In a historic milestone for India’s education sector, Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state — the first in the country to achieve full functional literacy at the state level. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a celebratory event at the Mizoram University auditorium in Aizawl on Tuesday.
With a staggering literacy rate of 98.20%, the northeastern state has surpassed the Ministry of Education’s benchmark of 95% required to qualify as fully literate. This success follows decades of consistent performance in education and a targeted campaign under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).
The special ceremony saw attendance from Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, Mizoram’s Education Minister Dr. Vanlalthlana, Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena, senior officials, educators, students, and community members.
The soaring melodies of bagpipes mark a historic milestone for India!
Today, we proudly declared Mizoram as the first fully literate state under the visionary Ullas – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
Congratulations to the people of Mizoram and Hon’ble CM @PuLalduhoma for this… pic.twitter.com/hqrWWC0MSZ
— Jayant Singh (@jayantrld) May 20, 2025
A Journey Fueled by Grassroots Action
Mizoram, which became a state in 1987, has long ranked among India’s top performers in literacy. As per the 2011 Census, its literacy rate stood at 91.33%. Building on this foundation, the state conducted a door-to-door survey in August–September 2023, identifying 3,026 non-literate individuals.
Through the tireless efforts of 292 volunteer teachers, including students and local officials, the state reached out to the last mile. Over 1,692 learners actively participated in literacy programs tailored to adult education needs. The efforts culminated in a PFLS survey (2023–24) confirming Mizoram’s literacy rate at 98.20%.
The Mission Behind the Milestone
The literacy drive was part of ULLAS, a centrally sponsored scheme aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Launched in 2022, ULLAS aims to provide educational opportunities to adults aged 15 and above who missed out on formal schooling. Nationally, the ULLAS initiative has reached over 2.37 crore learners and mobilized more than 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers, with 1.77 crore neo-literates participating in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
While the Union Territory of Ladakh had earlier achieved full literacy in June 2024, Mizoram becomes the first full-fledged state to do so, setting a new benchmark in India’s journey toward universal education.