Himachal Pradesh Removes Caste Column from School Admission Forms for Equality

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, directed officials to remove the caste column from all school admission forms across the state, a move aimed at fostering equality and fraternity among students. This significant decision applies to admissions from pre-nursery to college levels.

The directive, issued during a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Welfare Board (HPSCWB), underscores the state government’s commitment to eliminating caste-based discrimination and preventing children from developing feelings of inferiority. While the caste column will be absent from general admission forms, Scheduled Caste students and their families will still be required to provide caste details when applying for specific government schemes and benefits.

Himachal Pradesh 2026: Eliminating Caste Discrimination in Education

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized that the removal of the caste column is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive society. Speaking to reporters on the fifth day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Monsoon Session, he stated, “We have decided that from next year, when a child fills an admission form, there will be no column asking for caste. If a student wants to avail a benefit under a particular government scheme, they can mention their caste for that purpose.” He further added, “If we create such feelings among children right from school, it is not good for society. Therefore, caste-related columns will not be there in school admission forms or college prospectuses.”

This policy change is part of broader efforts by the Himachal Pradesh government to uplift Scheduled Castes and ensure their welfare. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) highlighted the substantial financial commitments made by the state, with approximately Rs 1,400 crore being spent on social security pensions. Additionally, Rs 1,105 crore was allocated under the Scheduled Caste Development Programme, demonstrating a sustained focus on supporting these communities.

Himachal Pradesh 2026: Welfare Initiatives and Educational Support

Category	Amount/Benefit
Social Security Pensions	~Rs 1,400 crore
Scheduled Caste Development Programme	Rs 1,105 crore
Education Loans (meritorious students)	Up to Rs 20 lakh at 1% interest
Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana (free electricity)	300 units
Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana (monthly pension for women)	Rs 1,500
Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Swarozgar Saur Yojana (subsidy in tribal areas)	5%
Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Swarozgar Saur Yojana (subsidy in other areas)	4%

Himachal Pradesh 2026: Teacher Recruitment Updates

Regarding teacher recruitment for CBSE schools, a strict deadline of September 30 has been set for completing the process. The Chief Minister noted that the work is progressing rapidly, with results already declared for several categories, including English, Mathematics, Zoology, Chemistry, and Biology teachers. Recruitment for music teachers is also slated to begin soon, and instructions have been given to ensure that selected principals and teachers who have appeared for interviews are appointed without delay.

Himachal Pradesh 2026: Important Deadlines

Event	Date
Removal of caste column from admission forms	Starting next academic session
Deadline for teacher recruitment for CBSE schools	September 30, 2026

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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