Prime Highlights:
- Himachal Pradesh has achieved a 3% literacy rate, becoming the fourth fully literate state in India.
- The state now leads the country in student-teacher ratio, showing strong education quality and access.
Key Facts:
- School dropout ratein Himachal Pradesh is now nearly zero, thanks to sustained policy efforts and inclusive education.
- India’s overall literacy rate, according to the 2023-24 PLFS, is 9% for people aged seven and aboveand 79.7% for those aged five and above.
Key Background:
Himachal Pradesh has accomplished a significant milestone in terms of education, as the literacy rate has been attained at 99.3 percent. Himachal Pradesh is now the fourth state in India where nearly everyone is literate, after Mizoram, Tripura, and Goa.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu announced this during the Ullas Mela 2025 in Shimla on International Literacy Day. He pointed to how the state had travelled to almost 100 percent literacy today, out of only 7 percent in the days of Independence, and he attributed the ULLAS programme to this success.
At the event, Chief Minister Sukhu also noted that Himachal now leads the country in student-teacher ratio, which is an important measure of education quality. He said the government will continue reforms to make government schools centres of excellence and improve the learning experience for all students.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur said that almost no students are leaving school in the state. This has been possible through consistent policies, investment in schools, and a focus on inclusive education.
Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar thanked women’s groups, youth clubs, NGOs, volunteer teachers, and newly educated people for their help in the literacy mission. Their work shows that community support is very important for success.
The 2023-24 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows that about 81% of people aged seven and above in India can read and write, while around 80% of those aged five and above are literate. This is because authorities in Himachal Pradesh commented that they will continue to improve schools and education schemes to keep up.
This demonstrates that great efforts, support for the people in society, and orientation on quality education may lead to miraculous outcomes and inspire the entire country.
