CM Sukhu to make Hamirpur HP's Education Capital
Synopsis
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has declared Hamirpur the Education Capital of Himachal Pradesh and announced the state's first science college there, backed by a Rs 100 crore budget with Rs 20 crore already released and 80 kanal of land identified.
Key Takeaways
Hamirpur is being declared the Education Capital of Himachal Pradesh by the Sukhu government.
The state's first dedicated science college will launch from the next academic session in Hamirpur.
The project will cost approximately Rs 100 crore ; an initial tranche of Rs 20 crore has already been released.
80 kanal of land has been identified for the college campus.
Admissions will be conducted through a competitive entrance test , positioning it as a selective, merit-based institution.
The announcement follows the earlier designation of Kangra as the state's Tourism Capital , reflecting a district-level thematic development strategy.
A new academic landmark is taking shape in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Friday, 14 August 2026 that Hamirpur will be declared the Education Capital of Himachal Pradesh — and the state's first dedicated science college will open there from the next academic session.
Hamirpur's science college: the numbers behind the announcement
The proposed institution carries a price tag of approximately Rs 100 crore. The government has already released a first instalment of Rs 20 crore to set the project in motion. 80 kanal of land has been identified for the campus — a signal that the groundwork is moving from announcement to execution.
Admissions will be merit-based, conducted through a dedicated entrance test. Sukhu described the vision plainly: a 'world-class science college' (world-class science college) — not a routine government institution, but a selective, research-oriented anchor for the region's educational identity.
Kangra for tourism, Hamirpur for education — the logic of regional hubs
The Hamirpur decision does not stand alone. Sukhu's government had earlier designated Kangra — the district synonymous with ancient forts, Shaktipeeth temples, and rolling tea estates — as the Tourism Capital of Himachal Pradesh. The pattern is deliberate: identify each district's comparative strength, brand it, and channel state investment accordingly.
Hamirpur has long punched above its weight in competitive examinations, producing a disproportionate share of defence and civil service recruits relative to its size. A world-class science college here is less a random choice than a calculated amplification of existing human capital.
What the first instalment signals — and what comes next
Releasing Rs 20 crore before the college even breaks ground is a political and administrative statement: the money is committed, not merely promised. The critical milestones ahead are land formalisation, the finalisation of the entrance test framework, and the release of subsequent funding tranches in time for the target academic session.
For students across Himachal Pradesh — and potentially beyond — the entrance-test model means the college is being built for merit, not proximity. That framing will define how the institution is perceived from its very first batch.
Himachal Pradesh is threading a careful needle: using sector-specific spatial branding to drive investment into districts that might otherwise be overshadowed by Shimla's administrative gravity. If the science college delivers on its world-class ambition, Hamirpur's new title will mean something. That proof of concept is now on the clock.
Point of View
Hamirpur for education — reveals a Congress government in Himachal Pradesh trying to reframe regional development as a portfolio of specialisations rather than a race for uniform infrastructure. Hamirpur's strong tradition of producing defence and civil service talent gives the science college announcement political and sociological logic beyond routine vote-bank geography. The Rs 20 crore first instalment is a credibility marker, but the real test is whether subsequent tranches and land formalisation follow before the next election cycle turns the announcement into a campaign liability. If the entrance-test model holds, this could set a precedent for merit-selective state institutions in smaller hill states.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Hamirpur being made the Education Capital of Himachal Pradesh?
Chief Minister Sukhu announced the designation as part of a strategy to assign sector-specific identities to districts based on their strengths. Hamirpur has a strong tradition of producing competitive exam toppers and defence recruits, making it a natural fit for an education hub.
When will Himachal Pradesh's first science college in Hamirpur open?
CM Sukhu stated the college will begin from the next academic session. A specific calendar date has not been confirmed yet.
How much will the Hamirpur science college cost?
The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 100 crore . The government has already released a first instalment of Rs 20 crore .
How will admissions to the Hamirpur science college work?
Admissions will be conducted through a dedicated entrance test, positioning the institution as a merit-based, selective science college.
What is Himachal Pradesh's regional hub strategy under CM Sukhu?
The Sukhu government has designated Kangra as the state's Tourism Capital and is now declaring Hamirpur the Education Capital, channelling sector-specific investment into districts based on their comparative strengths.
