India Declares Public Holiday for 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit

The Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi have declared September 11, 2026, a public holiday for all central and state government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings in Delhi. The closure aims to facilitate security, logistics, and VVIP motorcade movements for the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, which will be held at Bharat Mandapam from September 11 to 13. The summit is expected to host leaders from approximately 30 member and partner countries.

To manage the influx of foreign delegations, the Delhi Traffic Police have implemented restrictions on over 35 roads and planned diversions at 22 points, primarily across central, south, and southwest Delhi. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions noted that the decision to close offices was made to "minimise inconvenience to the general public" given the magnitude of the event.

Authorities are deploying nearly 4,800 personnel to manage the city. The Delhi Traffic Police are also utilizing drones for real-time aerial surveillance of transit hubs and congestion-prone corridors. Additional Commissioner of Police Vijayanta Goyal Arya stated that particular attention is being given to inter-state border points where vehicle pile-ups are expected.