Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a special ceremony held in Aizawl on Tuesday. With this achievement, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to attain full functional literacy.
The event, held at the Auditorium of Mizoram University, witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries including Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Dr. Vanlalthlana, Mizoram’s Minister of School Education, Higher & Technical Education, Khilli Ram Meena, Chief Secretary to the Government of Mizoram, and other senior officials, educators, and students.
Mizoram, which attained statehood in 1987, has consistently ranked among the top states in terms of literacy. According to the 2011 Census, it had a literacy rate of 91.33%, the third-highest in the country at the time. Building on this solid foundation, the state implemented the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals.
A comprehensive door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) identified 3,026 non-literate persons in the state. Of these, 1,692 actively participated in learning activities. Based on this outreach and the Ministry of Education’s benchmark that defines full literacy as a literacy rate above 95%, Mizoram successfully crossed the threshold. The PFLS survey for 2023–24 confirmed this success, placing the state’s literacy rate at an impressive 98.20%.
This achievement was made possible through the commitment of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local officials, who took up the mission of educating every last citizen with a spirit of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty) and deep cultural pride. Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state.
ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram is a centrally sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at promoting adult education. The programme focuses on five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Launched in 2022 and running till 2027, it targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
Nationally, the ULLAS scheme has seen significant outreach, with over 2.37 crore learners and more than 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers registered on the ULLAS mobile app. More than 1.77 crore neo-literates have participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) so far.
Earlier, in June 2024, Ladakh became the first administrative unit in India to achieve full literacy. Mizoram’s latest milestone now marks the first full state-level success, setting a new benchmark in the country’s pursuit of universal education.