Dehradun: Uttarakhand has officially been declared India’s sixth fully literate state, marking a major milestone under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the central government’s ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative.
Governor Gurmeet Singh gave the formal executive seal of approval to the state government’s declaration on July 8, 2026. This follows an earlier sign-off by the state cabinet on June 19, capping off a remarkable two-year literacy campaign across the hill state.
Crossing the Threshold
Under the Ministry of Education’s Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (ULLAS), a state or Union Territory achieves “fully literate” status once its adult literacy rate—covering citizens above 15 years of age—crosses the 95% benchmark. Uttarakhand did not just pass the bar; it cleared it comfortably.
According to data from the School Education Department, the state’s literacy rate experienced an extraordinary 14.9 percentage point leap in a remarkably short window:
2023–24: 83.8%
2026: 98.7%
Out of an estimated eligible population of 1.23 crore (excluding children under 7), only about 1.31 lakh individuals remain in the non-literate bracket.
Education officials noted that targeting 100% is practically impossible due to age-related factors, severe health conditions, and intellectual disabilities, making the 95% threshold the gold standard for full certification.
With this declaration, Uttarakhand joins a select group of Indian states – Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim – that have met these strict adult education parameters.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the achievement as a historic turning point rooted in community-driven action rather than mere bureaucratic policy.
“This accomplishment is the direct result of sustained government effort and the active participation of the people of Uttarakhand. Such collective efforts are crucial as we work toward the larger national goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. Our next step is ensuring that digital literacy, financial literacy, and everyday life skills reach every corner of the state,” he stated.
State Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat mirrored the sentiment, expressing immense pride for the region’s residents. He emphasised that the achievement lays the groundwork for lifelong learning opportunities rather than static classroom benchmarks.
