Tripura has become the third Indian state to be declared fully functionally literate, marking a major educational milestone under the centrally sponsored ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. This initiative, launched in 2022, aims to educate youth and adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
At a ceremony held in Agartala’s Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan, the announcement was made in the presence of key state and education ministry officials. The Chief Minister Prof. Manik Saha lauded the achievement as a landmark in Tripura’s development journey. The state’s literacy rate has surged to 95.6%, up from just 20.24% in 1961.
The Strategy Behind the Success
Tripura’s journey to full functional literacy was driven by grassroots mobilisation and technology integration. The ULLAS mobile app, door-to-door surveys, and volunteer efforts enabled the reach of basic education to remote and underserved regions.
Key focus areas included reading, writing, arithmetic, digital skills, and life skills. Learners who passed the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) were awarded certificates by the National Institute of Open Schooling and the Department of School Education & Literacy.
Understanding Functional Literacy
Functional literacy in India goes beyond the ability to sign one’s name. It encompasses the capability to read and write with comprehension, perform basic calculations, and apply digital, financial, and life skills in daily activities.
States are deemed functionally literate when 95% or more individuals aged 15 and above, who previously missed schooling, achieve literacy under ULLAS.
Literacy Across the Nation
Tripura joins Mizoram (98.2%), Goa (99.72%), and Ladakh (over 97%) in the elite group of fully functionally literate regions.
This progress highlights how focused adult education can transform the literacy landscape in India.
