Parents in parts of Uttar Pradesh woke up to an unusual school morning today, October 30. Instead of the usual rush to the school gate, many campuses in Noida and Ghaziabad stayed shut, not because of rain or a festival, but because their classrooms have turned into examination halls.
The reason is the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) Preliminary Eligibility Test, or PET 2026, being held on October 25, October 30 and November 1, in two shifts each day. Schools designated as exam centres have been given a holiday so the test can run without disruption.
32 schools closed in Noida today
In Gautam Buddha Nagar, the district administration has closed 32 schools today, October 30, to facilitate the PET. According to a notice signed by District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) Chandra Shekhar, reported by Hindustan Times, the list covers 32 examination centres across government, aided and CBSE-affiliated schools. If your child’s school is on that list, there are no regular classes today.
Ghaziabad schools shut under October 14 order
Ghaziabad has taken a broader route. The district education department declared a one-day educational holiday on October 30 for schools across the district, under a DIOS order issued on October 14. The order covers government and private secondary schools, inter colleges, aided and unaided institutions, and schools recognised by the UP Board, CBSE, ICSE and the Basic Education Department. The order is specific to October 30 and does not announce a general holiday for the other examination dates.
Reports of closures in around 60 districts
Beyond Noida and Ghaziabad, media reports suggest schools in about 60 districts across Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, will remain closed today because their campuses are serving as PET centres. The exact scope varies from district to district, depending on how many schools have been designated as examination centres, so parents should go by their own district’s order and their school’s notice rather than assuming a statewide holiday. There is no statewide school holiday announcement for today.
What is UPSSSC PET 2026?
UPSSSC PET is the preliminary screening test for candidates seeking Group B and Group C posts under various state government departments. Clearing PET is the gateway to the main examinations for these posts, which is why the test draws lakhs of applicants from across the state.
This year’s exam is spread over three days, October 25, October 30 and November 1, with two shifts each day: 10 am to 12 noon, and 3 pm to 5 pm. With six shifts in total, the commission needs a large number of centres, and schools are the obvious choice.
What about Delhi and Gurugram?
Parents in Delhi-NCR have also been asking whether schools are closed today. As of this morning, no school closure announcement has been made in Delhi or Gurugram. The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for Delhi, Noida and Gurugram till 9 am today, with generally cloudy skies and spells of light rain, but that weather alert by itself has not translated into a school holiday in Delhi. Check the message from your child’s school first: if the school is an exam centre, today is a holiday there; if it is not, classes are running as usual.
What students and parents should keep in mind
- Today only: The Ghaziabad and Noida orders cover October 30 specifically. Do not assume the same holiday applies on November 1, the next PET date, unless a fresh order is issued.
- Exam centres only: In Noida, the closure applies to the 32 listed exam-centre schools, not every school in the district.
- Check school notices: District orders set the framework, but the school’s own message is the final word for your child.
- PET candidates: Reach the centre well before your shift, carry the admit card and a valid photo ID, and follow the instructions printed on the admit card.
For lakhs of PET aspirants, today is a big day, and for thousands of school students in exam-centre districts, it is an unexpected day off. Both come from the same cause: a state exam so large that it needs entire schools to run it.
FAQs
Are schools closed in UP today, October 30?
Schools designated as UPSSSC PET exam centres are closed today in districts including Noida and Ghaziabad. It is not a blanket statewide holiday, so check your district order and school notice.
How many schools are closed in Noida today?
The Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration has closed 32 schools today, October 30, that are serving as PET examination centres.
Why are Ghaziabad schools closed today?
Ghaziabad’s district education department declared a one-day holiday on October 30 for government and private secondary schools, inter colleges and recognised institutions, under a DIOS order dated October 14, for the PET examination.
When is UPSSSC PET 2026 being held?
The PET 2026 written examination is being conducted on October 25, October 30 and November 1, 2026, in two shifts each day: 10 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 5 pm.
Are Delhi schools closed today?
No school closure announcement has been made in Delhi as of this morning. The closures reported today relate to Uttar Pradesh districts where schools are PET exam centres.
Parents and students should confirm the latest position with their school or district education office, as local orders can change through the day.
