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Holi is celebrated throughout India, but its effect is felt more in North India. Let's see how many days of holiday each state gets. This year, Holi is observed on 14 March in India. Schools are mostly closed during Holi. But students are confused about the number of Holi holiday days.

Though Holi is enjoyed throughout the nation, it has a greater influence in North India. In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and some other North Indian states, the preparations for Holi begin a week or ten days prior to Holi. 

Let's see how many holiday days will be there in various states:

Rajasthan

Holi is celebrated very festively in Rajasthan. There could be a 3-day holiday in Rajasthan during Holi. Schools could be closed for three consecutive days. But for certain information, consult your school or college.

Uttar Pradesh

Mathura and Vrindavan Holi in Uttar Pradesh is well-known in all of India. So, there will be a Holi holiday on 13-14 March in UP.

Delhi: Holiday Duration

Schools in the national capital of Delhi will be shut on 13-14 March. But as several schools in Delhi have a 5-day work week, the holiday for Holi here can be longer. Schools in Delhi could remain shut till 16 March, thus giving 4 days holiday.

Bihar and Jharkhand

Holi is also widely celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand. Thus, there shall be a two-day holiday in both the states.

Madhya Pradesh

Schools will also remain closed for two days in Madhya Pradesh. In Indore and Bhopal, the Holi holiday will be on 13-14 March.

Haryana and Punjab: Closing of Schools

In the same way, in Haryana and Punjab, schools will have a two-day holiday for the Holi festival.

As temperatures rise in Telangana, the state School Education Department has decided that all schools will run for half a day from March 15. The decision includes all government, government-aided, and private schools - primary, upper primary, and high schools.

Under the new schedule, schools will function from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM so that children are not subjected to scorching heat at the peak time. Mid-day meals will be provided at 12:30 PM in government schools before children are released home.

The action was taken in response to Telangana's continuous daytime temperature rise, which poses a health risk to school-age children in particular by causing dehydration, heat fatigue, and weakness. Officials seek to lessen the amount of time pupils are exposed to severe weather by delaying school hours.

The move comes as Telangana witnesses an uninterrupted increase in daytime temperature, which can lead to health threats like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and weakness, particularly among children attending schools. By rescheduling school timings, officials hope to reduce the exposure of students to extreme weather conditions.

The 2024-25 academic year will formally end on April 23, and schools will then be closed for summer holidays from April 24 to June 11. The new academic year will begin with classes on June 12.

Precautionary Measures for Schools

Apart from modifying school hours, the Education Department has also suggested that schools take proper precautionary measures to safeguard students from excessive heat. 

Schools are urged to:

Provide sufficient drinking water to keep students hydrated.

Maintain classrooms well ventilated and cool to avoid discomfort.

Avoid taking students out for outdoor activities during peak heat times.

Ask students to wear light cotton clothes and bring water bottles along.

Parents are also requested to make sure that children take required precautions while going to and from school, like using umbrellas, caps, and drinking plenty of water.

Concerns Over Extreme Weather Conditions

Telangana has been experiencing a rising trend in summer temperatures over the past few years, with certain areas experiencing heatwave-like conditions. The government is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of kids because the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal temperatures this summer.

Additionally, officials will continue to monitor weather patterns and issue any directives as needed. Students will probably feel better when schools switch to half-day classes because they can continue their studies without worrying about their health

VIDEO- https://twitter.com/i/status/1898775366245732774

Kaelen Tucker, a student of Brookville High School, was running the second leg of the relay at the Liberty University campus in Lynchburg when the attack took place.

The Virginia State High School League (VSHL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships were left stunned when a runner employed her relay baton as a weapon against a rival during the 4x200m relay race.

Kaelen Tucker, a runner from Brookville High School, was racing during the second half of the relay at Liberty University's campus in Lynchburg when the accident took place.

In the viral video of the incident on social media, Tucker is attempting to pass a competitor from IC Norcom High School. What occurred next left people gasping with shock as the Norcom runner viciously swished her baton, which hit Tucker in the head.

Due to the attack, Tucker staggered, lost her pace, and finally fell inside the track. Her mother and team coaches were quick to assist her. The Norcom runner, however, was not interrupted as she continued the race uninterrupted.

Eventually, Norcom's team was disqualified due to 'contact interference'. Tucker, on the other hand, stated that she was in a state of shock.

"I'm still in shock. I'm still trying to process everything. I can't believe it occurred," Tucker told local ABC affiliate WSET, says Daily Mail.

