ULLAS, the New India Literacy Programme, and the 95% full-literacy bar
Why in news: Ten States and UTs declared themselves fully literate between 2024 and 2026, the government said on 29 September 2026.
ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram), also called the New India Literacy Programme, is a centrally sponsored Ministry of Education scheme that teaches reading, writing, numeracy and life skills to adults aged 15 and above who missed school. It runs from 2022 to 2027 with a 5-crore-learner target. A 29 September factsheet listed ten States and UTs declaring themselves fully literate.
Syllabus: Prelims · Economy & Social Development; GS2 · Welfare of Vulnerable Sections; GS2 · Health, Education & Human Resources
In short
ULLAS, the New India Literacy Programme (2022-27), is the Ministry of Education's centrally sponsored scheme for adults aged 15 and above who missed school.
ULLAS has enrolled crores of learners; its worth now rests on verified literacy claims, lasting skills and closing the gap for rural women.
Why it matters
An adult who cannot read a bank message, a medicine label or a land record must depend on others and is easily cheated. ULLAS tries to reach such people through Voluntary Teachers from their own community. The gaps are still wide: the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 puts literacy among rural women aged seven and above at 70.3%, against 84.8% for rural men. Census 2011 found 74.04% literacy and PLFS 2025 reports 81.1%, but one is a full count and the other a sample survey, so the two figures are not a strict trend. A State's declaration of full literacy is its own claim, measured against the Ministry's 95% bar.
Prelims pointers
- Literacy (Ministry of Education's definition): reading, writing and computing with comprehension, with life skills such as digital and financial literacy; 95% in a State/UT counts as full literacy.
- Census definition of a literate: a person aged seven or above who can both read and write with understanding in any language; formal schooling is not required.
- ULLAS: Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education; centrally sponsored; adults aged 15 and above; aligned with NEP 2020; vision 'Jan Jan Saakshar'.
- Constitutional anchors: Article 45 (Directive Principles of State Policy) on early childhood care and education; Article 51A(k) (Fundamental Duties) on parents educating children aged 6 to 14.
- NIPUN Bharat: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy; launched July 2021 under Samagra Shiksha; focuses on the Foundational Stage, ages 3 to 8.
- Samagra Shiksha subsumed Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education; it is aligned with SDG 4.
- Article 21A, among the Fundamental Rights since the 86th Amendment (2002), and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 cover children aged 6–14.
- PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation); UDISE+ belongs to the Ministry of Education; UNESCO marks International Literacy Day on 8 September.
Practise a UPSC-style question
With reference to ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Central Sector Scheme funded wholly by the Union Government.
2. It is meant for adults aged 15 years and above who missed formal schooling.
3. It is run by the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Ministry of Education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
1 is incorrect: ULLAS is a centrally sponsored scheme carried out with the States, not a Central Sector Scheme. 2 is correct: it targets adults aged 15 and above who could not attend school. 3 is correct: the Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Education runs it.
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