The Jharkhand Council of Educational Research and Training (JCERT) has implemented an integrated holiday calendar for the year 2026 and issued strict directives regarding school programs to ensure uninterrupted academic sessions. Shashi Ranjan, Director of JCERT, has mandated compulsory compliance with these rules.
Restrictions On Rallies And Programs
To prevent the disruption of regular studies, the following rules have been established:
Morning Processions: Rallies will not be organised in government schools except on the three national festivals: Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.
Government-Directed Programs: Any events organised under the direction of the Central or State government on occasions other than the national festivals must be held after school hours (after 3:00 pm).
External Department Programs: For awareness or orientation programs conducted by departments other than the Education Department, prior approval from the Education Department is mandatory to protect teaching time.
Highlights Of The 2026 Integrated Holiday Calendar
The JCERT has released a clarification to avoid confusion regarding the new calendar, which is designed to be inclusive of all communities and religions.
Total Holidays: A total of 60 holidays have been declared for the year, including summer and winter vacations.
Summer Vacation (Revised): The summer break will be 16 days (increased from 14 days). This adjustment was made because two designated holidays fall on third Saturdays, which are already school holidays.
Winter Vacation: The winter break is set for 8 days. However, this period may be extended by the state government or district administration based on weather conditions.
District-Level Holidays: Five days of holidays will be decided at the district level to accommodate local festivals.
Applicability
These directives and the integrated holiday calendar apply to the following institutions across Primary, Secondary and Plus Two levels:
- Government Schools
- Aided Schools
- Grant-in-aid Minority Schools