Alcohol laws of India
Encyclopedia
India
is the fastest growing alcohol
market in the world. The alcohol consumption in India is about 6,700 million litres. It grows approximately at a rate of 30% annually. It is expected to cross 19,000 million litres by 2015. Whisky
is the most preferred alcoholic beverage.
The legal drinking age
in India
and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol vary significantly from state to state. In India, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Manipur
, Mizoram
and Nagaland
, as well as the union territory
of Lakshadweep
(except on the island of Bangaram
). All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age of between 18–25 years. In some states, the legal drinking age can be different for different types of alcoholic beverages.
Whisky
is the most preferred alcoholic beverage, comprising 80% of the 6,700 million litres of liquor sold through authorised liquor shops annually. The Indian whiskey market which currently stands around 40,500 crore is expected to cross by 2013.
Beer made from malt is popular among the youth and its consumption is expected to reach 2.4 billion litres by 2012. The market comprising beer, wine and spirits would cross , selling 19,000 million litres, in 2015 from the current market.
India produces almost 70% of alcohol and accounts for 10% of the imports in southeast Asia
, counterfeit bottles form 15-20% of the total outtake.
Kerala
is the largest consumer of alcohol in India, followed by Punjab. Kerala alone accounts for 16% and Punjab accounts for 14% of all the liquor consumed in India. Andhra Pradesh
, Haryana
, Himachal Pradesh
, Karnataka
, Rajasthan
, Tamil Nadu
and West Bengal
are leading liquor consuming states in that order accounting for 40% of all the liquor consumed in India. The union territories
of Chandigarh
and Pondicherry account for almost 6% of all the liquor consumed across India.
(BAC) limits are fixed at 0.03%. Any person whose BAC values are detected more than this limit is booked under the first offense. A person may be fined about Rs. 2000 and\or he or she may face a maximum of 6 months imprisonment.
If a second offense is committed within 3 years of the first then a person may be fined about 3000 and/or he or she may face a maximum of 2 years imprisonment. Despite such strict drink driving law, authorities acknowledge that many times they find it difficult to restrict and make the offenders to follow the law. The offenders tend to escape through bribery or by finding loop holes in the law.
(January 26), Independence Day
(August 15) and Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2) are usually dry days throughout India.
In addition to the above the following days are also dry days:
Source: Andaman and Nicobar Excise Department
In all areas where elections are being held, the day of polling and previous day will be declared dry days. During vote counting, the dry days will be notified by the local authority.
Source: BevCo
Dry days are also announced when elections are held in the state
.
.
†Festival date may be in June or July.
Dry days also include the day or days on which polls in relation to any general election
or by-election to the Lok Sabha
or the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or any local authority in the state is taken in the constituency and two days immediately before such day of poll the day after poll,the day before the counting day or days on the counting day or day and the day immediately after counting.
On any day in any area the Collector may
, after giving a notice of not less than seven days in the official Gazette and in any local newspaper having wide circulation in such area specify that day as a dry day.
Source: Maharashtra State Excise
†From 15 hours of the day
‡Festival date may be in March or April.
In addition to the above the following days are also dry days:
Source: Department of Excise, West Bengal
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
is the fastest growing alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
market in the world. The alcohol consumption in India is about 6,700 million litres. It grows approximately at a rate of 30% annually. It is expected to cross 19,000 million litres by 2015. Whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
is the most preferred alcoholic beverage.
The legal drinking age
Legal drinking age
Laws about the legal drinking age cover a wide range of issues and behaviours, addressing when and where alcohol can be consumed. The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different to the age when it can be purchased. These laws vary among different countries and many laws have...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol vary significantly from state to state. In India, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
and Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
, as well as the union territory
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...
of Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep , formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands, is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 km off the coast of the South West Indian state of Kerala...
(except on the island of Bangaram
Bangaram Atoll
Bangaram is a coral atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. The atoll has a roughly rectangular shape and is 8.1 km in length with a maximum width of 4.2 km. It is located about 7 km northeast of Agatti and 25 km to the southeast of Perumal Par, in the western area of Lakshadweep at...
). All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age of between 18–25 years. In some states, the legal drinking age can be different for different types of alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol Consumption
India is the fastest growing alcohol market in the world. The alcohol consumption in India is about 6,700 million litres generating sales of about . It grows approximately at a rate of 30% annually. It is expected to cross 19,000 million litres by 2015 generatingWhisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
is the most preferred alcoholic beverage, comprising 80% of the 6,700 million litres of liquor sold through authorised liquor shops annually. The Indian whiskey market which currently stands around 40,500 crore is expected to cross by 2013.
Beer made from malt is popular among the youth and its consumption is expected to reach 2.4 billion litres by 2012. The market comprising beer, wine and spirits would cross , selling 19,000 million litres, in 2015 from the current market.
India produces almost 70% of alcohol and accounts for 10% of the imports in southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, counterfeit bottles form 15-20% of the total outtake.
Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
is the largest consumer of alcohol in India, followed by Punjab. Kerala alone accounts for 16% and Punjab accounts for 14% of all the liquor consumed in India. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
are leading liquor consuming states in that order accounting for 40% of all the liquor consumed in India. The union territories
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...
of Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
and Pondicherry account for almost 6% of all the liquor consumed across India.
Legal drinking age by state
The following list is incomplete. Please help complete the list by providing references| State/ UT | Drinking Age | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | ||
| Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third... |
21 | |
| Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by... |
21 | |
| Assam Assam Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country... |
||
| Bihar Bihar Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India.... |
21 | |
| Chandigarh Chandigarh Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city... |
25 | |
| Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000.... |
||
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | ||
| Daman and Diu | ||
| Delhi Delhi Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census... |
25 | |
| Goa Goa Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its... |
18 | |
| Gujarat | Illegal | Non-Residents of Gujarat can apply for limited Liquor Permits. |
| Haryana Haryana Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south... |
25 | |
| Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east... |
||
| Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the... |
||
| Jharkhand Jharkhand Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east... |
21 | |
| Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava... |
18 | |
| Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... |
21 | |
| Lakshadweep Lakshadweep Lakshadweep , formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands, is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 km off the coast of the South West Indian state of Kerala... |
Illegal | Consumption is legal only on the island of Bangaram. |
| Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city.... |
||
| Maharashtra Maharashtra Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India... |
No limit (wine) 21 (beer) 25 (Other) |
The drinking age is 30 years in Wardha district Wardha District Wardha district is one of the 35 districts in Maharashtra state in western India. This district is a part of Nagpur Division. The city of Wardha is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district had a population of 1,236,736 of which 26.28% were urban as of 2001.-History:The History... . |
| Manipur Manipur Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of... |
Illegal | |
| Meghalaya Meghalaya Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The... |
25 | |
| Mizoram Mizoram Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the... |
Illegal | |
| Nagaland Nagaland Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur... |
Illegal | |
| Orissa Orissa Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April... |
21 | |
| Pondicherry | ||
| Punjab | 25 | |
| Rajasthan Rajasthan Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with... |
||
| Sikkim Sikkim Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains... |
18 | |
| Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh... |
21 | |
| Tripura Tripura Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are... |
||
| Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity... |
21 | |
| Uttarakhand Uttarakhand Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship... |
21 | |
| West Bengal West Bengal West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP... |
21 |
Drunk Driving Law
The blood alcohol contentBlood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
(BAC) limits are fixed at 0.03%. Any person whose BAC values are detected more than this limit is booked under the first offense. A person may be fined about Rs. 2000 and\or he or she may face a maximum of 6 months imprisonment.
If a second offense is committed within 3 years of the first then a person may be fined about 3000 and/or he or she may face a maximum of 2 years imprisonment. Despite such strict drink driving law, authorities acknowledge that many times they find it difficult to restrict and make the offenders to follow the law. The offenders tend to escape through bribery or by finding loop holes in the law.
Advertisements
The alcohol based advertisements are banned in India as per the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Amendment Bill, which was legalized on September 8, 2000. The government is very particular against broadcasting such advertisements in its channel Doordarshan, whereas some of the satellite channels still broadcast surrogate alcohol advertisements.Dry Days
Dry Days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is banned. All of the Indian states observe dry days on major religious festivals/occasions depending on the popularity of the festival in that region. Dry days may also depend on the establishment selling alcohol. For example, generally 5-star hotels do not have to observe all the dry days that smaller bars may have to. Dry Days are fixed by the respective state government. These dry days are observed to maintain peace and order during the festival days. Dry days are also observed on voting days. National holidays such as Republic DayRepublic Day (India)
The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950....
(January 26), Independence Day
Independence Day (India)
The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in...
(August 15) and Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2) are usually dry days throughout India.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| January | 7 ,26 (Republic Day Republic Day (India) The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.... ) ,30 (Martyrs' Day Martyrs' Day (India) Martyrs' Day is an annual observance held on January 30 in India to honour those recognized as martyrs for the nation.The date was chosen as it marks the 1948 assassination of Mohandas Gandhi... ) |
| February | 7 |
| March | 7, Holi Holi Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United... |
| April | 7, Good Friday Good Friday Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of... |
| May | 7 |
| June | 7 |
| July | 7 |
| August | 15 (Independence Day Independence Day (India) The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in... ) |
| September | 7 |
| October | 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi), Dusshera |
| November | 7 |
| December | 7 |
In addition to the above the following days are also dry days:
- MuharramMuharramMuharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
- The last working day of calendar month.
- The day of poll and proceeding two days in all General elections, By-Elections to Lok SabhaLok SabhaThe Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
, Municipal Board and PanchayatPanchayati RajThe panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
. - Any other day the Government may by notification declare to be a dry day.
