New Delhi, November 4, 2025: The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), has announced instructions regarding the declaration of a paid holiday for Central Government employees in connection with the upcoming General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025, and several Bye-Elections across various States/Union Territories.
The decision is conveyed through an Office Memorandum (F. No. 12/112022-JCA) dated November 4, 2025, following information received from the Election Commission of India.
Key Election Dates and Paid Holiday Instructions
General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025
The polling for the Bihar Assembly Election has been scheduled in two phases:
- Phase 1: November 6, 2025 (Thursday)
- Phase 2: November 11, 2025 (Tuesday)
Instruction for Central Government Offices:
- Central Government Offices, including Industrial Establishments, located in the notified areas where the general election is scheduled to be conducted, shall remain closed on the day of the poll (i.e., November 6 and/or November 11, 2025, as applicable).
Bye-Elections on November 11, 2025 (Tuesday)
Bye-elections are scheduled for November 11, 2025 (Tuesday) in 8 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across various States/UTs, specifically:
- Jammu and Kashmir: 2 ACs ({27-Budgam and 77 Nagrota})
- Rajasthan: 1 AC ({193-Anta})
- Jharkhand: 1 AC ({45-Ghatsila (ST)})
- Telangana: 1 AC ({61-Jubilee Hills})
- Punjab: 1 AC ({21-Tamn Taaran})
- Mizoram: 1 AC ({2-Dampa (ST)})
- Odisha: 1 AC ({71-Naupada})
Instructions for Central Government Employees in relation to Bye-Elections:
- For Employees who are bona-fide voters in the relevant constituency: Special casual leave shall be granted on the day of polling (November 11, 2025).
- For Employees employed outside the constituency: Special Casual leave may also be granted to an employee who is ordinarily a resident of the constituency and registered as a voter, but is employed in a Central Government Organization/Industrial Establishment located outside the constituency having a general/bye-election.
Implementation and Compliance
The instructions provided are in accordance with the standing guidelines issued by DoPT vide O.M. No. 12/14/99-JCA dated October 10, 2001. All concerned authorities are directed to bring these instructions to the notice of all employees to ensure they can exercise their right to franchise.
(This article is based on the Office Memorandum issued by Amit Pankaj, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, DoPT.)
DOPT Office Memorandum
F. No. 12/112022-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Pers Policy (JCA) Section
2nd Floor, B Wing,
Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, the 4th November, 2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025 and Bye-Elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of various States/UT, 2025 – Paid Holiday – regarding
The undersigned is directed to say that Election Commission of India has informed vide their letter No. 78/EPS12025 dated 07.10.2025 regarding General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025 and letter no. 78/EPS/2025 dated 07.10.2025, regarding bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of various States/UT, 2025. The dates of Poll for General Election to Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2025 have been fixed in Two Phases on 06.11.2025 (Thursday) and 11.11.2025(Tuesday)
2. Bye-elections to 8 (Eight) Assembly Constituencies in various States/UT, 2 ACs in Jammu and Kashmir {27-Budgam and 77 Nag rota}, and 1(one) AC each in Rajasthan {193- Anta}, Jharkhand {45-Ghatsila (ST)), Telangana (61-Jubilee Hills), Punjab {21-Tamn Taaran}, Mizoram {2-Dampa (ST)} and Odisha {71-Naupada} are scheduled to be held on 11.11.2025 (Tuesday).
3. As per the guidelines issued by DoPT vide OM No. 12/14/99- JCA dated 10th October, 2001, the following instructions on closing of the Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments in connection with elections/bye elections are given below:-
i. The Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments shall remain closed on the day of poll in the notified areas where general election to the State Legislative Assembly is scheduled to be conducted.
ii. In connection with the bye-election to Assembly Constituencies, only such of the employees, who are bona-fide voters in the relevant constituency should be granted special casual leave on the day of polling.
iii. Special Casual leave may also be granted to an employee, who is ordinarily a resident of constituency and registered as a voter but employed in any Central Government Organization/Industrial Establishment located outside the constituency having general/bye-election.
4. The above instructions may be brought to the notice of all concerned.
(Amit Pankaj)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
