Accordingly, holiday on account of Muharram is declared on Friday

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Muharram Holiday Declaration in Delhi **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi's (GNCTD) policy regarding the declaration of a holiday for Muharram. The amendment, based on a directive from the Government of India, shifts the declared holiday from Thursday, August 19th, 2021, to Friday, August 20th, 2021. The core purpose of this amendment is to align the GNCTD's holiday schedule with that of the central government. Key findings indicate that all GNCTD offices and entities governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, are affected, and previous notifications declaring the holiday on August 19th are cancelled. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of an amendment to the Delhi government's policy concerning the public holiday for Muharram. The analysis is based solely on the provided policy text. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This is an amendment to the original policy declaring Muharram as a public holiday. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, as inferred from the text, is to align the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi’s (GNCTD) holiday schedule for Muharram with the revised schedule issued by the Government of India. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **Amendment:** The amendment addresses a discrepancy between the GNCTD's initial holiday declaration for Muharram (August 19th, 2021) and a subsequent revision by the Government of India. The rationale for the amendment is to ensure consistency and adherence to the central government's directive, avoiding potential confusion and operational issues for entities interacting with both the GNCTD and the central government. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * This is an amendment, so the focus is on changes. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The original policy, as referenced by Notifications No. 53401GADCN 202033273375 and No. 53401GADCN202033763424 dated 10.11.2020, declared Muharram as a holiday on Thursday, August 19th, 2021. This is now cancelled. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amended policy declares Friday, August 20th, 2021, as the holiday for Muharram. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The original holiday date of August 19th is rescinded, and August 20th is now designated as the official holiday. This shifts the operational closure for affected entities by one day. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the primary target audience and stakeholders include: * All government offices under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. * Organizations and institutions governed by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. * Employees of the above-mentioned entities. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The General Administration Department (GAD) of the GNCTD is responsible for issuing the notification. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi authorizes the order. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment is effective immediately upon notification, i.e., August 18th, 2021. The previously declared holiday is cancelled. * **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** Organizations must adjust their schedules to reflect the new holiday date and disregard the previous notification. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The primary expected outcome of this amendment is to ensure uniformity in holiday observance between the GNCTD and the Government of India for Muharram. This avoids confusion and simplifies operations for organizations that interact with both levels of government. The impact of the change is a shift in the holiday from Thursday to Friday, requiring affected entities to adjust their schedules accordingly. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the Muharram holiday declaration represents a necessary correction to align the GNCTD's holiday schedule with the central government's decision. It ensures consistency and avoids potential disruptions for government offices and institutions governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act within Delhi. The amendment is significant as it reflects the GNCTD's commitment to adhering to central government directives on public holidays.

Key Entities Referenced