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Chandigarh: The Haryana Government on Tuesday announced winter vacations from January 1 to January 15, 2026, for all government and recognised schools across the state, covering Classes 1 to 12. The Directorate of School Education notified the decision.
According to the order, regular classes will remain suspended during the vacation period. However, students of Classes 10 and 12 may be called to school for practical examinations, strictly in line with the guidelines of respective boards such as CBSE and ICSE. Education officials have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the instructions in all schools under their jurisdiction.
An Education Department official said the decision was taken with the health and safety of students in mind amid intensifying cold conditions, to prevent difficulties during early-morning travel and exposure to severe winter weather.
Haryana Government Holiday Calendar 2026
Separately, the state government has released its 2026 holiday calendar. Government offices will observe 124 holidays, including 104 Saturdays and Sundays and 20 gazetted holidays. Of these, eight gazetted holidays—including Diwali and Maha Shivratri—fall on weekends. Offices will function for 241 working days during the year.
In addition, 13 restricted holidays have been notified, of which government employees may avail themselves of any three in a year, bringing the total number of holidays (including restricted ones) to 137.
Public Holidays Under the Negotiable Instruments Act
The government has also issued a list of public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, applicable across Haryana (excluding judicial courts). In addition to all Sundays, holidays will be observed on select national, religious, and historical occasions in 2026. No compensatory benefit will be given if these holidays fall on weekends.
21 ‘Special Days’, No Office Closure
The calendar further designates 21 occasions as “Special Days”, linked to social, historical and prominent personalities. These days will be observed as non-holidays, and government offices will function as usual—even if such dates coincide with weekends. All government offices and educational institutions across Haryana have been directed to adhere strictly to the notified orders.
