The Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on 28 January 2026. This announcement has triggered a series of official protocols, including public holidays, flying the national flag at half-mast, closures of government offices, and confusion among citizens — especially regarding school closures across the state.
Table of Contents
📌 Who Was Ajit Pawar?
Ajit Anantrao Pawar was a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the government led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. He was travelling on a Learjet 45 aircraft that crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport on the morning of 28 January 2026. The accident claimed his life along with several others on board.
Pawar, born on 22 July 1959, was a prominent political figure with decades of service in Maharashtra’s governance. His sudden death has sent shockwaves across the political landscape and the public.
🗓️ Three Days of State Mourning
The Maharashtra government has declared a three-day state mourning period from 28 January to 30 January 2026 as a mark of respect for the late Ajit Pawar. During this period:
National flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is normally hoisted.
Official entertainment programmes, celebrations, and public events have been suspended for all three days.
Government offices will remain closed.
Mourning protocols are part of official state practice when a senior leader passes away, and the move reflects the state’s acknowledgment of Pawar’s contribution.
🏫 Schools and Education Institutions: What’s the Status?
There has been confusion and mixed messaging about whether all schools will remain closed during the mourning period:
✅ What Recent Reports Say
According to some reports, all government and private schools in Maharashtra were ordered closed on 28 January 2026 as a part of the public holiday declared by the state government.
⚠️ Clarification from Officials
However, education officials have clarified that only 28 January has been officially declared a holiday for schools as of now. There has been no confirmed government order stating that schools will remain closed for the full three days of mourning (28–30 Jan). Unless a new directive is issued by the Maharashtra education department, schools will operate normally on 29 and 30 January 2026.
This explanation was given to resolve public confusion after initial news reports and social media speculation suggested longer closures.
📌 Key Points on School Closures
28 January 2026: Schools in Maharashtra were closed due to the public holiday.
29–30 January 2026: No official closure order has been issued for these dates yet.
The education department will issue an official notification if further closures are decided.
🏢 Government Offices and Public Holidays
In addition to schools, the Maharashtra government has announced that all state government offices will remain closed on 28 January as part of the public holiday. Official programmes have been cancelled, and many administrative functions will be suspended for the day.
During the full mourning period, flags will remain at half-mast and no entertainment or celebratory events will be held by the government.
🚓 Essential Services and Other Operations
While the official protocol impacts many public activities, not everything shuts down:
Hospitals and emergency medical services remain operational.
Police, disaster response units, and fire services continue regular duties.
Essential services (e.g., ambulances, emergency response) are not affected by the mourning period.
This ensures that critical services continue without disruption for public safety and well-being.
🪩 State Funeral and Protocol
Authorities have indicated that Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be conducted with full state honours — a tradition for senior leaders. This may include ceremonial features such as a guard of honour, flag-draped coffin, and other formal tributes.
The funeral and associated respectful observances are part of the state’s mourning protocol.
📊 Aircraft Crash Details
Initial investigations have suggested that the Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) carrying Ajit Pawar and others crashed while landing at Baramati airport early on 28 January 2026. Five others on board, including staff and crew, were also reported killed in the accident.
A probe into the incident is expected to be launched by aviation authorities in collaboration with relevant state agencies.
🧑💼 Political Reaction and Public Grief
The news of Ajit Pawar’s death has led to widespread mourning across Maharashtra and beyond. Political leaders from various parties, including Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress, and others, have expressed condolences. National figures and celebrities have also posted tributes and messages of grief.
This broad response reflects Pawar’s long career and influence in state politics.
🏙️ Impact on Public Life
👨🎓 Education
Confusion over extended closures has been clarified: only the first day is officially a holiday.
🧑💼 Government Business
Offices closed on 28 Jan; work expected to resume as per operational needs or future directives.
🎉 Cultural & Entertainment Events
All official events are paused for the mourning period.
🛍️ Markets and Businesses
Some local trader groups in mourning hotspots (e.g., Baramati, Pune) have voluntarily observed closures or reduced activity as a mark of respect.
🤔 FAQs – Maharashtra Mourning & School Closure
Q1. Has the Maharashtra government announced school closures for three days?
No. The official closure — as per current orders — is for 28 January 2026 only. Any extension will be communicated formally.
Q2. What are the dates of the state mourning?
State mourning has been declared from 28 January to 30 January 2026 inclusive.
Q3. Will schools reopen on 29 and 30 January?
As of the latest official clarification, schools are expected to operate normally on those dates unless new instructions are issued.
Q4. Will the flags be lowered?
Yes, national flags on government buildings will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period.
Q5. Which services remain open during mourning?
Essential services (hospitals, emergency services, police, fire services) will continue to operate.
🏁 Conclusion
The passing of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has brought an official period of mourning and public reflection across Maharashtra. With three days of state mourning and a public holiday declared for 28 January 2026, the state is observing deep respect for his life and service. While schools experienced closure on the first day, official clarification suggests that extended closures are not yet confirmed for the remaining mourning days.
