In a significant shift from the conventional three-year undergraduate system, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to implement four-year degree programmes in 29 government colleges starting from the 2026-27 academic session, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP).
Details of the New Programme
According to a notification issued by Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Education, 26 government degree colleges with an enrolment exceeding 1,500 students will offer four-year undergraduate degree programmes with 'Honours' and 'Honours with Research'. Meanwhile, three colleges with enrolment between 1,000 and 1,500 will offer four-year 'Honours' programmes. The 'Honours with Research' option will be available only in colleges that meet prescribed academic and faculty requirements, including the availability of at least two PhD supervisors.
District-wise Distribution
Among the 29 selected colleges, Kangra district has the highest number with seven institutions, followed by Shimla with five, Mandi with four, and Una with three. Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Sirmaur, and Solan have two colleges each, while Chamba and Kullu have one each. Kangra, Shimla, and Mandi will serve as the primary hubs for the initial rollout of four-year undergraduate education under the NEP framework. The remaining 91 government colleges and DAV College, Kotkhai, Shimla (a grant-in-aid institution), will continue to offer three-year undergraduate programmes, indicating a phased implementation of the reforms.
Merger of Low-Enrolment Colleges
The government has also decided to merge nine government degree colleges with student strength below 75 with colleges located at district headquarters. Notably, Government Degree College Kukumseri in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district will be merged with Government Degree College Kullu. To address concerns of affected students, the government announced a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for those required to relocate to district headquarters for studies. The annual expenditure on these stipends is estimated at Rs 1.91 crore.
Extension to Sanskrit and Grant-in-Aid Colleges
Selected government Sanskrit colleges and grant-in-aid institutions have also been permitted to offer four-year undergraduate programmes under the new framework, subject to conditions. Three Sanskrit colleges in Phagli, Sundernagar, and Nahan will offer four-year degree programmes with 'Honours' and 'Honours with Research' in core Sanskrit disciplines such as Sahityacharya, Darshnacharya, Jyotishcharya, Vyakarancharya, and Vedacharya. Four grant-in-aid colleges—St Bede's College, Shimla; DAV College Kangra; MLSM College, Sundernagar; and SVSD College, Bhatoli—have been allowed to offer the four-year programme, provided it is managed within existing sanctioned strength and without additional financial aid.
Background of NEP Implementation
The Union government approved the NEP in July 2020. A month later, the then Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, announced the policy's implementation, making Himachal the first state in the country to do so. Besides modifying the 10+2 structure of school education, the policy aims to overhaul higher education by transforming institutions into large multidisciplinary universities, colleges, and knowledge hubs. As per the policy, every district will have at least one multidisciplinary university or college offering instruction in Indian languages and providing high-quality teaching, research, and community engagement.
Opposition to College Merger
Lahaul-Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana has urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to prevent the merger of Government Degree College, Kukumseri, with Government College, Kullu. She argued that educational institutions in the tribal district cannot be judged solely on student enrolment. In a letter to the CM, Rana highlighted that Kukumseri is the only college serving a vast, remote population in the Lahaul valley, and merging it with a distant college would cause serious hardship for students, particularly girls and those from economically weaker sections. Citing the region's difficult terrain, scattered habitations, harsh winters, and limited connectivity, she warned that many students might be forced to discontinue higher education due to travel difficulties and additional financial burden. She requested a special relaxation from the prescribed norms to allow the college to continue functioning independently, given the district's unique geographical and strategic importance.
