“Himachal Pradesh’s new scholarship initiative, Mere Shahar Ke 100 Ratan, aims to empower girls through education. Launched in March 2025, it offers full coaching scholarships to 6,800 students across 68 constituencies, with additional concessions for thousands more. The program targets talented girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing financial aid and coaching to bridge educational gaps.”
Himachal’s Bold Step Toward Empowering Girls Through Education
In a transformative move to promote girls’ education, the Himachal Pradesh government, in collaboration with Crack Academy, launched the “Mere Shahar Ke 100 Ratan” scholarship examination on May 20, 2025. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to identify and support talented students, particularly girls, across the state’s 68 constituencies. The program, spearheaded by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is designed to provide free coaching for competitive examinations to 6,800 students, with a significant focus on empowering young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The scholarship examination, conducted across over 3,500 schools, targets students who demonstrate academic potential but lack the resources to pursue higher education or competitive exam preparation. The top 100 students from each constituency receive full coaching scholarships, while the next 200 are granted a 75% fee concession, and an additional 500 students per constituency get a 50% concession. This tiered structure ensures that thousands of students, particularly girls, gain access to quality education and training.
Neeraj Kansal, Founder and CEO of Crack Academy, emphasized the initiative’s role in fostering social inclusion. “This program is a massive step toward educational upliftment, especially for girls who face financial and social barriers,” he said. The initiative aligns with Himachal Pradesh’s broader educational reforms, which have already propelled the state from 21st to 5th in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for school education, as noted by Education Minister Rohit Thakur in June 2025.
The focus on girls’ education addresses a critical gap in the state’s educational landscape. Despite Himachal’s strong performance in literacy rates, rural girls often face challenges such as lack of access to coaching, financial constraints, and societal pressures. The scholarship program provides not only financial support but also career guidance and employability skills, ensuring holistic development. By targeting girls from rural and underserved areas, the initiative aims to reduce dropout rates and encourage higher education pursuits in fields like engineering, medicine, and other competitive domains.
Additionally, the program complements national efforts like the Azim Premji Foundation’s scholarship, which supports 2.5 lakh girls across 18 states with ₹30,000 annually for higher education. While national schemes focus on post-secondary education, Himachal’s initiative is unique in its emphasis on competitive exam preparation, a crucial step for girls aiming for prestigious institutions. The state’s recent educational achievements, including topping the ASER 2024 rankings for reading and learning, provide a strong foundation for such initiatives to succeed.
The scholarship program has already garnered widespread praise for its inclusive approach. By integrating digital platforms for applications, similar to Goa’s single scholarship portal launched in July 2025, Himachal ensures transparency and accessibility. Students can apply online, and the government has committed to disbursing benefits within 15 to 30 days, addressing delays that have plagued similar schemes in other states, such as Telangana and Bihar, where scholarship disbursements have faced criticism.
This initiative is part of a broader push by the Himachal Pradesh government to strengthen its education system. With a focus on girls, the program not only aims to close gender gaps but also to create a ripple effect, empowering families and communities. As the state continues to roll out the program, it sets a model for other regions to follow in promoting equitable education for all.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent news reports and publicly available information from sources such as The Hindu, News18, and India Education Diary. The data reflects initiatives as of July 2025. Readers are advised to verify details through official government portals for the latest updates.