Himachal Declared Fully Literate with 99.3% Literacy

In a significant milestone for India’s education landscape, Himachal Pradesh has been declared a fully literate state, achieving a remarkable 99.3% literacy rate. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during Ullas Mela 2025, an event held in Shimla to mark International Literacy Day.

From 7% to 99.3%: A Historic Journey

• Highlighting the state’s extraordinary progress, CM Sukhu noted that Himachal had started its journey with a literacy rate of just 7% post-independence. The state has now surpassed the national benchmark of 95% literacy, a feat that places it among the most educated regions in India.
• He described the journey as “full of challenges” but driven by a consistent focus on expanding access to quality education, especially in rural and remote areas.

Top Rank in Student-Teacher Ratio

In addition to literacy, Himachal also ranks first in the country in terms of student-teacher ratio, reflecting the government’s success in ensuring personalized and effective classroom learning. This has been achieved through,

• Strategic recruitment of qualified teachers
• Infrastructure expansion in government schools
• Curriculum modernization and teacher training

Education Reforms and the Road Ahead

CM Sukhu emphasized the government’s commitment to further reforming the education sector in line with modern learning needs. Future plans include,

• Transforming government institutions into centres of excellence
• Integrating technology and innovation into classroom teaching
• Enhancing the digital infrastructure of rural schools
• Boosting vocational and life skills education

Education Minister Rohit Thakur also acknowledged the long-term efforts and visionary planning that contributed to this achievement, crediting decades of investment in universal primary education and literacy campaigns.

Exam Importance

• Event: Himachal declared fully literate on International Literacy Day (September 8, 2025)
• Key Stats
• Literacy Rate: 99.3%
• National Literacy Benchmark: 95%
• Student-Teacher Ratio: Ranked 1st in India