Sunil Chadha
Shimla:
Even as Himachal Pradesh joins the list of states with 100 per cent literacy, its public universities continue to lag behind in national academic performance.
On Teacher’s Day, Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur announced in Shimla that the state has officially achieved 100 per cent literacy, calling it a “historic milestone”.
However, the NIRF India Rankings-2025 revealed that none of Himachal’s major state-run universities featured in the country’s top 100 institutions, a striking contrast that underscores a widening gap between basic literacy achievements and higher education excellence.
Major milestone in literacy
At a state-level Teacher’s Day function held at Hotel Peterhoff in Shimla, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government formally declared Himachal Pradesh as 100 per cent literate. The announcement was made by Education Minister Rohit Thakur in the presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani.
“This success belongs to every teacher, student and parent in Himachal. It reflects decades of hard work, especially in remote and rural areas,” said Thakur. According to state education officials, over 17,000 schools are operational in the state, catering to 14.25 lakh students, with more than 1 lakh teachers currently employed.
NIRF rankings: Public universities absent, private ones gain
In sharp contrast to the literacy achievement, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, released on September 4, presented a sobering picture for Himachal Pradesh’s higher education sector. Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) once again failed to make it to the top 100 in any major category.
The only state-based universities to secure positions in the rankings were IIT-Mandi, which was ranked 58th overall, and Shoolini University, which came 69th in the university category. Shoolini also featured 44th in pharmacy, highlighting the strength of select private institutions.
In specialised fields, IIT-Mandi was ranked 26th in engineering and 10th in innovation; NIT-Hamirpur secured the 97th spot in engineering, in agriculture, Dr YS Parmar University was placed 20th, and CSKHPKV-Palampur was ranked 29th; HP National Law University, Shimla, was ranked 34th in law, and IIM-Sirmaur was placed 51st in management.
While these individual rankings show pockets of excellence, the absence of flagship public universities in top categories points to persistent systemic issues.
Experts suggest remedial measures
According to higher education experts, Himachal Pradesh’s universities can significantly improve their performance in national rankings like NIRF by adopting a targeted, reform-oriented approach.
The experts say the foremost need is to invest in research infrastructure and faculty development. “Universities must create an ecosystem that encourages publications, innovation and interdisciplinary work,” they say.
Experts also stress the importance of curriculum revision and industry tie-ups. “Courses should reflect current industry needs. We need stronger collaborations with sectors like pharma, agriculture and IT,” said a professor at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh.
To boost outcomes and visibility, institutions must improve alumni engagement, promote international partnerships and ensure transparent governance, said Dr Meena Thakur, who is into private education sector. “Funding isn’t enough but outcomes matter. Regular audits, student support and accountability will help build both credibility and quality.”
