Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab Extend School Holidays Due to Severe Cold and Fog. Longer breaks for students from Nursery to 8th grade, shorter durations for 9th to 12th grade.
Winter Vacation Update: Severe cold and dense fog have significantly disrupted life across North India. Temperatures are rapidly dropping, especially during the mornings and evenings, and visibility has become extremely low in many areas. Considering the health and safety of children, several state governments have decided to extend winter vacations in schools. New orders regarding school holidays have been issued in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab, providing relief to millions of students and parents.
This news report will detail which classes and until what date schools will remain closed in UP, Rajasthan, and Punjab, which boards the orders apply to, and what actions may be taken for non-compliance.
School Closures in UP Due to Cold and Fog
Uttar Pradesh is currently experiencing severe cold accompanied by dense fog. Visibility is extremely limited on roads during the mornings in many districts, making it risky for children to travel to school. Keeping this in mind, the state government has decided to extend school holidays.
According to the state government order, all schools from Nursery to 8th grade will now remain closed until January 15th. Schools for classes 9th to 12th will remain closed until January 5th. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety and health of the students.
Orders Apply to All Boards in UP
This order issued in Uttar Pradesh applies to all schools affiliated with various boards. This includes schools affiliated with the UP Board, CBSE, ICSE, and all other recognized boards. Whether government or private, all schools must strictly adhere to this order.
The government has also clarified that if any school opens before the stipulated date or violates the order, strict action will be taken against it under the rules. District administration and the education department have been instructed to monitor the situation.
Decision Taken Considering Children's Health
The state government says that young children are more affected by the cold and fog. This weather can be dangerous for students traveling to school, especially in the mornings. The risk of colds, coughs, fever, and respiratory illnesses increases. Therefore, the holidays have been extended for students from Nursery to 8th grade.
The duration of holidays has been kept slightly shorter for students from 9th to 12th grade, keeping board exams in mind, so that there is no loss of study time.
Winter Vacation in Punjab to Continue Until January 8th
In addition to Uttar Pradesh, a decision has been made to extend school holidays in Punjab due to the cold. State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains provided information in this regard.
Winter vacation will be observed in all government and private schools in Punjab from January 1st to January 8th. The initial holiday period was shorter, but the government decided to extend it considering the increasing cold and weather conditions.
The Punjab government says that the safety of children is paramount and it is necessary to keep schools closed until the weather normalizes.
Impact of Cold Wave in Rajasthan
A cold wave is also being felt in Rajasthan these days. Temperatures have dropped significantly below normal in many districts. Due to the cold, the state government and district administration have announced holidays in schools.
Schools in Rajasthan will remain closed until January 5th. This order has been implemented in many districts of the state where the cold is severe. This decision has been taken to avoid difficulties for children traveling to school in the morning.
Holiday for Anganwadi Centers in Jaipur
Considering the cold in the capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur, the District Collector has also taken an important decision regarding Anganwadi centers. All Anganwadi centers in Jaipur will remain closed from January 2nd to January 10th.
This decision has been taken keeping in mind the health of young children. The children studying in Anganwadi are very young and are quickly affected by the cold.
Long Winter Holidays in Kashmir Valley
In addition to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, a decision has already been taken to keep schools closed for a long time in the Kashmir Valley due to winter. The weather conditions in Kashmir are extremely harsh, so the duration of holidays is quite long here.
All pre-primary classes in the Kashmir Valley will remain closed from November 26th to February 28th, 2026. Schools for students from 1st to 8th grade will remain closed from December 1st to February 28th, 2026.
Schools for students from 9th to 12th grade will start from December 11th and remain closed until February 22nd, 2026. Schools will reopen after the weather normalizes.
