Punjab Holidays 2026 & Attendance Compliance Guide

Punjab runs under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958. Employers can schedule up to 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week. The state holiday calendar centres on Baisakhi, Guru Nanak Jayanti, and Lohri. Arjun Desai covers the 2026 gazetted list, overtime, and a 5-minute attendance setup for Punjab MSMEs.

Punjab’s agrarian calendar and Sikh religious tradition make its holiday list different from its neighbours. Baisakhi on 13 April, Lohri on 13 January, and Guru Nanak Jayanti in November are non-negotiable paid holidays for Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Jalandhar employers. This 2026 guide covers the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, its rules, and how AttendFirst handles Punjab-specific compliance.

Punjab’s calendar has three dates other states do not flag: Lohri on 13 January, Baisakhi on 13 April (the Sikh new year and the birth anniversary of the Khalsa), and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Jayanti in November. Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed across India but holds special weight in Punjab; expect near-complete absenteeism that day regardless of what your policy says.

The 1958 Act is old but still the operative statute. Several draft amendments have been discussed but none fully replaces the 1958 law as of early 2026. When in doubt, follow the 1958 Act and the rules framed under it.

How AttendFirst Helps Punjab SMBs

AttendFirst is attendance + leave, nothing more. No OT calculator, no roster engine. For Punjab SMBs that means:

• Bulk-import ~20 pan-India gazetted holidays for 2026; add Lohri (13 Jan), Baisakhi (13 Apr), Hola Mohalla, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Jayanti as custom holidays
• Per-day work schedule: pick which weekday is your closed day (most Ludhiana shops pick Tuesday)
• Configurable shifts with late-after and half-day-after thresholds
• Mobile check-in via GPS, selfie, or QR. Works on any phone as a PWA
• Daily and monthly reports with CSV export

Setting Up Punjab Attendance in 5 Minutes

1. Sign up at attendfirst.com. Free for up to 10 employees.
2. From Settings → Holidays, bulk-import the 2026 Indian holidays then add Lohri, Baisakhi, and Hola Mohalla as custom holidays.
3. In Settings → Working Hours, define your shift with the late-after and half-day thresholds you want.
4. Under Settings → Work Schedule, pick which weekday is your closed day.
5. Add employees via CSV or share the self-join link.

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