Is Tomorrow A School Holiday in Maharashtra?
Yes, tomorrow is a school holiday in Maharashtra; in fact, all government, government‑aided, and private schools and colleges in the state are closed till January 30, 2026, as part of a state holiday and three‑day mourning period for Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The Maharashtra government has clearly stated that, as a mark of respect after his tragic death in a plane crash near Baramati on January 28, a state holiday has been declared and three days of state mourning will be observed.
That means if you’re a student, teacher, or parent in Maharashtra, you don’t have to send kids to school till the 30th – though you might still have to answer questions like, “Holiday hai, phir bhi homework kyun?” at home.
The official notification makes it unambiguous: all state government offices are closed, and schools and other educational institutions have been brought under this umbrella decision.
The national flag will be flown at half‑mast across government buildings from 28 January to 30 January 2026, and there will be no official entertainment during this period.
It’s the kind of announcement that instantly changes the mood of the state: a mix of shock at the tragedy, a sudden reshuffling of plans, and WhatsApp groups buzzing with forwarded notices and screenshots.
Why Has Maharashtra Declared a Holiday?
The holiday has been declared to mourn the sudden demise of Ajit Anantrao Pawar, the sitting Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, who died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026.
He was 66 and was travelling from Mumbai to Pune to attend campaign rallies for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections when his Learjet 45, operated by VSR Aviation, crashed near Baramati while attempting to land.
The aircraft had six people on board, including Pawar, his PSO, an attendant, and two crew members.
In political terms, Pawar wasn’t just another minister; he was one of the most experienced and influential leaders in the state, known for having served as Deputy CM six times under different chief ministers, including Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
For a state like Maharashtra, his passing in such a sudden and public way is a major event, and the three‑day mourning period reflects that significance.
I’ve seen older family members, who’ve watched him across different coalitions, react with that particular mix of disbelief and “ye itne saalon se politics mein the” that comes when a constant presence in public life suddenly isn’t there anymore.
What Exactly is Closed During the Mourning Period?
During this three‑day mourning (January 28–30, 2026), the Maharashtra government has ordered:
- All state government offices to remain closed on January 28, declared as a state holiday.
- All government, government‑aided, and private schools and colleges across Maharashtra to remain closed till January 30, 2026.
- No official entertainment eventsare to take place during the mourning period.
- National flag at half‑mast on all buildings where it is regularly flown, across the state, from January 28 to 30 (both days inclusive).
So, if you’re in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, or any other district in Maharashtra, schools are shut, colleges are shut, and state government offices are not working in the usual way.
Private sector offices are a bit more mixed; some may follow the holiday, others might run with minimal staff, but education has been clearly covered in the state’s decision.
For parents, this often means last‑minute adjustments: arranging child care, shifting work calls, or accepting that today is going to be a “kids at home” day, whether you planned it or not.
What About Exams and Universities Like Mumbai University?
Mumbai University has rescheduled the examinations that were supposed to be held on January 28, 2026, in the afternoon session.
The university issued a formal circular to principals of affiliated colleges in Commerce and Management, Arts and Education, and to the Director of the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), clearly stating that all exams scheduled for that afternoon are postponed due to the Deputy CM’s demise. The revised dates will be announced later.
If you’re a student, this is one of those weirdly conflicting moments: on one hand, there’s real sadness around the news; on the other, there’s undeniable relief when you get that message saying “today’s exam has been rescheduled.”
Many of us have lived through at least one such day in school or college where a major political or national event suddenly reshuffles the academic calendar.
The key thing now is to keep track of the new timetable your college or university will share; don’t assume the exam is cancelled, only that it’s postponed.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article about school holidays and state mourning in Maharashtra is based on official government announcements, verified social media posts, and media reports available at the time of writing. Holiday dates, exam schedules, and institutional closures may change based on further government or university notifications. Readers are advised to confirm the latest updates through official Maharashtra government circulars, school authorities, and university websites or notices.
