Chandigarh is a major educational hub in northern India, known for its high-quality schooling and premier higher education institutions.
* **Literacy Rate:** 86.05% (as per the 2011 Census), significantly higher than the national average. * **Panjab University (PU):** Spread across Sectors 14 and 25, PU consistently ranks among the top universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and is featured in international QS and THE rankings. * **Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER):** A premier medical and research institution, consistently ranked as the 2nd best medical college in India by NIRF. * **PEC (Punjab Engineering College):** A highly esteemed deemed university offering engineering and technology programs. * **School Education:** The city features an excellent network of government model schools and prominent private institutions (such as St. John's, Carmel Convent, and Bhavan Vidyalaya) known for producing high academic results in CBSE and ICSE board exams.