School holiday today, November 5: Which states will remain closed? Check Diwali vacation, weather alerts and election-related updates

Schools in several parts of India are observing holidays on Thursday, November 5, due to Diwali vacations, local elections and weather-related disruptions. While some states have announced scheduled festival breaks, Andhra Pradesh has declared a two-day holiday on November 4 and 5 in view of the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for parts of southern and eastern India could affect school operations in certain districts.

Here is a state-wise update on school holidays today, November 5, including Diwali vacation dates, election-related closures and the latest weather forecast.

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Andhra Pradesh schools closed today, November 5, for MPTC, ZPTC elections

Schools in Andhra Pradesh covered under the election-related order will remain closed on November 5 due to the MPTC and ZPTC elections. The state government has announced a two-day holiday on November 4 and 5 to facilitate polling arrangements.

Voting is scheduled for November 5, while the counting of votes will take place on November 7. Students and parents should check with their respective school administrations to confirm whether their institutions are covered by the holiday order.

Diwali school holidays 2026: Check state-wise vacation dates

Several states are observing extended Diwali vacations during November, although the schedules vary depending on local education department calendars and school categories.

Here are the reported school holiday schedules:

• Maharashtra: BMC primary schools in Mumbai are scheduled to remain closed from November 5 to 23. Pune's revised schedule provides a Diwali break from November 5 to 18.
• Goa: Schools are observing Diwali vacations from November 2 to 21.
• Gujarat: A 21-day Diwali vacation is scheduled from November 5 to 25.
• Bihar: Government and government-aided schools have a festival break from November 7 to 17.
• Chhattisgarh: Diwali holidays are scheduled from November 6 to 11.
• Rajasthan: Schools may observe an extended Diwali break from November 5 to 15.

These dates may differ for private schools, government institutions and different education boards. Parents should confirm the applicable schedule with their children's schools.

IMD weather alert: Will heavy rainfall lead to school closures today?

Weather conditions could also affect school operations in parts of southern and eastern India. The India Meteorological Department has issued rainfall warnings for several regions following the passage of Cyclone Murasu.

For November 5, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Rainfall activity is also expected in parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The IMD had earlier forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and east Telangana on November 4. Heavy rainfall was also likely in parts of south Odisha, south Chhattisgarh and north Tamil Nadu.

However, these weather warnings do not automatically mean schools will remain closed. District administrations will decide whether to suspend classes depending on local weather conditions, waterlogging and student safety.

School holiday today, November 5: What should students and parents check?

Several schools across India are closed today due to Diwali vacations and election-related arrangements. However, there is no nationwide school holiday applicable to all states and institutions on November 5.

Weather-related closures, wherever necessary, will depend on district-level announcements and instructions from local authorities.

Students and parents should check notifications issued by their respective school administrations, district collectors and state education departments before travelling to school. Schools may also announce local closures if heavy rainfall, waterlogging or unsafe road conditions disrupt normal activities.