New Delhi, Dec 22: As winter conditions and security developments impact daily life across North India, several state governments have announced school closures, revised class timings and emergency administrative measures, citing concerns over air pollution, dense fog and heightened border security.
Winter Weather Disrupts School Schedules With hazardous air quality and extreme weather conditions persisting, administrations from Punjab to Bihar have altered school operations to ensure student safety.
In Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), air pollution remains the primary concern. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has stayed in the “severe” category, prompting the enforcement of GRAP-IV restrictions. As a result, classes for students from Nursery to Class 5 are being conducted entirely online, while Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11 are operating in a hybrid mode.
To improve indoor air quality, the Delhi government has started distributing 10,000 air purifiers to government schools, prioritising institutions in high-pollution zones. Delhi schools will observe winter vacation from December 23, 2025, to January 1, 2026, though officials said the schedule may be revised depending on pollution and weather conditions.
In Punjab, the state government has announced a complete closure of schools from December 24 to December 31 due to the cold wave.
For the 2025–26 winter season, schools in Haryana are expected to observe their main winter break from January 1 to January 15, 2026.
Fog Forces Localised Closures in Uttar Pradesh Dense fog has disrupted normal school routines across parts of Uttar Pradesh, especially during early morning hours. While there is no statewide closure, district administrations are issuing local orders based on IMD forecasts.
Physical classes have been suspended for Nursery to Class 8 in districts such as Bareilly, Kanpur and Rampur, with some districts extending closures up to Class 12. Authorities said the move aims to reduce the risk of accidents caused by low visibility.
Bihar Opts for Revised Timings In Bihar, the government has opted to modify school timings rather than impose blanket closures. In districts including Patna and Madhubani, schools are allowed to operate only between 11 am and 3:30 pm, with morning assemblies suspended. Districts such as Buxar have ordered full closures for Classes 1 to 8 until weather conditions improve.
Officials said the revised schedules are intended to prevent children from travelling during the coldest hours of the day.
