A officially sponsored literacy program for anyone over 15, the Ullas (Understanding lifetime learning for all in society) plan made Himachal Pradesh the fourth most literate state in India on Monday, following Tripura, Mizoram, and Goa.
According to Ullas, a state is deemed fully literate if at least 95% of its adults over the age of 15 are able to read, write, and carry out simple math operations that are necessary for daily living. At a Shimla event, state chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared, “The literacy rate in Himachal Pradesh has increased to 99.30% higher than the national benchmark of 95% due to reforms introduced by the present government.”
According to Sukhu, the Himalayan state leads the nation in the student-teacher ratio as well. Ladakh achieved a 97% literacy rate in June 2024, making it the first Union territory to be deemed entirely literate. Under the Ullas program, which is being carried out from 2022 to 2027, Mizoram (98.2%), Goa (99.5%), and Tripura (95.6%) were also recognized as fully literate between May and June of this year.
At a celebration to commemorate International Literacy Day 2025, Archana Sharma Awasthi, joint secretary of the Union education ministry, stated, “We hope that 10 more states will declare themselves fully literate by the end of this year.” The Ullas initiative, which was introduced in 2022 with a ₹1,037.9 crore investment, is to empower those over 15 who did not complete formal education, assisting them in assimilating into society and making contributions to the development of the country.
Approximately 29.7 million students and 4.5 million volunteers are part of the program, which is currently in its fourth year. The program, which is being implemented in a hybrid format, relies on volunteerism and offers seminars and in-person training. Digital learning materials in 26 Indian languages are being provided through mobile apps, TV, and radio.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan virtually addressed the gathering, stating that literacy is a tool for self-reliance, empowerment, and dignity that extends beyond reading and writing. Between 2011 and 2023–2024, India’s literacy rate increased from 74% to 80.9%. But only when literacy becomes a reality for all citizens can meaningful progress be made,” he continued.
According to Union Minister of State (MoS) for education Jayant Chaudhary, the Ullas program would prioritize three goals: maintaining volunteers; extending literacy to encompass digital, financial, and civic knowledge; and connecting literacy with skills and livelihoods for immediate benefits.