Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared an article highlighting the transformative role of the Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) programme in advancing India’s literacy and adult education goals.
Responding to a post on X by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhury, the Prime Minister’s Office said the article commends the impact of the ULLAS programme, launched in 2022 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initiative aims to provide learning opportunities to adults, particularly in rural areas and among women, helping India progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of achieving literacy for all by 2030.
The article shared by the Prime Minister underscores that ULLAS represents a people-driven movement rooted in the spirit of kartavyabodh — a collective sense of duty. It has transformed schools into evening Samajik Chetna Kendras or Social Awareness Centre, mobilised citizens as volunteer teachers, and leveraged technology through mobile applications and digital platforms. To date, the programme has reached over 2.8 crore learners with the support of around 45 lakh volunteers across the country.
Since the launch of ULLAS, India has recorded a steady rise in literacy levels. Rural literacy has improved from 67.7 per cent in 2011 to 77.5 per cent in 2023-24, while female literacy has increased from 65.4 per cent to 74.6 per cent during the same period. Several states, including Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, and Himachal Pradesh, have declared themselves fully literate.
Aligned with the NEP 2020 and SDG 4.6, the programme redefines literacy to go beyond reading and writing, encompassing computational, digital, and financial literacy. It encourages citizens to participate in nation-building through the spirit of “Jan Jan Saakshar” and the motto “Each One, Teach One.”
The article also narrates inspiring stories from across the country — of volunteers and learners whose efforts are expanding access to education and transforming lives. It highlights that the strength of the literacy movement lies not just in numbers but in collective human effort and community participation.