Uttarakhand was officially declared India’s sixth fully literate state on 8 July 2026 after crossing a 98% adult literacy threshold as per NEP 2020 and ULLAS benchmarks.
Key facts
- Declaration date: 8 July 2026; state Cabinet approved the proposal on 19 June 2026.
- Criterion met: Adult literacy (age 15+) surpassed 98% under NEP 2020 / ULLAS standards.
- Recognising authority: Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
ULLAS — New India Literacy Programme
- Full form: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) — New India Literacy Programme.
- Scope: Basic reading and writing plus digital literacy, financial literacy, life skills and continuing education.
- Delivery partners: Samagra Shiksha, state School Education Departments, district administrations, literacy volunteers and local communities.
State comparison & metric
- Peer group: Joins Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim as fully literate states.
- Metric nuance: ‘Fully literate state’ status uses adult literacy benchmarks under ULLAS rather than sole reliance on decadal census figures.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Policy link: NEP 2020 emphasises lifelong learning and adult education integration with foundational learning pathways.
- Administration: ULLAS operates under the Department of School Education and Literacy within the Ministry of Education.
- Assessment age: Adult literacy assessments focus on population aged 15 years and above.