Educational institutions across several Indian states have undergone significant schedule changes this week, driven by two major factors: ongoing bye-elections and dangerously worsening air quality. While Bihar and Telangana have declared official holidays to accommodate polling and counting processes, schools in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and Noida are implementing hybrid learning models and enhanced safety protocols to combat pollution.
Delhi-NCR Grapples with Severe Air Quality
In the national capital, the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-III has compelled a shift in educational delivery. Authorities have mandated that classes for students up to Grade 5 will continue in a hybrid mode. This arrangement provides parents the flexibility to choose between online and physical attendance for their young children.
Adding to the disruption, several schools in Delhi have independently decided to suspend in-person classes for junior grades on Children's Day, Friday, November 14. Officials have confirmed that should the Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorate further, schools are fully prepared to transition to a complete online learning model. Health experts are consistently advising parents to minimize their children's exposure to the polluted outdoor environment and to regularly monitor daily AQI bulletins.
Election-Related Closures in Bihar and Telangana
The democratic process has directly impacted school schedules in other regions. In Bihar, numerous schools are closed as they are being utilized as polling stations or temporary accommodation centers for election personnel involved in the ongoing bye-elections. The crucial vote counting is scheduled for Friday, November 14, and academic activities are anticipated to resume only after the entire electoral process concludes. These closures are primarily concentrated in districts directly involved in the polling and counting operations for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, which were conducted in two phases on November 6 and November 11.
A similar scenario unfolds in Telangana. Hyderabad District Collector and Magistrate Harichandana Dasari officially declared November 14 as a paid holiday for all schools and offices that are designated as polling or counting centres for the Jubilee Hills bye-election. This decision was formally announced on November 7, 2025. Schools have proactively communicated these updates to parents through multiple channels, including SMS, WhatsApp messages, and dedicated school applications. This by-poll was necessitated following the unfortunate demise of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath due to a heart attack in June of this year.
Noida's Response and National Outlook
In Noida, schools have remained open but have taken stringent measures to protect students' health. All outdoor activities, including morning assemblies, physical education classes, and sports events, have been suspended indefinitely due to the 'severe' category air quality. A significant number of institutions have voluntarily adopted hybrid class structures and are continuously monitoring pollution levels to determine if further restrictive actions are required.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the country such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal, schools are operating according to their regular schedules. However, local education departments have issued advisories, urging school administrations to remain vigilant about fluctuating pollution levels and weather conditions. Some schools in these states may experience partial closures or adjusted timetables due to Children's Day celebrations on November 14.
