Why are second Saturdays holidays in India?

Answer 1

This practice continues from the British Rule in India since the East India Company regime. The Government of India, however adopted every such administrative system, as set up by the British Rule, even after the independence of India. And the system still continues. However, in the Prime minstership period of Shri Rajev Gandhi the Central Government adopted 5 days' week for adminstrative offices (not operative offices) instead of 6 days' week with every Saturday closed day in Central Government offices on the pattern of the western countries. Of course it was not as a matter of copying other countries, but due to depleting foreign exchange resources due to rising prices of the petroleum products, as India was depending mostly on the import of crude oil.