Dr Manmohan Singh's Death: Are schools and colleges shut in Karnataka today?

After India lost one of its most respected statesmen with the passing of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday, Karnataka declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the state on Friday. The state government announced its decision shortly after the news of Dr Singh's demise in the national capital at the age of 92. Dr Singh served as the Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms. Widely known and respected for his crucial and pivotal role in the country's economic liberalisation,  Dr Singh leaves behind a legacy of steady leadership as well as political and economic achievements. Dr Singh's passing left a deep void in the country's political and economic landscape.

Is there a holiday in Karnataka today?

The Karnataka government has declared a holiday on December 27. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Siddu) took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to describe Dr Singh as "a statesman of unparalleled wisdom". Dr Singh's "leadership and vision left an indelible mark on our nation", the CM wrote.

"It was during his tenure as PM that I became the CM of Karnataka for the first time. His encouragement of our budgetary measures and the influence of landmark UPA policies like the Right to Food Act shaped Karnataka’s progress and welfare initiatives," Siddaramaiah wrote.

Siddaramaiah also noted that Dr Singh’s legacy would “continue to inspire generations”.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Dr Singh’s death marks the end of “an era defined by statesmanship, integrity and quiet strength".

“His (Dr Singh's) vision for the nation both as the PM and the economic architect during one of its most defining moments truly speak volumes about his resilient leadership,” Shivakumar wrote.

Meanwhile, netizens flooded social media platforms with hundreds of thousands of messages expressing grief over the passing of Dr Singh. 

ALSO READ: As India loses former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, X flooded with condolence messages 

Are schools in Karnataka closed today? What about colleges?

Yes, the holiday includes educational institutions such as schools and colleges.

The state has urged educational institutions to follow the directive, allowing their students and staff to pay their respects to Dr Singh.