Hilal A Bhat
An academic term is a portion of an academic year during which educational institutions hold final examinations. At this time Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education also organizes examinations for the classes from 10th to 12th .The schedules adopted may as well. Common terms such as semester, formative assessment tests, and half yearly examination are used to denote terms of specific durations. The academic year begins in November or and ends in the Autumn.
The academic session in Kashmir has been reverted to the previous November-March schedule for the 2024-25 academic year, with annual exams for classes 9th , 10th , 11th , and 12th .They are now scheduled for October-November 2025. This change, driven by feedback from parents and educators, allows for a more suitable academic rhythm given the region’s climate.
Key Changes In Academic Session:
• Previous calendar restored: The government has reinstated the older academic calendar for the Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu, with sessions and exams now occurring from November.
• Exam Schedule: The annual regular examinations for classes 9th , 10th , 11th , and 12th are scheduled to take place in November 2025.
• Reason For Change: The reversal was based on feedback from stakeholders, including parents, who found the November session more practical due to the harsh winter weather in the region.
The “autumn of academic session” refers to the harvesting time of the academic year, which typically runs from around November to October next year.
“The local season, Harud, is the harvest season in Kashmir, bringing a golden transformation as ripe rice and apples are gathered. The iconic Chinar trees turn brilliant red and gold. For Kashmiris, Harud is a time of beauty and nostalgia, marking a calm period and reminding them of the fleeting nature of time. Students in this season may become gloomy and reflect on their errors.”
Natural Autumn Season: The natural autumn season, called Harud, runs from September to November and is a time for harvesting of crops, especially rice, walnuts and apples.It is also a time when the Chinar trees shed their golden leaves, creating a colorful landscape in parks and gardens evrywhere.
It is in this part of the year, students get chance to harvest the academic excellence with flying colours. They also get chance to decide what to do next and in the future. Most of the students begin to aim what to do in future and fix their future professions and aims
Harud| The Season Of Change: In Kashmir, autumn isn’t just a season – it’s an emotion. Locally known as Harud, this time of year marks the harvest season and the beginning of a quiet, golden transformation across the valley. As the fields are filled with ripe rice and apples, the iconic Chinar trees burst into deep shades of red and gold, lining the gardens, roads, and riverbanks with a fiery glow. For many Kashmiris. Harud evokes both beauty and nostalgia – a season of calm after summer’s buzz, and a reminder of the fleeting nature of time. Students in this part of the year start to gloom and may get chance to see where errors are.
( The author is a teacher at Govt High School Brakpora Anantnag. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
