‘No child to be identified by caste’: Himachal schools to tweak admission forms

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the state's education department to remove the caste column from admission forms in all state-run schools from the upcoming academic session. However, students from the Scheduled Caste community will continue to provide their caste details for accessing government schemes and benefits.

Sukhu emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating caste-based discrimination and promoting equality, stating that no child should be identified by their caste in schools. The new policy will be implemented from the 2027-28 academic session, with the department to formulate a detailed plan and mechanism for its execution.

Secretary (Education) Rakesh Kanwar assured that eligible students from Scheduled Castes and other socially and educationally backward sections will still be able to provide required caste details for availing government benefits. The move aims to curb casteism from the grassroots level and ensure that eligible children are not deprived of welfare schemes.