Maharashtra is observing a public holiday today, January 15, 2026, due to the ongoing civic body elections across 29 municipal corporations, including major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. The State Election Commission declared the holiday to ensure maximum voter participation and smooth conduct of the polls. Government and semi-government offices, corporations, boards, public sector undertakings, and banks within the election-bound areas are closed for the day. Most government and civic-run schools and colleges are also expected to remain shut, particularly if their premises are being utilized as polling stations. Significantly, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are observing a full trading holiday today, with all market segments, including equities, equity derivatives, and commodity derivatives, remaining suspended. This decision revised an earlier stance of a settlement holiday, turning it into a complete trading halt. The weekly Futures & Options (F&O) expiry was consequently preponed to January 14. While essential services and public transportation, such as local trains and BEST buses in Mumbai, will operate as usual, a four-day liquor ban has been implemented across the 29 municipal corporation areas. This restriction on the sale and consumption of alcohol is in effect from January 13 to January 16, coinciding with the election period. The elections, which cover 2,869 seats across 893 wards with over 15,908 candidates, are politically significant and will shape urban governance in the state.