Chief minister Omar Abdullah’s government on Wednesday announced the restoration of the November examination session for Kashmir students, a decision that is at odds with the time frame fixed by the administration led by lieutenant governor
Manoj Sinha.

This marks a significant policy shift, reversing last year’s decision by the LG’s dispensation to align the academic calendar of Kashmir with that of the rest of the country.

Omar personally announced the restoration of the November session, which requires conducting the annual examinations in November-December instead of March. Seen as the first major policy decision of the new government, it is expected to bring relief to thousands of students in Kashmir and several areas of Jammu.

The chief minister said that parents and students had been demanding the restoration of the old system. “I extend my gratitude to the school education minister that she brought a proposal to the cabinet which was approved. I hope this will give relief to students.”

Omar, accompanied by education minister Sakina Itoo, said they were reverting to the November session for students up to Class IX. He said the exams for Class X to Class XII would be held in November next year as they required more preparations this year and there was little time left.

The LG’s administration last year announced the March exam calender to bring Kashmir’s academic year on a par with Jammu and the rest of the country, rebuffing concerns against the change and defying the Valley’s unique geography.

November exams are better suited to Kashmir’s harsh winters. Kashmir and other parts of Jammu receive moderate to heavy snowfall from December to February. The exams used to be conducted before winter and it was followed by a 75-day winter break — availed by the employees to evaluate the papers and declare the results while giving ample time to students for competitive exams or vacations.

The March session is one of the many decisions that was forced by the LG’s administration on people, apparently under the garb of national interest. The authorities, however, reasoned it was in keeping with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which envisages a uniform academic calendar for the country.

Omar’s aide and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said they were also boycotting Thursday’s event to celebrate the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Foundation Day.

“We will not go. None of us will go. This is because we do not approve of the UT foundation day. What was snatched from us in 2019 was wrong, unconstitutional and immoral. We want our statehood back as soon as possible,” Sadiq told reporters.

Mystery shrouds the event after an official spokesperson said LG Sinha had on Sunday directed the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior police and administrative officers “to put in place all arrangements for the grand celebration of Jammu and Kashmir UT Foundation Day in Jammu and Srinagar”.

Though there was no official word on the event, several people shared invitation cards on social media on Wednesday that were printed by the Kashmir divisional commissioner’s office stating that Sinha would be the chief guest at an event at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on October 31. An official at the divisional commissioner’s office admitted that the cards had been printed but said he was not aware who the invitees were.

Last week, the Omar-led cabinet passed a resolution asking the BJP to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.