offices, the closure effectively creates a three-day break from Friday through Sunday.
What does the BRICS Summit mean for Delhi?
Hosting a major multilateral summit requires extensive coordination between security agencies, traffic authorities, government departments and diplomatic teams.
The 2026 BRICS Leaders’ Summit is particularly significant for India because it marks the country’s fourth BRICS chairship and comes as the grouping completes 20 years since its establishment.
The office closure is therefore primarily an administrative and traffic-management measure linked to the summit. It does not amount to a nationwide public holiday, and the order specifically applies to central government offices located in Delhi and New Delhi.
India has previously chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021.