In an interview with WSET, Tucker's mom Tamarro Tucker claimed that no one from the Norcom team even cared to see if her daughter was alright after the assault.

No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don't think it was, nothing," Tamarro Tucker said.

WSET says Tucker is being treated for a concussion and a potential skull fracture

Twelve notebooks will be given to Class 6 to 8 students. Stationery items like poster colours can be given within a limit of Rs 400.  A geometry box, priced at Rs 30, for Class 8 students has also been added.

All classes of students from classes 1 to 8 have to be equipped with writing material by April 15 for the 2025-26 academic session, the Education Department has instructed heads of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) schools.

The instructions need to be implemented in accordance with the Delhi High Court's February 2023 instructions, the circular issued on Thursday emphasized.  The department instructed the school principals to "follow the same policy to provide writing material in kind only during the academic session 2025-26 as per existing specification and rate".

For class 1 and 2 students, eight notebooks with a maximum allowable price for writing material at Rs 300 will be given. For class 3 to 5 students, 10 notebooks will be given and other items like pencil set box and stationery items. The maximum limit for this has been fixed at Rs 300.

Twelve notebooks shall be supplied to students of classes 6 to 8. Stationery such as poster colours can be supplied within a sum of Rs 400.  A geometry box at the cost of Rs 30, for Class 8 students, has also been added.

Other than this, it is at the discretion of schools to include any other item as part of writing items or stationery, as long as it is within the specified price limit, informed the department.

Respective deputy directors (Education) of district levels have been directed to file a compliance report by April 20.

In 2013, NGO Social Jurist had approached HC, alleging that students in MCD schools and those under Delhi Directorate of Education are "being deprived of statutory benefits like uniform, writing material, notebook, and scholarship".

Twelve notebooks will be given to Class 6 to 8 students. Stationery items like poster colours can be given within a limit of Rs 400.  A geometry box, priced at Rs 30, for Class 8 students has also been added.

All classes of students from classes 1 to 8 have to be equipped with writing material by April 15 for the 2025-26 academic session, the Education Department has instructed heads of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) schools.

The instructions need to be implemented in accordance with the Delhi High Court's February 2023 instructions, the circular issued on Thursday emphasized.  The department instructed the school principals to "follow the same policy to provide writing material in kind only during the academic session 2025-26 as per existing specification and rate".

For class 1 and 2 students, eight notebooks with a maximum allowable price for writing material at Rs 300 will be given. For class 3 to 5 students, 10 notebooks will be given and other items like pencil set box and stationery items. The maximum limit for this has been fixed at Rs 300.

Twelve notebooks shall be supplied to students of classes 6 to 8. Stationery such as poster colours can be supplied within a sum of Rs 400.  A geometry box at the cost of Rs 30, for Class 8 students, has also been added.

Other than this, it is at the discretion of schools to include any other item as part of writing items or stationery, as long as it is within the specified price limit, informed the department.

Respective deputy directors (Education) of district levels have been directed to file a compliance report by April 20.

In 2013, NGO Social Jurist had approached HC, alleging that students in MCD schools and those under Delhi Directorate of Education are "being deprived of statutory benefits like uniform, writing material, notebook, and scholarship".

In Nuh, Haryana 34 people were arrested for impersonating real examinees in class 10 Haryana board exams. The cheaters were motivated by various reasons. Some cheated to establish their love, while others did it for the sake of a relationship, and some for their financial requirement.

But the largest motive for the cheating was personal relationship, in which a few of them consented to appear in the exam for their girlfriend's brother to determine if they indeed loved him or not. Out of the 34 arrested men, six of them were underage.

This occurrence was at Mount Aravali Public School, Nuh, where the police detained 34 people, of whom six were minors, upon receiving news about the cheating.

About 2,93,000 students are appearing in the Haryana board exams at the state level. The class 10 English paper was held on Monday, which was between 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, where 79 students were caught cheating during the exam from various regions of the state.

The police were summoned to certain centers to manage the issue. Notwithstanding heavy security measures, involving police and observation teams, these malpractices are documented every year. The class 12 English and Maths paper was previously leaked on February 28. After the event, 32 officials were put on suspension, including four DSPs and 25 police officials.

Mount Aravalli School is among the centres where the state board exam is held. On Monday, almost 200 students were taking the board exam.

Security teams have been deployed at some of the centres to avoid such incidents of cheating. Harsh measures will be taken by the officials for any such breach.