In order to facilitate the payment of taxes by the tax-payers before the close of the Financial Year 2013-14, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided on request of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) that all agency banks shall keep open the counters of their designated branches conducting Government Business on Saturday, March 29, 2014. The said counters shall remain open for extended hours till 8.00 pm. At locations where Monday, March 31, 2014 has not been declared as a public holiday, the said counters shall remain open for extended hours till 8.00 pm. Further, on Sunday, March 30, 2014, agency banks will keep select branches open at key locations as a regular working day for transacting Government Business.

Similarly, on Monday, March 31, 2014, at places where public holiday has been declared, the same select branches shall remain open as a regular working day for transacting Government Business. All electronic transactions would, however, continue till midnight on March 31, 2014.

Extended banking hours enable in-person tax payments to government counters before the fiscal year-end deadline. Reserve Bank directed agency banks to keep designated government business counters open with extended hours on the specified weekend days and, where applicable, on the Monday otherwise observed as a public holiday, while select branches at key locations will operate as regular working days to transact government business; electronic transactions for government receipts will continue until midnight on the fiscal year end day.