Delhi Schools to Prepone Winter Break Due to Severe Air Pollution

New Delhi: Delhi’s Directorate of Education has rescheduled the winter break for schools in light of the severe air pollution crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR). The break will now take place from November 9 to November 18, 2023, instead of the original dates of November 3 to November 10.

The decision was made due to the implementation of GRAP-IV measures, which are emergency measures taken when air quality reaches hazardous levels. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that there will be no relief expected from the adverse weather conditions in the near future.

The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated to the severe category, with a PM2.5 concentration that exceeds the government-prescribed safe limit by a considerable margin. Smoke from the burning of post-harvest paddy straw in neighbouring states is a major contributor to air pollution.

The decision to advance the winter break aims to provide respite to both students and teachers from the harmful effects of air pollution. All schools in Delhi are required to observe the break from November 9 to November 18, 2023.