Republic Day 2025: Will Maharashtra Schools Remain Open? Here's What Education Department Says

Maharashtra government has cancelled the holiday for Republic Day on Jan. 26 directing schools to hold day-long events and activities that instil a sense of national pride among the students. 

Traditionally, Republic Day on Jan. 26 has been a day off for students, following a brief flag-hoisting ceremony and celebration to mark the occasion.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the school education department in Maharashtra on Dec. 31 issued a circular directing all private and government schools to organise full-day celebrations and competitions with patriotic themes for Republic Day.

"On the day of January 26, we should create a feeling of national pride among the students about the history of the nation, our great culture and the future of the country. So, from January 26, 2025, the Republic Day will be celebrated in all government and private schools of all mediums with various events," it said.

According to a report by The Indian Express, Maharashtra school education minister Dada Bhuse has asked schools to mandatorily make students read the Preamble of the Constitution.

He said that along with the various events conducted throughout the day, schools across the state must make it compulsory to read the Preamble.

The government has directed schools to hold at least eight competitions each with a patriotic theme on Republic Day. These include the morning march or Prabhat Pheri, poetry competitions, elocution competitions, essays, sports, dance and drawing competitions among others. 

The state government has asked district education officers and education inspectors to ensure compliance with the order. 

Republic Day is celebrated every year on Jan. 26 as a day to commemorate India's establishment as a republic. It must be noted that this year, Republic Day falls on a Sunday, which is usually a full holiday for schools across the country, including those in Maharashtra. This means that the Sunday holiday for schools has essentially been cancelled in the R-Day week in the wake of the order.