Himachal Pradesh School Holiday List 2025: New Tentative Schedule Released for Government Schools

Shimla, 09 December: The Himachal Pradesh Education Department has announced a revised school holiday schedule for 2025, marking a shift in how breaks are allotted for both students and teachers in government schools across the state. The new system, issued on Monday, aims to address weather-related disruptions and provide more flexibility to the holiday calendar. For the first time, Deputy Commissioners of individual districts will have the authority to decide on the dates for certain holidays, a move that recognizes local weather patterns and unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters.

Key Changes in the New Holiday Schedule

The newly issued tentative schedule includes standard breaks, such as summer and winter holidays, as well as special leave days for various festivals. In an effort to make the holiday system more responsive to regional needs, the schedule now gives more autonomy to district authorities. This change comes after the devastation caused by severe monsoon seasons in the past few years. The Education Department has made it clear that holidays may vary based on local weather conditions, heatwaves, or other natural disasters.

Summer Schools: 40-Day Breaks with Local Flexibility

For summer schools, which cater to districts in lower and plain areas, there will be a total of 40 days allocated for the summer and monsoon breaks. The breaks will be divided into two parts:

1. Summer Break: The summer break, lasting between 15 to 20 days, will be decided by the respective District Magistrate based on local weather conditions.
2. Monsoon Break: Following the summer break, a monsoon break of 20 to 25 days will also be determined by the District Magistrate.

The combined duration of both breaks will not exceed 40 days unless exceptional circumstances arise. Winter holidays for summer schools will be capped at 7 days and will be decided on the basis of weather reports and local conditions.

Holidays During Festivals

In line with previous years, holidays will be given during key festivals, but with a few notable updates:

• Diwali Holidays: Two days of leave will be granted before Diwali and three days after Diwali in all districts except Kullu.
• Kullu District: Due to its unique cultural significance, Kullu will observe an extended holiday, with five days of leave following Dussehra.

Winter Schools: 52-Day Schedule with Special Climate Breaks

Winter schools, which cater to the hilly regions of Himachal, will also receive a total of 52 holidays in the year. These schools will observe:

1. Monsoon and Climate Emergency Break: A seven-day break, which will be decided by the District Magistrate depending on weather conditions and emergencies.
2. Festival Holidays: Three days of leave, including two days before Diwali and one day after.
3. Winter Break: The winter break in winter schools will be from January 1 to February 11, totaling 42 days.

Seeking Public Feedback

The Education Department has sought suggestions from stakeholders on the revised holiday schedule and will be accepting feedback for the next 15 days. This open dialogue aims to gather inputs from local communities and educational authorities to fine-tune the schedule and ensure it aligns with the needs of both students and teachers.

Regional Breakdown: Summer and Winter Schools

• Summer Schools: These include schools in the plains and lower regions of Himachal, such as Kangra, Chamba, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur.
• Winter Schools: Located in the hilly districts, winter schools cover areas like Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and the higher reaches of Chamba, Solan, and Sirmaur.

The revised schedule reflects the Education Department’s effort to provide a balanced, responsive system that accounts for regional climates, festivals, and unforeseen weather events, all while ensuring that education continues to progress smoothly throughout the state.