Uttarakhand has achieved a remarkable Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 50% in 2025, positioning itself among the top-performing states in India. Announcing the achievement at the ‘Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir’ held in Dehradun, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, outlined a series of transformative initiatives to enhance quality, digitalisation, and employability in higher education across the state.
The Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir was organised in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, Elets Technomedia, and Digital Learning Magazine.
Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat announced that Uttarakhand’s GER has crossed 48%, with impressive inclusivity among communities — Scheduled Tribes at 51%, Scheduled Castes at 47%, and female enrolment exceeding 60%.
“Today, over 20 lakh students in the state possess Apaar IDs, making Uttarakhand one of the top five states in the country in terms of digital student identity creation,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s digital transformation, he added that 26 lakh students now have their degrees available on DigiLocker, and by December 2025, every university in Uttarakhand will become paperless, ensuring students receive their degrees directly on their mobile devices through DigiLocker.
He announced the launch of a ‘Manthan Platform’, designed to bridge the gap between industry and higher education, on the lines of national initiatives.“This platform will bring together academia and industry to jointly decide the curriculum that aligns with market needs,” he said. A special workshop will be held in November 2025, with participation from industry leaders, Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh, PVSM, YUSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Hon. Governor, Uttarakhand, and Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Uttarakhand.
Additionally, the state will establish a State-Level Entrepreneurship Cell to promote innovation and enterprise across universities and colleges.
Emphasising the next phase of higher education growth, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat noted, “Our focus will now shift from expansion to enhancing quality.” The government will introduce a Quality Cell to monitor academic standards and consult the Governor for strategic reforms.
To ensure timely declaration of results, the Higher Education Department is introducing objective-based semester evaluations and a reformed examination system across universities.
The state will also constitute a ‘Bharatiya Gyaan Parampara Cell’ to promote Indian knowledge systems and design relevant syllabi reflecting cultural and traditional wisdom.
He announced that every degree college in Uttarakhand will adopt at least one village, with faculty and students contributing to initiatives like Swachhata Abhiyan, social outreach, and primary education support. He said, “Our goal is to achieve 100% literacy in adopted villages with the active participation of higher education institutions.”
Under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework, universities and colleges will now award academic credits to students participating in national and community campaigns such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and other social initiatives, thereby promoting holistic education.
To ensure all-round development, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat announced a rotational plan under which each of the 44 universities in Uttarakhand will organise annual cultural or sports festivals. “One year, a government university will host it, followed by a private university the next year — ensuring that every institution contributes to nurturing talent and culture,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the increasing number of students pursuing higher education abroad. “Nearly six lakh students from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand go abroad for studies every year. To counter this trend, we will strengthen our universities to global standards,” he said.
He welcomed the Government of India’s decision to allow the top 10 global universities to establish campuses in India and added that Uttarakhand will work towards providing equally high-quality education within the state, especially in its six top-ranked private universities.
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About the Event:
The Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir served as a thought leadership platform for deliberating on Uttarakhand’s higher education roadmap. Organised jointly by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, and Elets Technomedia (in association with Digital Learning Magazine), the event brought together policymakers, academicians, and industry leaders to discuss innovations, quality enhancement, and future-ready reforms in higher education.
