Manmohan Singh Death: Schools in Karnataka, Telangana to remain closed; seven-day mourning announced

NEW DELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 in Delhi on Thursday night. He was admitted to AIIMS Delhi in a critical condition, following which the hospital announced his demise. The Union government declared a seven-day mourning in honour of the former prime minister, also known as the architect of India's economic reforms, PTI reported.

The Union Cabinet will hold a meeting at 11 am on Friday, December 27, to pay tributes to Manmohan Singh. The last rites of Singh , who served as the nation’s 13th PM from 2004 to 2014 will be held on Saturday in Delhi with full state honours.

During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast across India, as announced by the Union Home Ministry. In a directive sent to all chief secretaries of states and union territories on Thursday, the ministry also confirmed that Singh will be given a state funeral, and no official entertainment will take place throughout the mourning period.

Manmohan Singh Death: Are schools closed in Karnataka?

The Karnataka government has declared a public holiday for schools, colleges, and offices on today, December 27 to mourn the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Mint reported. The Union government has announced seven days of national mourning as a mark of respect for the late former PM.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his condolences on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, writing: "Deeply saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh ji. A statesman of unparalleled wisdom, his leadership and vision left an indelible mark on our nation."

Telangana schools to remain closed

There will be a holiday of all government schools in Telangana on Friday. The Revanth Reddy-led government announced closure of government offices and educational institutions on Friday following the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, News18 reported.

However, a national holiday of all schools and educational institutes has not been announced as of now. Parents and students are can follow the official social media handles and contact the school authorities get confirmation on school closure.

Beyond a political leader , Singh was an academician, holding positions in institutions like the Delhi School of Economics and Punjab University. Singh had been unwell for an extended period. His last public appearance was in January 2024 at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, during his daughter's book launch.

Union minister Jitendra Singh expressed his condolences on the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, describing him as a multifaceted personality who brought global recognition to India. In a post on X, he remarked, " "Today I have the conviction to say that more than a former Prime Minister, India has lost a multifaceted personality… an academician who earned global recognition, an economist who went down in history for giving a different turn to economic culture in India."