Uttarakhand Declared Fully Literate State as Literacy Rate Soars to 98.7%
Dehradun: In a historic milestone for the state, Uttarakhand has officially been declared a “Fully Literate State” after recording a monumental leap in its literacy metrics over the last two years. According to reports, the state’s literacy rate has spiked by 14.9% in just two years, reaching an impressive 98.7% in 2025.
A Massive Leap in Literacy
Data highlights that during the academic year 2023-24, Uttarakhand’s literacy rate stood at 83.8%. Thanks to rigorous implementations under the Central Government’s Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (also known as the ‘Ullas’ initiative), the state managed a drastic turnaround.
Under the criteria set by the ‘Ullas’ program, any state that achieves a literacy rate higher than 95% can be designated as fully literate. Following these benchmarks, the Dhami Cabinet formally approved the proposal on Thursday to declare Uttarakhand a fully literate state.
The Breakdown of Numbers
The proposal, which was initially drafted and sent to the administration by the Director of Secondary Education, Dr. Mukul Kumar Sati, notes that 100% literacy is practically unachievable due to certain intellectual and physical disabilities. Therefore, a 95% threshold is considered the gold standard for full literacy.
- Total Target Population (Above 7 years old): Estimated at 1 crore 23 lakh 4 thousand 601 (12.3 million) in 2025.
- Remaining Illiterate Population: Only 1 lakh 31 thousand 986 individuals.
- Illiteracy Percentage: A mere 1.3% of the state’s population remains illiterate, leaving 98.7% of the population literate
Under the central government’s ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram) initiative, a state or administrative unit is officially certified as a “Fully Literate State” once it surpasses a threshold of 95% literacy among its evaluated demographic.
Uttarakhand became the sixth state in India to achieve this milestone. The other five states (and notable Union Territories) that have attained the “Fully Literate” status under this benchmark include:
1. Mizoram
- The Milestone: Mizoram holds the distinction of being officially declared India’s first fully literate state under the current ULLAS guidelines, achieving a verified literacy rate of 98.2%.
- The Success Factor: Massive community-led mobilization, student volunteer networks, and local NGOs working directly with non-literate adults.
2. Kerala
- The Milestone: Historically India’s pioneer in literacy, Kerala consistently maintains high standards, tracking at a 95.3% literacy rate under the latest evaluation criteria.
- The Success Factor: Decades of sustained government funding, high primary school enrollment, and a heavy institutional focus on women’s empowerment and education.
3. Goa
- The Milestone: Goa has achieved a certified literacy rate of 93.6% to 95%+ among its core adult demographics, crossing the official national standard to join the fully literate tier.
4. Himachal Pradesh
- The Milestone: Known for its robust public school framework in tough mountainous terrains, Himachal Pradesh has comfortably scaled past the 95% threshold under the central program.
5. Tripura
- The Milestone: Recording a literacy rate of 95.6%, Tripura’s aggressive state-level literacy campaigns over the last decade have successfully eradicated grassroots non-literacy.
### Notable Union Territories (UTs)
- Ladakh: On June 24, 2024, Ladakh earned the distinction of being the first Union Territory in India to be officially declared fully literate under the ULLAS program.
- Lakshadweep: This island territory stands near the absolute top with an exceptional literacy rate of 97.3% driven by intense localized literacy drives.