Punjab heatwave: Bhagwant Mann shifts govt offices, schools to 7:30 am–1:30 pm
Synopsis
Punjab has moved its entire government machinery — offices, schools, and colleges — to a 7:30 am–1:30 pm window starting 25 May, as CM Bhagwant Mann responds to the heatwave with both a welfare and energy-management rationale. The shift, backed by PSPCL peak-load data, signals a rare instance of climate adaptation embedded directly into administrative scheduling.
Key Takeaways
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann revised timings for all state government offices, schools, and colleges on 22 May 2025 .
New hours: 7:30 am to 1:30 pm , replacing the existing 9 am to 5 pm schedule.
Changes take effect from 25 May and will remain in force until further orders.
According to PSPCL data, peak power load begins after 1 pm — the new schedule is designed to reduce electricity consumption during that window.
The move follows consultation with stakeholders and is framed as a welfare measure for citizens, employees, and students.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday, 22 May announced a revision of working hours for all state government offices, schools, and colleges in response to the intensifying heatwave gripping the region. Under the new schedule, timings will shift from the existing 9 am–5 pm slot to an early-morning window of 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, effective 25 May until further orders.
Key Details of the Revised Schedule
The change applies uniformly to all Punjab government offices, schools, and colleges. Chief Minister Mann stated the decision was taken after consultation with stakeholders and is aimed at allowing citizens to complete official work during cooler morning hours, reducing the need to step out during peak afternoon heat. Employees, too, will be able to wrap up duties before temperatures climb sharply during the day.
What the Chief Minister Said
'The decision has been taken to facilitate the common people so they can conveniently get their work done in government offices during the scorching heat,' Mann said. He added that the move would also allow employees to spend more time with their children, who would return home around the same time owing to the revised school and college timings. 'The decision reflects the Punjab government's people-centric approach and commitment towards improving the daily lives of citizens,' he said.
Power Grid Relief
Mann also cited an energy-management rationale behind the timing shift. According to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) data, peak power load begins after 1 pm. By concluding official activity before that threshold, the revised schedule is expected to reduce electricity consumption and ease pressure on the state's power infrastructure — a significant consideration as summer demand routinely strains the grid.
Context and Broader Impact
The decision comes as large parts of northern India, including Punjab, face a severe heatwave, with temperatures in several districts reportedly crossing 44°C. Early office hours have previously been adopted by states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh during comparable heat events, making Punjab's move part of a wider administrative pattern of seasonal schedule adjustments. The revised timings will benefit government employees, students, and citizens who depend on public services — particularly daily-wage workers who cannot afford to lose working hours to extreme heat.
Point of View
Immediate, and affects every family with a child in school or a relative in a government office. What is less discussed is whether a six-hour workday compresses service delivery for citizens who depend on public offices for time-sensitive work. The PSPCL angle is the more substantive detail: if the state's own offices are contributing to afternoon grid stress, that is a structural problem that a schedule tweak alone cannot fix. The real test is whether Punjab pairs this seasonal measure with longer-term infrastructure investment to prevent the same crisis next summer.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new office timings in Punjab due to the heatwave?
Punjab government offices, schools, and colleges will operate from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm instead of the earlier 9 am to 5 pm schedule. The revised timings take effect from 25 May and will continue until further orders.
When do the revised Punjab office timings come into effect?
The new timings are effective from 25 May 2025 . Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the change on 22 May, stating it will remain in place until further orders.
Why has Punjab changed government office and school timings?
The change is aimed at reducing public exposure to peak afternoon heat during the ongoing heatwave. It also serves an energy-management purpose — according to PSPCL data, peak power load begins after 1 pm, and earlier closure is expected to reduce electricity consumption.
Do the revised timings apply to private offices and schools in Punjab?
The revised schedule announced by CM Bhagwant Mann applies specifically to all Punjab government offices, schools, and colleges. No announcement covering private establishments has been made under this order.
Which other states have adopted similar heatwave measures?
States including Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have previously revised office and school timings during severe heat events. Punjab's move follows a similar administrative pattern of seasonal schedule adjustments seen across northern India.
