Himachal Pradesh Achieves Remarkable Literacy Milestone

Himachal Pradesh has achieved a remarkable literacy rate of 99.55%, making it the second-most literate state in India. This milestone, recognized on International Literacy Day, reflects the state's commitment to education through initiatives like the New India Literacy Programme. With a target of 100% literacy by 2026-27, the state is focusing on integrating non-literate adults into formal education and enhancing digital literacy. The impressive results from the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test further underscore the progress made. As Himachal Pradesh approaches its goal, the emphasis is shifting towards sustaining these gains and expanding learning opportunities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 9, 2026, 18:16 IST

Himachal Pradesh's Literacy Rate Reaches 99.55%

Munish Sood reports from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, where the state has achieved a significant educational milestone by becoming the second-most literate state in India, boasting a literacy rate of 99.55%. This impressive figure places it just behind Goa, which has a literacy rate of 99.7%.

This accomplishment was recognized at a national event in New Delhi on Tuesday, coinciding with International Literacy Day, where Education Minister Rohit Thakur accepted the honor on behalf of the state.

The literacy rate has seen an increase from 99.3% in September 2025 to the current 99.55%, bringing Himachal Pradesh closer to its goal of achieving full literacy. The state government aims to reach 100% literacy by the 2026-27 academic year.

This progress is largely attributed to the New India Literacy Programme (ULLAS), which has been implemented across all 12 districts. The initiative focuses on integrating non-literate adults into formal education, providing them with essential literacy and numeracy skills.

The scale of this initiative is significant, with 94,930 learners registered on the ULLAS portal and 19,232 volunteer teachers trained to assist them. Additionally, academically proficient students from each school have been selected as mentors to support their peers.

The results from the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) further highlight the state's educational advancements. Since September 2024, 61,542 learners have been assessed, with 59,896 passing, resulting in an impressive overall pass rate of 97.3%.

In the initial assessment in September 2024, 14,516 out of 15,351 candidates passed, achieving a success rate of 94.6%. This rate improved to 98.3% in March 2025, with 28,062 of 28,534 candidates passing, and in March 2026, 17,318 out of 17,657 candidates passed, marking a success rate of 98.1%.

Himachal Pradesh has also made notable strides in broader educational metrics. Its ranking in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 has risen from 13th to 6th nationally, placing it third among all states. Furthermore, in the National Achievement Survey/PARAKH assessment, the state improved its position from 21st in 2021 to 5th.

With the literacy rate now at 99.55%, the focus for Himachal Pradesh is shifting towards maintaining these gains while also enhancing digital literacy, vocational skills, and lifelong learning opportunities.

Currently, the state is just 0.45 percentage points away from achieving its 100% literacy goal, setting the stage for a potential complete literacy achievement within this financial year.