Uttarakhand Becomes India’s Sixth Fully Literate State

Why in News?

Uttarakhand was officially declared India’s sixth fully literate state on 8 July 2026 under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) programme of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The declaration marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to promote adult literacy, lifelong learning, and inclusive education.

India’s sixth fully literate state: Key Highlights

• Uttarakhand achieved an adult literacy rate of over 98%, surpassing the 95% benchmark prescribed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. The state’s literacy rate increased from 83.8% in 2023–24 to over 98% in 2026, reflecting a remarkable improvement in adult education. The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the proposal on 19 June 2026, and Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh formally approved the declaration on 8 July 2026.

ULLAS Programme

ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) is the Government of India’s flagship adult education programme launched under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The programme aims to provide:

• Foundational literacy and numeracy
• Critical life skills
• Basic education
• Vocational skills
• Continuing education and lifelong learning

A state is considered fully literate when 95% or more of its population aged 15 years and above is literate.

Importance for Exams

• Uttarakhand is the 6th fully literate state in India.
• Mizoram became India’s first fully literate state, followed by Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
• ULLAS stands for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
• The initiative supports the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places strong emphasis on adult education and lifelong learning.
• Adult literacy is measured for persons aged 15 years and above, while the general literacy rate in India is calculated for persons aged 7 years and above.