A severe cold wave sweeping across large parts of India has led to widespread disruption in the academic calendar. State governments and district administrations have been compelled to order school closures, extend winter vacations, and alter class schedules as temperatures plummet to dangerous lows. The precautionary measures span from the northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir to the eastern state of Tripura.
North India Bears the Brunt of School Closures
In the national capital, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has confirmed the winter vacation schedule for the 2025-26 session. All schools in Delhi will remain closed for winter holidays from January 1 to January 15, 2026.
Neighbouring regions in Uttar Pradesh have taken more immediate steps. In Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), authorities have mandated the closure of all schools up to Class 8 until January 10 due to dense fog and harsh cold. District Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar stated that this order applies to all recognised schools, regardless of their board affiliation—be it CBSE, ICSE, IB, or the Uttar Pradesh Board.
Similarly, in Ghaziabad, the district administration has ordered the shutdown of all schools up to Class 8 until January 10. Lucknow has declared holidays for schools up to Class 8 until January 8, 2026, covering government, aided, and private institutions including KGBVs. Varanasi has extended the closure for pre-primary to Class 8 by three days, from January 7 to 9.
Extended Breaks and Adjusted Schedules Nationwide
The disruption is not confined to North India. In Jammu and Kashmir, the government has announced an extended winter break in response to sub-zero temperatures. Schools up to Class 8 in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region will reopen on March 1, 2026, while higher classes resume on February 22, 2026.
Moving to the west, the Rajasthan district of Jaipur has declared holidays for schools up to Class 5 until January 10, and for Classes 6 to 8 until January 8. In Jalore, all government and private schools have declared holidays for pre-primary to Class 5 students until January 10, 2026.
In a slightly different approach, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh has opted to adjust timings instead of a full closure. The District Education Officer has directed all schools to start sessions after 9:30 AM for students from Nursery to Class 8.
Eastern and Southern States Follow Suit
The eastern part of the country is also affected. The Jharkhand government has declared holidays for all schools—government, aided, and private—from January 6 to January 8, 2026. This suspension applies to all classes from Nursery through Class 12.
In Assam, the Bongaigaon district administration has ordered the closure of all educational institutions, including government, provincialised, and private schools, from January 7 to January 10, 2026. The order is comprehensive, covering every level from Lower Primary to Senior Secondary.
The northeastern state of Tripura has directed the closure of all government, aided, and private schools from January 6 to 10 due to the extreme cold.
In the south, the Telangana School Education Department has extended the Sankranti holidays for schools statewide. Schools will now remain closed until January 16, 2026, and are scheduled to reopen on January 17. This decision came after January 16 was declared an optional holiday.
Education departments across states are advising parents and students to stay updated through official channels, as reopening dates are subject to change based on evolving weather conditions. Officials have emphasised that these are temporary, precautionary measures taken solely to ensure the safety and well-being of students during this intense cold spell.
