Tripura declares all saturdays as holidays, revises government office timings

The Tripura government has announced a major administrative reform by revising office timings for state government employees and declaring all Saturdays as holidays, a move aimed at improving work-life balance while maintaining efficiency in public service delivery.

According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department, government offices will now function from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday. 

The new schedule replaces the earlier timing of 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and the existing system under which only the second and fourth Saturdays were observed as holidays.

The government said the additional one-hour working period on weekdays would compensate for the complete closure of offices on Saturdays, ensuring that administrative work and public services remain unaffected.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha described the decision as a progressive step towards achieving a balance between governance, employee welfare and administrative efficiency. He said the reform would provide government employees with more time for family, personal development and mental well-being while maintaining accountability in public administration.

Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the measure would improve both professional and personal lives of employees. He noted that government workers across all states, including Tripura, deserve time to spend with their families, pursue hobbies and focus on personal growth.

Dr. Saha also pointed out that the change aligns Tripura with the practice followed by the Central Secretariat in New Delhi and several other government institutions that observe a five-day work week. He said employees living far from their workplaces would particularly benefit from the additional day of rest.

The Chief Minister further stated that the decision reflects the government's commitment to modernising public administration while prioritising employee welfare. He expressed hope that the new system would contribute to higher morale, greater productivity and improved efficiency in government offices.

Employees welcomed the move, describing it as a positive initiative that would help reduce work-related stress and allow more time for family and social commitments. Officials said the revised work schedule is expected to serve as a model for balancing workplace productivity with quality of life in the public sector.

The new office timings and Saturday holiday system come into effect immediately, marking a significant change in the state's administrative functioning.