Schools in Noida and Ghaziabad have moved to online classes for younger students. This change affects students from Pre-Nursery to Class 5. The decision comes as air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) has become very bad. This bad air has triggered Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan, known as GRAP-IV .
The Delhi government's education department has also asked its schools to switch to a mix of online and offline classes. This "hybrid mode" applies to students from pre-primary (nursery) up to Class 9 and Class 11. This means students will attend some classes physically and some online, wherever possible.
Schools Take Action Against Bad Air
In Noida and Ghaziabad, district officials have given clear instructions. Classes for students from Pre-Nursery to Class 5 will be fully online. This will continue until new orders are given. The goal is to keep young children away from the unhealthy air outside.
For students in Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11 in Noida and Ghaziabad, schools should use a hybrid method. This means a mix of classes held at school and classes held online, if schools can manage it.
All government, government-aided, and private schools in Noida and Ghaziabad must follow these rules. Schools have also been told to stop all outdoor activities. They must ensure students attending classes at school are safe and all necessary steps are taken to protect them from pollution.
Delhi Schools Also Adjust
The Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) has issued similar rules. All schools in Delhi, including government, government-aided, and private schools, must use the hybrid mode. This applies to students from pre-primary/nursery up to Class 9 and Class 11.
The hybrid mode means a combination of physical (in-person) and online classes. Schools will decide the best way to do this for different classes, making sure students can continue their studies safely.
Why the Change? Understanding GRAP-IV
These actions are taken because the air quality in many parts of the NCR has become "severe." This is a very unhealthy level of pollution. To protect public health, especially children, authorities have activated GRAP-IV. GRAP stands for Graded Response Action Plan. It is a set of emergency steps taken to control air pollution when it gets very bad. Stage 4 is the most serious level, where strict measures are enforced.
The main reason for these school changes is to keep students safe from the harmful effects of severe air pollution. Children are more vulnerable to respiratory problems caused by bad air.
Important Exam Dates for 2026
Students should also be aware of upcoming board exam dates:
UP Board Exams 2026
The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) announced the UP Board Class 12 exam dates for 2026. These exams will take place between February 18 and March 12, 2026 . Practical exams for Class 12 will be held earlier, in January and February 2026 . The UP Board Class 10 compartment exam 2026 is expected in July 2026 .
CBSE Board Exams 2026
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will hold the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams for 2026 from February 17, 2026 . These exams will be in the traditional pen and paper format and will finish on April 9, 2026 . CBSE has already released the syllabus and exam pattern for 2026 on its official website. Students should aim to complete their syllabus by January 2026 and start practicing with sample papers and previous year questions.
Specifically, the CBSE Class 12 Physics exam 2026 is scheduled for February 20, 2026 . The full date sheet for Class 12 exams was released in October 2025 .
