As India has started witnessing a steady decline in daily COVID-19 cases, several colleges and universities across the country have resumed physical classes or are planning to do the same. Scroll down to check the state-wise status on colleges reopening.

States such as Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Odisha and Bihar have announced the reopening of educational institutions, including schools and colleges, amid the declining Covid-19 cases. Check below state-wise status of reopening of colleges and universities. 

Delhi colleges reopen, DU to open on Feb 17, JMI in March

With the decline in the number of Covid-19 cases across Delhi, colleges reopened from February 7. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are among the universities which resumed offline classes from February 7.

Meanwhile, the University of Delhi will reopen from February 17 and nd a notification regarding the same will soon be issued from the office of the Vice-Chancellor. The announcement comes after a demonstration by students demanding resumption of offline classes. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University will reopen from March 2 in phases. According to an official the university will reopen from March 2 for final-year postgraduate students and for final year undergraduate students and offline classes will be conducted from March 15, 2022.

UP colleges resume offline classes

Colleges in Uttar Pradesh have been allowed to reopen from February 7. Not only colleges, schools can also conduct offline classes for students of Classes 9 to 12. All Covid protocols such as social distancing, wearing of face masks must be followed at the time of reopening of physical classes in educational institutions, a government statement said. Colleges were closed in Uttar Pradesh till February 15 for physical classes to contain the spread of COVID. The Uttar Pradesh government had ordered a shutdown of all schools and colleges on January 16 till January 23, which was extended till January 30. However, online classes continued to take place.

Uttarakhand colleges, universities open

Though all technical institutes in Uttarakhand reopened for offline studies on August 23, colleges and universities in the state reopened for physical classes on September 1. The state government had allowed the schools to resume physical classes for the students of Classes 6 to 8 from August 16. The government has asked the institutions to sanitise the premises properly before reopening colleges. Technical institutes will have to provide provisions of hand sanitiser, masks, and thermal scanning at the entry gate. They will have to prepare a schedule to have students enter and leave colleges at different hours. Students will have to wear masks while attending offline classes.

Punjab colleges, universities reopen for offline classes

Colleges and universities in Punjab reopened on February 7, 2022, amid the declining COVID-19 cases. The state government had issued an order regarding the guidelines to be followed for reopening. The circular has stated that schools (Classes 6 and above), colleges, universities, coaching institutions and other education institutions are allowed to open from February 7, 2022, for physical classes.  .

Chandigarh colleges reopen for offline classes, PU to open for all on March 4

Chandigarh colleges reopened for offline classes from February 1, 2022. All colleges and universities have been allowed to reopen and function normally. The Chandigarh administration has notified that All students and officials in the age group 18 and above, must be fully vaccinated if they want to come to campus. Coaching institutes can also reopen and operate at 50 per cent capacity and the rules for vaccination will remain the same.

Meanwhile, Panjab University is all set to resume offline classes from March 4, 2022. As per the revised academic calendar, Punjab University will end the semester on June 14, 2022. Punjab University semester exams will start on June 16 and will end on July 30, 2022.

Colleges, universities open in Haryana 

All universities and colleges reopened in Haryana from February 1, 2022. The Haryana government had issued an order in this regard, which said, "All cinemas/multiplexes are allowed to open with 50 per cent seating capacity. Universities, colleges, schools for classes 10 to 12; coaching/training institutes both govt and private are allowed to open with effect from February 1, 2022.

Himachal Pradesh colleges reopen

The Himachal Pradesh government reopened all educational institutions in the state, including colleges and universities, from February 1, 2022. Himachal Pradesh had earlier closed all schools, colleges and universities, barring a few exceptions due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. In order to control the spread, all these educational institutions were closed till January 26, 2022.

J&K colleges, universities allowed to open for offline classes

Jammu and Kashmir colleges and universities can reopen for physical classes now. In a recent order, the Jammu and Kashmir executive committee had said all universities, colleges, polytechnic institutes and industrial training institutes (ITIs) and Classes IX to XII can commence their routine offline teaching by following Covid-appropriate behaviour and standard operating procedures from February 14. All colleges, schools, polytechnics, ITIs, coaching centres had earlier shifted to online mode after a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.

Odisha colleges, universities reopen for physical classes 

All schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, colleges and universities reopened in Odisha from Februray 7, 2022. However, classes 1 to 7 will be allowed to resume offline classes from February 14, 2022. 

