The special permission to keep shops, markets and shopping malls open until 10 pm on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja has expired. As a result, from today, Friday (23 October), all shopping centres in the country will again remain open from 11 am to 8 pm under the previous rule.
To save electricity and address the energy crisis, the government has changed the shop closure schedule several times in 2026. Most recently, on 5 October, on the occasion of Durga Puja, shops were allowed to remain open until 10 pm until 22 October. As the Puja holidays ended, with the expiry of the temporary directive, the normal schedule (open until 8 pm) came into effect again.
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