Madhya Pradesh School Holidays October 2026: Check Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra Closure Dates
Students in Madhya Pradesh will have multiple school closures during October 2026, including Gandhi Jayanti and a three-day Dussehra vacation. According to the 2026-27 school holiday schedule issued for Madhya Pradesh schools, the Dussehra break for students and teachers is scheduled from October 19 to October 21, 2026.
October 2 is also a government holiday for Gandhi Jayanti. Parents and students should distinguish these confirmed statewide dates from optional, restricted and locally declared holidays, which may not result in every school being closed.
Madhya Pradesh School Holidays in October 2026
| Date | Holiday | School Closure Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Gandhi Jayanti | Gazetted holiday |
| October 19, 2026 | Dussehra Vacation | School holiday |
| October 20, 2026 | Vijayadashami / Dussehra | School holiday and gazetted holiday |
| October 21, 2026 | Dussehra Vacation | School holiday |
Dussehra School Vacation From October 19 to 21
The Madhya Pradesh School Education Department's academic-session holiday calendar provides a three-day Dussehra vacation from October 19 through October 21. The break applies to students and teachers under the notified school calendar.
Vijayadashami itself falls on Tuesday, October 20 in 2026 and is also included in Madhya Pradesh's list of gazetted government holidays.
Because October 18 is a Sunday, students in schools that ordinarily remain closed on Sundays may effectively have a longer continuous break around Dussehra, but the formally notified Dussehra vacation itself is October 19-21.
Gandhi Jayanti Holiday on October 2
Friday, October 2, 2026 is Gandhi Jayanti and is listed as a gazetted government holiday. Schools will therefore observe the national holiday.
The date falls immediately before the first weekend of October, which may give students a longer break depending on their school's normal Saturday and Sunday working pattern.
Are There Other Holidays in October?
Madhya Pradesh's wider government calendar contains several other observances during October, but they should not automatically be described as statewide school closures.
| Date | Observance | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 | Dr Syedna Saheb's Birthday | Optional holiday |
| October 9 | Prannath Jayanti | Optional holiday |
| October 10 | Sarva Pitru Moksha Amavasya | Optional holiday |
| October 11 | Agrasen Jayanti | Optional holiday |
| October 26 | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | Restricted holiday |
| October 29 | Karva Chauth | Optional holiday |
An optional or restricted holiday does not necessarily mean every school in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed. Individual institutions, local authorities or districts may follow different arrangements for these dates.
What About Private and CBSE Schools?
Students in private, CBSE, ICSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya and other independently administered schools should check their own academic calendar. Such institutions may follow the major state and national holidays while using a different autumn-break schedule.
District administrations may also announce additional closures because of local festivals, elections, weather conditions or other circumstances.
Diwali Holidays Fall in November
Students should also note that Madhya Pradesh's main Diwali school vacation is not in October this year. The state school calendar places the Diwali break from November 6 to November 10, 2026.
As of September 29, the key confirmed October school closures are therefore Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and the Dussehra vacation from October 19 to October 21. Families should check notices issued by their individual school for any additional local or optional holidays.
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