Bihar School Holiday Calendar 2027: 112 Closure Days, Including 20-Day Summer Vacation

The news

The Bihar Education Department on 12 November 2026 released the school holiday calendar for 2027, under which government schools across the state will remain closed for 112 days. The calendar applies to all government, nationalised, project, upgraded, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, as well as Sanskrit and Urdu schools and madrasas.

Of the 112 closure days, 69 are listed holidays for festivals, anniversaries and observances, including nine that fall on Sundays; the remaining 43 are additional Sundays. The calendar creates a four-day Holi break from 21 to 24 March, combining a Sunday, Bihar Day on 22 March and the two Holi holidays on 23 and 24 March. The Diwali–Chhath period from 29 October to 5 November gives eight consecutive days off, while Durga Puja from 6 to 9 October, together with the following Sunday, yields a five-day break. Summer vacation is scheduled from 2 to 21 June, and winter vacation from 25 to 31 December. The department noted that dates of Muslim festivals may change depending on the sighting of the moon.

What is the Right to Education Act’s school-day norm?

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, prescribes a minimum number of working days and instructional hours for schools. For classes 1 to 5, it mandates at least 200 working days in an academic year, and for classes 6 to 8, at least 220 working days. The Act also requires a minimum of 800 instructional hours for the primary level and 1,000 hours for the upper primary level. State governments frame their academic calendars, including holidays and vacations, within these national norms. The Bihar Education Department’s holiday calendar for 2027, with 112 closure days, leaves about 253 days, which is above the statutory minimum.

Which schools does the calendar cover?

The common holiday schedule applies to all government, nationalised, project, upgraded, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in Bihar. Sanskrit and Urdu schools and madrasas follow the same calendar, ensuring uniformity across the state's school system.

How are the 112 closure days counted?

The 112 days consist of 69 listed holidays, which already include nine Sundays, plus 43 additional Sundays. Counting all 52 Sundays again would overstate the total. The seasonal breaks are 20 days in summer and 7 days in winter, while the Diwali–Chhath period accounts for eight consecutive days.