Maharashtra Holiday: Schools To Get Up to 10 Offs In February Ahead of SSC, HSC Exams

After months filled with frequent breaks, students across Maharashtra are set to enjoy yet another round of holidays as February 2026 approaches. From Ganesh Chaturthi onwards, the academic calendar has been dotted with regular interruptions, giving school and college students ample time away from classrooms. Festivals, national holidays and long weekends have ensured that almost every month offered some relief, and February is no exception.

Between September and January, students benefited from multiple holidays, including festival breaks, the New Year holiday and Republic Day. As they step into February, there are two major public holidays awaiting them. Maha Shivratri falls on Sunday, February 15, 2026, while Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti will be observed on Thursday, February 19, 2026. These holidays come in addition to the regular Sundays, further reducing the number of working days in the month.

The actual number of holidays, however, varies from school to school due to differences in weekly schedules. While the Maharashtra government has permitted a five-day school week, it is not mandatory. As per government resolutions and recent academic calendars, the focus remains on completing the required 200-plus instructional or working days in an academic year, rather than enforcing a uniform five-day rule.

As a result, many state-run, aided and private schools follow different patterns. Some schools operate on a five-day week, observing both Saturdays and Sundays as holidays, while others continue with a traditional six-day schedule, keeping Saturdays as working days based on management decisions.

Because of this variation, February 2026 will have at least six holidays, including Sundays, for schools following a six-day week. For institutions that observe a five-day week, the number of offs can go up to ten days, counting all Saturdays and Sundays. This leaves around 18 working days in February for most schools, making it one of the lighter academic months of the year.

While frequent holidays often raise concerns about syllabus completion, this break-heavy period comes at a crucial time for senior students. The reduced number of working days is expected to help students focus on revision and exam preparation, especially those appearing for board examinations.

Notably, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has already announced the SSC (Class 10) and HSC (Class 12) examination schedules for 2026. The HSC examinations will begin on February 10, 2026, while the SSC exams are set to start from February 20, 2026. The Class 12 examinations will conclude on March 11, 2026, whereas the Class 10 exams will continue until March 18, 2026.

With board exams knocking at the door, the February holidays are likely to serve as a valuable window for last-minute preparation, giving students the breathing space they need before stepping into one of the most important phases of their academic journey.