AGARTALA, June 23: In a major milestone for education, Tripura has been declared the country’s third fully literate state, following Mizoram and Goa, with a literacy rate of 95.6 percent. The announcement was made by Preeti Meena, Director (Adult Education), Union Ministry of Education, during a function held in Agartala on Monday.
According to UNESCO standards, any region with a literacy rate above 95 percent qualifies as fully literate. Tripura’s literacy rate, previously at 93.7 percent according to the 2023–24 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), increased after the successful implementation of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) – New India Literacy Programme.
Meena emphasized that India aims to become fully literate by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She encouraged new learners to continue their educational journey to ensure Tripura maintains this distinction in the 2027 Census.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the education portfolio, praised the achievement and highlighted the state’s progress—from a literacy rate of 20.24 percent in 1961 to 87.22 percent in the 2011 Census. He said that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, literacy is a key priority.
The ULLAS programme, a centrally sponsored scheme launched for the 2022–2027 period, aims to promote education for all in line with the National Education Policy 2020. It focuses on reading, writing, basic arithmetic, and practical life skills such as financial and digital literacy.
A senior education department official credited the success to the combined efforts of the School Education Department, the State Literacy Mission Authority, SCERT, retired teachers, and student volunteers. Educational materials were prepared in Bengali, English, and the tribal Kokborok language, while teachers were specially trained and volunteers engaged widely.
With the help of 2,228 volunteer teachers and 943 Social Awareness Centres, literacy outreach extended to even the remotest villages. In some areas, classes were held in courtyards or hill markets, ensuring broad coverage under the Youth Literacy Corps.
Previously, literacy efforts focused mainly on basic signature skills. The government’s new approach now includes functional literacy, equipping citizens with essential skills for daily life and participation in modern society.
Tripura, which ranked third in literacy in the 2011 Census, has now joined the elite list of fully literate Indian states, marking a historic achievement in the region’s educational progress.
