Government College, Shimla was established on 1st July 1969.

It is one of the premier colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the girl's deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone in the part of progress.

The college is affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) & 12(B) on 3rd October 1973 under Act, 1956.

It enjoys the distinct position of not only being the first-degree college to have been set up in Shimla in 1969 but also the first college in the state to have been conferred with the enviable status of "Centre of Excellence (CPE)" in 2006.

It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "B+" Grade - (CGPA Score 2.63 on a 4 Point Scale in 2nd Cycle) on 2nd May 2017.

The college was constructed way back in April 1869 by Harriet Christina Tytler as an institution for industrial orphanage under name of Himalayan Christina Orphanage and named as North Stoneham.

Later in 1872, the same institution was reconstituted as the Mayo Industrial School for female orphans and order girls of European extraction. However, later it was rebuilt at a grand cost of Rs. 73545/- and was opened for use on March 1, 1905, during the Lieutenant-Governorship of Sir Charles Rivoz, K.C.S.I., and the Episcopate of the Reverend George Alfred Lefroy, D.D., the third Bishop of Lahore.

The Structure was designed by the Architect A. Gaddock Esq. and built by the builder, Messrs. Rivertt, and Sons. After independence, this institution was converted into a B.Ed/B.T. College for girls affiliated to Punjab University, till it attained its present position.

The college is undoubtedly making rapid strides in the fields of education which are implicit from the fact that it is running three streams-Arts, Science & Commerce, and the undergraduate course in Computer Applications, However, B.Com. and B.C.A. Courses were started in 2006.

The B.C.A. (Bachelor in Computer Application) courses are being run under the self-financing scheme. In Arts faculty, thirteen subjects are being taught in this college. However, it is to be noted that there are limited seats available in each course and selection is based purely on the merit basis.

Apart from this, the college facilitates the functioning of IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), with its epicenter at New Delhi, by running a study center to keep the doors of learning open to all especially those residing in the remote and distant areas of Himachal Pradesh.