West Bengal colleges reopen 

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions in West Bengal reopened from February 3 as the Covid-19 pandemic situation improved in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister said. While the schools for Classes 8 to 12 reopened from February 3, decision on reopening of primary schools will be taken later, the Chief Minister said.

Goa colleges closed till Feb 15

After a surge in COVID-19 cases in Goa, the government decided to shut down all schools and colleges in the state till February15, 2022. The classes will be continued in the online mode, an order by the state government read.

Mizoram colleges shift to online mode

As per government guidelines issued on January 8, 2022, all schools, colleges and institutes of higher education will remain closed in Mizoram. Schools will remain closed for classes 1 to 9 and class 11. All teaching will shift to the online mode. 

Rajasthan colleges open

In a recent move, colleges and universities in Rajasthan have been asked to ensure that everyone is fully vaccinated by January 31, 2022. However, no decision on closure of colleges has been taken so far. Rajasthan colleges, coaching institutes and other educational institutions reopened on September 1, 2021, after the state reported a significant downtrend in COVID-19 cases at that time. 

Bihar colleges allowed to reopen 

Colleges in Bihar have been allowed to function with 100 per cent capacity from February 7, whereas schools for up to class 8 can operate with 50 per cent capacity. The Bihar government had earlier closed all schools and colleges till January 21, 2022, due to the rising Covid-19 cases. 

Tamil Nadu colleges reopen, exams to be held online

Government schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu reopened on February 1. Earlier, the government had announced closure of all educational institutions in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. All learning activities moved online and the government had also postponed college exams. However, the government will continue with online exams for college students. The exams are scheduled to be held online from February 1 to 20.

Madhya Pradesh colleges open

Colleges and universities in Madhya Pradesh will continue to run offline. Semester exams will be held in offline mode at 50 per cent capacity.

Assam colleges resopen  

Schools, colleges and other educational institutes reopened in Assam on February 15 as the Covid situation has improved in the state. Apart from this, all Covid-related curbs have also been abolished today, including the night curfew.

Maharashtra colleges reopen 

Maharashtra colleges reopened from February 1, 2022. In order to attend offline classes, students have to be double vaccinated against COVID. However, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant clarified that if some body does not want to resume offline classes, they can take a call to not do so. Maharashtra colleges have also been directed to continue with online exams for papers scheduled till February 15, 2022.

Karnataka colleges to reopen in phases from February 16

Colleges in Karnataka will reopen for offline classes in a phased manner from February 16, 2022. Educational institutions were shut after the 'hijab vs saffron stoles' row turned violent. High schools in Karnataka reopened on February 14 amid prohibitory orders in Udupi and Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the Karnataka high court has proposed to ban religious garments in educational institutions, till the matter is pending with the court.

Kerala colleges reopen

The Kerala government has announced reopening of all educational institutions. Kerala colleges and other institutions were closed since January 21, 2022, due to rising COVID-19 cases. "Classes in colleges and higher secondary will reopen from February 7 and Class 1 to 9 will be functional from February 14,” read an official statement.

Puducherry colleges resume physical classes 

All educational institutions, including schools and colleges in Puducherry, resumed physical classes from February 4 as COVID cases in the union territory have come down. Earlier Puducherry Education Minister A Namasviyam had announced the closure of schools and colleges in the union territory after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Tripura colleges reopen for physical classes

In view of the declining COVID cases in Tripura, the state reopened all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, for offline classes on February 1.  The Tripura government had on Saturday announced that offline classes will resume at full capacity from pre-primary to Class 12 under strict COVID-19 guidelines

Telangana colleges reopen

Telangana colleges have reopened for offline classes. The colleges were closed till January 30, 2022. The Telangana government had declared holidays for all educational institutions from January 8 to 16 in the wake of rise in Covid-19 cases. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had instructed officials to declare holidays in educational institutions during a health review recently. Degree colleges and technical colleges in Telangana started online classes for the 2021-22 academic session from July 1, 2021. 

Gujarat colleges open

As the COVID-19 situation has improved in Gujarat, the government has allowed reopening of schools and colleges. Pre-schools, anganwadi centres and kindergartens can resume offline classes from February 17, 2022. Educational institutions are reopening after almost two years of conducting online classes.

College reopening draws mixed response from students on Twitter 

In 2021, Twitter was abuzz with mixed reactions from students regarding the opening of colleges. Here are some of the reactions:

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