India is in the grip of a brutal heatwave. Mercury has crossed 44°C across multiple north-Indian states this past week, and state governments have moved fast to protect children — some by advancing the School Summer Vacation 2026 calendar, others by slashing school hours into a morning-only shift. If you’re a parent or student in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan or Jharkhand, here is the consolidated, state-by-state breakdown of vacation start and reopening dates, revised timings, and the heatwave safety protocols issued by state boards as of May 2, 2026.
Share this with your school WhatsApp groups so no parent misses an early closure update. For board-specific exam timetables, results and study material, you can also explore school admissions and resources on AglaSem Schools.
School Summer Vacation 2026: At-a-Glance State Comparison
| State | Vacation Start | Reopening Date | Approx. Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | May 11, 2026 | June 30, 2026 (July 1 reopen) | ~50 days |
| Uttar Pradesh | May 16–20, 2026 | June 20–30, 2026 | ~35–40 days |
| Maharashtra (Mumbai/Pune) | May 2, 2026 | June 15, 2026 | ~45 days |
| Rajasthan | May 17, 2026 | June 22, 2026 | ~35–38 days |
| Jharkhand | May 22, 2026 (govt); mid-May (private) | June 11, 2026 (govt); mid-June (private) | ~20–30 days |
Why Schools Are Closing Early — The 2026 Heatwave Backdrop
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded April 24, 2026 as the first heatwave day for the Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi subdivision, and consecutive heatwave days have been logged across Rajasthan, UP, MP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra and Telangana since. Maximum temperatures have crossed 44°C in several stations and the National Heat Action Plan 2026 (released February 7) has activated state-level cooling measures — including school-timing changes and early summer breaks. The fastest movers so far have been Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, all of which advanced their vacations to April. The five states in this guide are following close behind.
State-by-State Breakdown of School Summer Vacation 2026
Delhi — May 11 to June 30, 2026
The Directorate of Education has retained the standard summer-vacation window of May 11 to June 30, 2026 for all government and government-aided schools. No early closure has been ordered yet, but Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has asked all schools to submit heatwave preparedness reports to the Directorate by May 2, 2026 — keeping the option of an advance break open. Most private schools follow the same May 11 start. Stay tuned to edudel.nic.in for the latest circulars.
Uttar Pradesh — Mid-May to End-June 2026
Per the UP Basic Shiksha Parishad academic calendar, summer break for council-recognised schools begins around May 16, 2026 and runs to June 20, 2026, with private CBSE/ICSE schools generally aligning to a slightly longer May 15 to June 30 window. Cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Agra and Noida are likely to follow the same schedule. Last year (2025), the state extended the break by 15 days to June 30 because of an extreme heatwave — expect a similar extension this year if temperatures persist. For UP Board-related updates, the official source is upmsp.edu.in.
Maharashtra (Mumbai & Pune) — May 2 to June 15, 2026
Maharashtra has already started its School Summer Vacation 2026. The Education Department circular sets May 2, 2026 (post Maharashtra Day) as the official start, with reopening on June 15, 2026 across all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools affiliated to the State Board. For Vidarbha — where temperatures regularly exceed those in coastal Maharashtra — the reopening date has been pushed to June 22, 2026. Private CBSE/ICSE/IB schools largely align with the state schedule. Official source: mahahsscboard.in.
Rajasthan — May 17 to June 20, 2026
The Department of School Education’s Shivira Panchang places the Rajasthan summer break from May 17 to June 20, 2026, with schools reopening on June 22, 2026. The state has been one of the hottest in 2026 and has already shifted to morning-only school hours since April 27. If heatwave conditions intensify into early May, expect an advance announcement from the Education Department. Track updates at education.rajasthan.gov.in.
Jharkhand — May 22 to June 10, 2026
For government schools under the Jharkhand Council of Educational Research and Training (JCERT), summer holidays run from May 22, 2026 (Friday) to June 10, 2026, with schools reopening on June 11, 2026. Private CBSE/ICSE schools usually break a week earlier (~May 13–15) and reopen by mid-June. Several heat-affected districts have already seen one-off temporary closures. Latest notifications: jac.jharkhand.gov.in.
