In a statement at the announcement event, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah noted that the change responds to a long-standing demand from students and parents in Kashmir and the Jammu winter zone. “For years, the community has urged a return to the previous exam schedule, and today, I’m pleased to announce this long-awaited adjustment,” he said.
Abdullah expressed appreciation for Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, who presented the proposal before the cabinet, leading to its approval. "This year, exams for classes up to the 9th grade will be conducted under the restored November-December schedule, ensuring that winter zone exams are completed before the winter break," he explained.
The Chief Minister also addressed the exam schedules for higher grades, confirming that, for now, classes 10, 11, and 12 will continue under the existing calendar. “However, I assure students and parents that we’ll revisit this schedule as well, with changes expected from next year,” he added, hoping the decision will ease concerns and positively impact students.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo further detailed the policy’s immediate impact, explaining that the revised academic session will apply from this year for students up to the 9th grade, aligning exams with the winter break. “The previous academic schedule for classes 10 to 12 will be reinstated starting next year,” she confirmed.
In 2022, the LG-led administration implemented the “uniform academic calendar” to synchronize the school academic schedule across both the Jammu and Kashmir regions, aligning with the country’s higher education calendar. However, many students and parents had expressed concerns over the alignment’s impact on the winter-zone students, who faced scheduling conflicts with the winter season.