Source: Andaman and Nicobar Excise Department
Kerala
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| January | 1, 30 (Martyrs' Day Martyrs' Day (India) Martyrs' Day is an annual observance held on January 30 in India to honour those recognized as martyrs for the nation.The date was chosen as it marks the 1948 assassination of Mohandas Gandhi... ) |
| February | 1 |
| March | 1 |
| April | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| June | 1 |
| July | 1 |
| August | 1, 22 (Birthday of Sree Narayana Guru Narayana Guru Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society... ) |
| September | 1, 20 (Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi marks the death ceremony of the Sree Narayana Guru, saint, prophet and social reformer from Kerala. The great Guru attained Samadhi on September 20, 1928. Thus the ceremony is organized to remind world that spiritually he lives forever in the minds of millions of his... ) |
| October | 1, 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi) |
| November | 1 |
| December | 1 |
In all areas where elections are being held, the day of polling and previous day will be declared dry days. During vote counting, the dry days will be notified by the local authority.
Source: BevCo
Karnataka
October 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi) is the only dry day in Karnataka.Dry days are also announced when elections are held in the state
Elections in Karnataka
Elections in Karnataka, a state in India are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India. The Assembly of Karnataka creates laws regarding the conduct of local body elections unilaterally while any changes by the state legislature to the conduct of state level elections need to be...
.
Maharashtra
This list may vary depending on the date of festivals as well as specific dry day announcements by the Government of MaharashtraGovernment of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
.
| Month | Date/Festival |
|---|---|
| January | 26 (Republic Day Republic Day (India) The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.... ), 30 (Martyrs' Day Martyrs' Day (India) Martyrs' Day is an annual observance held on January 30 in India to honour those recognized as martyrs for the nation.The date was chosen as it marks the 1948 assassination of Mohandas Gandhi... ) |
| February | - |
| March | - |
| April | - |
| May | 1 (Maharashtra Day) |
| June | Ashadi Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi... † |
| July | Ashadi Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi... † |
| August | 15 (Independence Day Independence Day (India) The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in... ) |
| September | Anant Chaturdashi Anant Chaturdashi Anant Chaturdashi is Hindu religious observance is performed on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad month of Hindu calendar. The principal deity of this observance is Lord Anant, that is Lord Vishnu while the subordinate deities are Shesh and Yamuna. This vowed religious... |
| October | 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi), 8 (End of Prohibition Week) |
| November | Kartiki Ekadashi Prabodhini Ekadashi Prabodhini Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day in the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas, when god Vishnu is believed to sleep... |
| December | 25 (Christmas) |
†Festival date may be in June or July.
Dry days also include the day or days on which polls in relation to any general election
General elections in India
The general elections in India are the elections by which the Indian electorate chooses the various members of the Lok Sabha in the Parliament for the next term of five years...
or by-election to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
or the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or any local authority in the state is taken in the constituency and two days immediately before such day of poll the day after poll,the day before the counting day or days on the counting day or day and the day immediately after counting.
On any day in any area the Collector may
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
, after giving a notice of not less than seven days in the official Gazette and in any local newspaper having wide circulation in such area specify that day as a dry day.
Source: Maharashtra State Excise
West Bengal
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| January | 26 (Republic Day Republic Day (India) The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.... ) |
| February | - |
| March | Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti In Jainism, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.... ‡ |
| April | Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti In Jainism, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.... ‡ |
| May | - |
| June | - |
| July | - |
| August | 15 (Independence Day Independence Day (India) The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in... ) |
| September | - |
| October | 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi), Dusshera (Bijaya Dashami)† |
| November | - |
| December | - |
†From 15 hours of the day
‡Festival date may be in March or April.
In addition to the above the following days are also dry days:
- On the 9th and 10th day of MuharramMuharramMuharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
- Eid ul-FitrEid ul-FitrEid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
- Eid al-Adha
- Second Day of Durga PujaDurga PujaDurga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
(Maha Ashtami Day) - Dol Jatra
- Kali PujaKali PujaKali Puja or Shyama Puja is a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Ashwin in Bengal. It coincides with the pan-Indian Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali...
(From 15 hours of the day) - In all GeneralGeneral elections in IndiaThe general elections in India are the elections by which the Indian electorate chooses the various members of the Lok Sabha in the Parliament for the next term of five years...
or By-Elections to the Lok SabhaLok SabhaThe Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
or Vidhan SabhaVidhan SabhaThe Vidhan Sabha or the Legislative Assembly is the lower house or the sole house of the provincial legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhi and Pondicherry...
, during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of the poll and during the day(s) of counting of votes within the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned constituency where polls are held. - In Election or By-Election to the Municipalityor PanchayatPanchayati RajThe panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
or Municipal CorporationNagar NigamNagar nigam or municipal corporations in India are state government formed departments that works for the development of a city, which has a population of more than one million...
or Darjeeling Gorkha Hill CouncilDarjeeling Gorkha Hill CouncilDarjeeling Gorkha Hill Council , also once known for a short period of time as Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council , is a semi-autonomous body that looks after the administration of the Darjeeling District in the state of West Bengal, India...
, on the day(s) of the poll and on the day immediate preceding the day of the poll and during the day(s) of counting of votes within the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned constituency where polls are held.
Source: Department of Excise, West Bengal