Schools closed in Delhi, MP, UP, Telangana on Mahashivratri; state-wise updates here

NEW DELHI: Several states have announced school closures on February 26, 2025, on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and others will remain closed today. In Delhi, all government and private schools will be closed to observe the festival.

With Class 10 and 12 board exams underway in several states, the Mahashivratri holiday has given students extra time for preparation. Board exams for Classes 10 and 12 are already in progress for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam and other states.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board ( GSEB ) exams will begin tomorrow, February 27, while the Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) exams are scheduled from February 28 to March 19, 2025.

According to multiple reports, there is no official confirmation on school closures in Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad. In 2024, schools in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) were closed on August 2 for Mahashivratri.

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Mahashivratri School Holidays 2025: State-wise updates

School holidays are classified as gazetted and restricted. Gazetted holidays are mandatory for all institutions, while restricted holidays are optional and may vary by state. In the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan government calendar 2025, February 26 has been marked as a holiday for Mahashivratri, making it an official government holiday.

Schools in Andhra Pradesh will remain closed till February 27 due to Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

All government and private schools in Telangana will also remain closed on February 26 and 27, 2025, for Mahashivratri, allowing students and teachers to participate in the celebrations.

The Punjab government has declared a holiday on Wednesday, February 26, for government offices, government schools, private schools, and colleges on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

The Bihar government's 2025 public holiday calendar does not include February 26 for Mahashivratri, making it uncertain whether the state will observe a holiday on this day.

The Prayagraj district administration has closed all schools up to Class 8 till February 26, 2025, due to the growing number of devotees in Mahakumbh 2025. However, students will not face major disruptions in learning, as online classes will continue during this period. As school closures vary by state, students and parents should check with local authorities or school administrations for official updates.