Revised School Timings During the 2026 Heatwave
For schools that haven’t yet shut, almost every state has compressed the school day into the cooler morning window. Here are the official revised timings issued in late April 2026:
| State / City | Revised Timing | Effective From |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi-NCR | Standard hours + Water Bell + restricted outdoor activity | April 27, 2026 |
| Uttar Pradesh (Prayagraj & others) | 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM | April 27, 2026 |
| Maharashtra | 7:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Late April 2026 |
| Rajasthan | 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM | April 27, 2026 |
| Jharkhand | 7:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Late April 2026 |
| Bihar (Patna) | Classes till 11:30 AM | Late April 2026 |
| Odisha | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM (now on vacation) | Apr 27 (vacation) |
Heatwave Safety Protocols Issued by State Boards
☀️ Mandatory Safety Measures — In Force Across States
- Water Bell System: Implemented in Delhi, Uttarakhand and several Maharashtra schools — a periodic bell prompts students to hydrate every 45–60 minutes.
- No outdoor activities between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM in Delhi and Telangana. Morning assemblies, sports periods and PE classes are suspended or moved indoors.
- ORS & first-aid stocking: Schools must keep oral rehydration salts and basic first-aid supplies for heatstroke management.
- Classroom ventilation: Fans, coolers and adequate cross-ventilation mandatory; cooling-room arrangements where possible.
- Uniform relaxation: Loose, light-coloured cotton uniforms permitted; ties and blazers waived.
- Heatwave preparedness reporting: Schools in Delhi to submit reports to the Directorate of Education; UP and Rajasthan have similar district-level orders.
- Transport safety: School buses to start AC before pickup; no waiting in unshaded zones.
Tips for Parents: Surviving the Heatwave Until School Summer Vacation 2026 Starts
- Send children with two water bottles (one chilled, one room-temperature) and a sealed ORS sachet.
- Light cotton clothing, full-sleeves preferred to block UV; a wide-brim hat or cap is essential.
- Avoid heavy lunches and oily snacks in the tiffin — fruits, curd, lemon water, buttermilk are safer.
- Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion: dizziness, headache, vomiting, muscle cramps, dry mouth. Seek medical help immediately for heatstroke (high fever + confusion + no sweating).
- Use this break for indoor enrichment — reading, hobby classes, online courses — rather than midday outdoor activities.
- Track local IMD bulletins at mausam.imd.gov.in for daily heatwave alerts in your district.
Frequently Asked Questions on School Summer Vacation 2026
When does the School Summer Vacation 2026 start in Delhi?
As per the Directorate of Education academic calendar, summer vacation in Delhi schools runs from May 11, 2026 to June 30, 2026, with schools reopening on July 1, 2026. The Delhi government may advance this if heatwave intensifies.
When will Maharashtra schools reopen after summer vacation?
Most Maharashtra schools (Mumbai, Pune, and the rest of the state) reopen on June 15, 2026. Vidarbha-region schools reopen on June 22, 2026 due to higher temperatures.
Are revised school timings the same for all classes?
Generally yes — the morning-shift timings (7:00 or 7:30 AM start) apply to all classes. However, some districts (e.g., Patna) have restricted these to classes up to Standard 8, while higher classes may follow board-exam preparation schedules.
Can the School Summer Vacation 2026 be extended?
Yes. State governments retain the authority to extend the summer break if heatwave conditions persist, as Uttar Pradesh did in 2025 by adding 15 days. Always rely on the official notification from your state’s education department or your school’s circular.
Do CBSE and ICSE schools follow the same vacation calendar?
Largely yes — most private CBSE/ICSE/IB schools align with their host state’s calendar to maintain uniformity. However, individual private schools may have a 5–10 day variation. Always confirm with your school’s notice board. CBSE updates are posted on cbse.gov.in.
Useful Official Links
- Delhi Directorate of Education: edudel.nic.in
- UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad: upmsp.edu.in
- Maharashtra State Board: mahahsscboard.in
- Rajasthan Department of Education: education.rajasthan.gov.in
- Jharkhand Academic Council: jac.jharkhand.gov.in
- India Meteorological Department: mausam.imd.gov.in
- CBSE Official: cbse.gov.in
We will update this School Summer Vacation 2026 tracker the moment any state issues an early-closure notification or extension. Bookmark this page and forward it to your school WhatsApp groups so every parent stays informed.
