The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Sunday, 25 May 2026, that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has revised working hours for all government offices and schools across Punjab, effective 25 May 2026, in response to rising summer temperatures. The new schedule runs from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, replacing the standard daytime hours.

What the order says

The CMO's post, originally in Punjabi, states: 'ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ @BhagwantMann ਨੇ ਵੱਧ ਰਹੀ ਗਰਮੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਦਿਆਂ...' — 'Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, taking note of the rising heat, has changed the timings of all government offices and schools in Punjab from 25 May to 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.' The announcement explicitly states the decision was taken to provide relief from heat to the general public and students.

The revised schedule compresses the working day into the cooler morning hours, allowing employees and students to complete their obligations before peak afternoon heat sets in. No end date for the revised schedule has been mentioned in the post.

Context

Punjab, a northern Indian state, regularly records high temperatures during May and June, with peak afternoon heat posing health risks to outdoor commuters and those in buildings without adequate cooling. The state government administers a large network of offices and schools whose populations — government employees and students — are among the most directly exposed to heat stress during standard working hours.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has led the Aam Aadmi Party administration in Punjab since March 2022. Administrative orders adjusting office and school timings during summer are among the faster, lower-cost interventions available to state governments for immediate public relief.

Policy backdrop

Indian states have increasingly incorporated schedule adjustments into their heat-action frameworks, a practice encouraged under guidelines developed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) following severe heat-wave events in the 2010s. These guidelines recommend that state administrations identify vulnerable populations — including schoolchildren and outdoor workers — and adopt protective measures during heat alerts.

Punjab has periodically adopted similar timing revisions in previous summers. The current order covers all government offices and all schools in the state simultaneously, signalling a state-wide administrative response rather than a district-level or institution-specific one.

Stakeholders and impact

The two groups directly affected are government employees and school students across Punjab. For students, an early dismissal reduces exposure during the hottest part of the day and eases commute conditions. For employees, the shift front-loads the workday, enabling them to return home before afternoon temperatures peak.

Parents, school administrations, and district-level government offices will need to adjust logistics — including transport arrangements and meal schedules — to align with the new 7:30 am start time. Private schools and offices are not covered by this order unless separately directed.

What's next

The government has not specified how long the revised timings will remain in effect, making a follow-up notification on the schedule's duration the immediate item to watch. Observers will also look for complementary heat-relief measures such as drinking-water arrangements at government premises, health advisories, or directives to private institutions. Whether the order is extended, modified, or rolled back will depend on how temperatures trend through June 2026.