Bhubaneswar: All government and government-aided schools in Odisha will remain open on March 5 (Wednesday), as per a circular issued by the School & Mass Education (S&ME) department on Tuesday. The directive has been communicated to all District Education Officers (DEOs) across the state.
Previously, March 5 was observed as a public holiday in Odisha to commemorate Panchayati Raj Dibas. However, the state government has decided to shift the observance of Panchayati Raj Dibas from March 5 to April 24 to align with the national practice. This change was announced on Monday.
Odisha celebrated March 5 as Panchayati Raj Dibas to mark the birth anniversary of the state’s iconic leader, Biju Patnaik.
Nationally, however, Panchayati Raj Dibas is observed on April 24, coinciding with the anniversary of the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which institutionalized the Panchayati Raj system in India.