International Literacy Day 2026: Himachal Pradesh To Receive Recognition For Full Literacy Today
Himachal Pradesh, which achieved full functional literacy in 2025, will be honoured in New Delhi on International Literacy Day 2026. The state recorded a literacy rate of 99.5 per cent, placing it among the leading states in the country.
Himachal Pradesh is set to receive recognition in New Delhi on International Literacy Day 2026 for its achievement in attaining full functional literacy. The recognition comes nearly a year after the state was officially declared fully literate in September 2025.
The state achieved the milestone under the Centre’s ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, with its literacy rate reaching 99.5 per cent. The achievement placed Himachal Pradesh among the states and Union Territories that have attained full functional literacy.
The state’s progress is particularly notable given its literacy level at the time of Independence. Himachal Pradesh had a literacy rate of only around 5 per cent in 1947. The state has since made substantial progress in expanding access to education and improving literacy.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur highlighted the scale of this transformation while speaking about the achievement.
“While the national literacy rate was around 13 per cent, Himachal’s was just about 5 per cent. The journey from the lowest literacy to full literacy is remarkable,” the minister said.
Focus now on quality of education
With basic literacy no longer being the primary challenge, the state government is now looking at improving the quality and functioning of educational institutions.
Thakur said strengthening government schools and colleges would be among the key priorities. He also emphasised the need for a more transparent system for teacher transfers and greater stability for teaching staff.
“Reducing political interference in education, particularly transfers, to minimum is the first and mandatory step to further improve the quality of education,” the minister said.
He also called for teachers to have fixed tenures and for transfers to be avoided during the academic session.
“There should be no transfers during the academic session. And there should be regular appointments, with no backdoor entries,” he said.
Government school enrolment remains a concern
Despite the progress on literacy, Himachal Pradesh continues to face challenges related to student enrolment in government institutions.
According to Thakur, several colleges in the state now have very low student numbers, with some having only around 40 to 50 students. He also pointed to the closure, merger or downgrading of nearly 1,500 schools because of low enrolment.
The declining number of students in government schools has emerged as another major concern for the state education system.
“Government schools have lost four lakh students over the last 15 years. It’s a huge loss and challenge for us. We need to carry out these reforms if we want to save government schools,” he said.
Having achieved full functional literacy in 2025, the state is now expected to shift its focus towards improving learning outcomes, strengthening government institutions and addressing declining enrolment.
ALSO READ |
CA Final November 2026 Mock Tests Start From September 9, Check Complete Paper-Wise Schedule
