Why Are Uttar Pradesh Schools Closed on January 23 (Friday)? Here’s What Officials Say

The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has announced a statewide school holiday on January 23, bringing further relief to students amid the ongoing spell of closures. On this day, all government primary schools, upper primary schools, and aided institutions across Uttar Pradesh will remain completely closed. The holiday will apply not only to students but also to teachers and non-teaching staff, as per the official holiday list released by the department.

Schools in Uttar Pradesh have been witnessing a continuous run of holidays since the start of the new year. Earlier, winter vacations were in place until January 14, after which schools briefly reopened. However, persistent cold wave conditions across several parts of the state forced district administrations to announce fresh closures.

In more than a dozen districts, schools were kept shut until January 18, while in some colder regions, holidays were extended up to January 20. The January 23 holiday now adds another break in the academic calendar, extending the period of disrupted classroom activity.

Why January 23 has been declared a holiday

According to the Basic Education Department, January 23 has been declared a holiday on account of Vasant Panchami, an important cultural and religious festival. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, which is observed as a significant occasion across the country.

Due to the dual importance of the day, educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed as part of the official holiday schedule.

Holidays likely in other states as well

Several other states, including West Bengal and Odisha, already observe a holiday on January 23 to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. In line with this, Uttar Pradesh has also included the date in its school holiday calendar.

For students and parents, the January 23 closure comes as another welcome break amid harsh winter conditions, offering some respite before schools resume normal functioning.