“Declining Interest in Technical Education Among Himachal Youth; Enrollment Drops in Polytechnic and D-Pharmacy Institutions”
Technical education, once the top choice for students in Himachal Pradesh, is losing its charm. Enrollment in government and private polytechnic and D-Pharmacy institutions has been declining year after year. In the academic session 2025-26, only 4,262 out of 7,525 seats were filled, leaving 3,263 seats vacant.
Data from the past three years shows a similar trend. In 2023-24, 4,264 of 6,852 seats were filled, and in 2024-25, 3,990 of 6,775 seats were occupied. Admissions to nearly 40 institutions in the state are conducted through PAT and LEET exams organized by the Technical Education Board, Dharamshala.
Experts attribute the decline to lower starting salaries, reduced campus placement opportunities, and changing career preferences. Students are increasingly opting for short skill-based courses like digital marketing, data science, and hotel management instead of traditional engineering.
Ashok Pathak, Secretary of the Technical Education Board Dharamshala, stated that the board is planning school-level counseling sessions and curriculum updates aligned with industry demand to boost enrollment.
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