An all-India strike (Bharat Bandh) has been announced on July 9, 2025, and over 250 million workers are expected to participate. The strike is being called by a joint central trade unions' forum of farmers' associations, and rural workers' organisations. The key demand is the withdrawal of policies regarding amendments to the labour codes, privatisation, and employment issues, according to PTI.
Public Sector Banking Operations May Be Impacted
The strike will likely affect the working in several public sector banks, particularly in the states where the union is strong.
According to PTI, banks have not declared a holiday, but normal working could be affected due to employee absence due to the protests. Customers may face inconvenience with physical facilities, such as deposit or withdrawal of cash, clearing cheques at the counter.
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If several bank unions back the protest, this can lead to reduced staff or closure of some branches. Back-office processes will also be impacted, which can result in delayed processing of transactions.
Digital Banking Operations May Continue Without Interruption
Mobile and Netbanking services will operate as normal on strike day. Services, such as UPI payments, fund transfer, mobile banking apps, and withdrawal from ATMs will not be technically impacted. But if cash logistics are impacted in some locations, ATMs may run dry for some time.
Cheque Clearing and Netbanking Services Could Get Delayed
As cheque clearing is a co-ordinated activity between banks and centralised clearing systems, slowdown in interbank transactions due to reduced personnel or system delay can impact the processing time. Customers using cheque-based transactions are advised to expect delay or pre-plan.
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What Customers Should Do
Those in need of urgent banking services are advised to complete them before July 9. Although electronic services should remain uninterrupted, counter-level service may not be available on the day of the strike. Individuals also need to keep themselves updated about official announcements, especially if they live in areas that are likely to see heightened activities of protests.
