Aizawl, Dec 30: Mizoram marked a significant year in 2025 with major milestones in education, infrastructure, and social welfare, even as the state faced persistent challenges.

On May 20, Mizoram became India’s first fully literate state, recording a 98.2% literacy rate, up from 91.33% in the 2011 Census. Officials credited this achievement to decades of community-led education initiatives, dating back to the establishment of the first school by Christian missionaries in 1894.

Rail connectivity arrived on September 13 with the inauguration of the ₹8,000-crore Bairabi-Sairang line by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, linking Aizawl to India’s national railway network. Modi described the project as one of the country’s most challenging rail undertakings, making Aizawl the fourth northeastern capital to be connected by rail.

In March, Assam Rifles bases were relocated from central Aizawl to Zokhawsang, a move hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a development milestone. Economically, Mizoram was named the “Ginger Capital of India” by NITI Aayog in November, supported by the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government’s ‘Bana Kaih’ crop support scheme.

The Lalduhoma-led government, in its second year, launched the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS) in March, offering cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family annually. Nearly 60,000 beneficiaries have availed services, with healthcare spending exceeding ₹100 crore.

However, the state faced ongoing challenges. Protests emerged against changes to the Indo-Myanmar border regulations, including the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime and the introduction of a pass system. Mizoram continues to host around 31,000 Myanmar refugees from the 2021 coup, along with additional refugees from recent conflicts, Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Manipur clashes.

Political unrest surfaced over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act in August, triggering MNF-led protests and a statewide shutdown in October. Transporters raised concerns over deteriorating NH-6/306 highways, while bamboo flowering and African swine fever affected crops and piggery. Drug-related issues persisted despite ‘Operation Jericho.’ In elections, ZPM won early local body polls but lost the Dampa by-election to MNF and underperformed in the Lai Autonomous District Council elections.

Despite these hurdles, Mizoram’s 2025 is being noted for landmark social and infrastructure developments, particularly in literacy, healthcare, and connectivity.