India, July 25 -- In an era where education reform is often reduced to political tokenism, Himachal Pradesh has quietly redefined the narrative. The hill state's leap from rank 21 in the 2021 National Achievement Survey (NAS) to fifth in 2025 reflects a structural overhaul that prioritised learning outcomes over populism.

While Punjab claimed the top spot in NAS 2024, India's most credible assessment of student learning covering Classes 3, 6, and 9, Himachal's turnaround stands out. Weather and security challenges hinder Jammu and Kashmir, while Delhi struggles with governance issues and high migrant enrolment. Himachal's success, however, comes from within: Reforms, political will, and data-backed strategies.

Himachal's earlier achieve...