From 7% in 1947 to 99% in 2025: Himachal Pradesh Declared Fully Literate State

A state is considered fully literate when it achieves a literacy rate of over 95 percent.

On Monday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that Himachal Pradesh has been declared a fully literate state under the centrally sponsored literacy program Ullas.

As part of this program, any state that reaches a literacy rate above 95 percent is recognized as fully literate. The initiative emphasizes not only reading and writing skills but also financial and digital literacy.

Speaking at the International Literacy Day celebrations in Shimla, the Chief Minister said, “Becoming a fully literate state is a matter of great pride for us.”

Education Minister Rohit Thakur added that Himachal Pradesh has achieved a literacy rate exceeding 99 percent, the highest in the country. He noted that this marks a remarkable journey from 1947, when the state’s literacy rate stood at only 7 percent.