Goa has been declared fully literate under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), becoming the second state in India to surpass the 95% literacy benchmark. The announcement, made on Goa's 39th Statehood Day, signifies progress towards achieving full national literacy by 2030, as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. The achievement was facilitated through a "Whole-of-Government" approach, with collaborative efforts from various state departments, Swayampurna Mitras, and field workers, who identified and integrated non-literates into learning modules. Goa's success, built upon volunteerism and interdepartmental cooperation, serves as a model for other states implementing the ULLAS scheme, a centrally sponsored program targeting adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling. The ULLAS scheme has five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education. Nationwide, the ULLAS program has seen significant participation, with over 1.77 crore learners appearing in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test and millions registering on the ULLAS Mobile app.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education Goa: The state-level education ministry in Goa, India, responsible for overseeing education initiatives in the region.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - indicates the source of the notification.
Chief Minister of Goa: The head of the government in the state of Goa, India. In this context, specifically Dr. Pramod Sawant.
Dr. Pramod Sawant: The Chief Minister of Goa who declared the state fully literate.
Goa: A state in India that has been declared fully literate under the ULLAS program.
ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram New India Literacy Programme: A literacy program in India aimed at achieving full literacy, under which Goa was declared fully literate. Also referred to as New India Literacy Programme.
India: The country within which Goa is located, and which has a national goal of full literacy by 2030.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy in India that envisions full literacy by 2030.
Goas 39th Statehood Day: The anniversary of Goa becoming a state, celebrated on May 30, 2025.
Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panaji: The venue in Panaji where the announcement of Goa achieving full literacy was made.
Chief Secretary of Goa: A high-ranking administrative official in the government of Goa.
Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education: A government official at the national level.
Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi: The Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
PLFS Report 202324: A report indicating Goas literacy rate.
Government of Goa: The governing body of the state of Goa.
Directorate of Panchayats: A department of the Government of Goa.
Directorate of Municipal Administration: A department of the Government of Goa.
Directorate of Social Welfare: A department of the Government of Goa.
Directorate of Planning Statistics: A department of the Government of Goa.
Directorate of Women Child Development: A department of the Government of Goa.
Swayampurna Mitras: Individuals engaged in awareness campaigns to promote literacy in Goa.
Social Welfare Department: A department in Goa that had field workers involved in identifying non-literates.
Goa Education team: Collective term for educational administrators and staff.
SCERT: Likely refers to the State Council of Educational Research and Training in Goa.
Viksit Bharat: A vision for a developed India.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India, associated with the Viksit Bharat vision.
JanJan Sakshar: A phrase meaning 'every person literate'.
20222027: The implementation period for the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test FLNAT: Assessment Test conducted under ULLAS scheme.
Ministry of Education
Goa Achieves Full Functional Literacy
Posted On: 30 MAY 2025 8:24PM by PIB Delhi
Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, officially declared the State of Goa to be officially fully literate
under the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), marking a
significant milestone in India’s journey towards achieving full literacy by 2030, as envisioned in the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This makes Goa the second state of the country to cross the nationally
prescribed 95% benchmark for full literacy. The announcement was made during the grand celebration of
Goa’s 39th Statehood Day (May 30, 2025) at Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panaji.
Cabinet Ministers; Chief Secretary of Goa; Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy,
Ministry of Education, Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi; and other dignitaries and citizens of the state were also
present at the event.
According to the PLFS Report 2023-24, Goa’s literacy rate stands at 93.60%, one of the highest in the
country, with strong performance across both male and female populations. However, as per Goa’s own
survey, the state has surpassed this figure and attained full literacy.
To maximise outreach, the Government of Goa in this endeavour used the Whole-of-Government approach.The state government actively collaborated with multiple departments, including the Directorate of
Panchayats, the Directorate of Municipal Administration, the Directorate of Social Welfare, the Directorate of
Planning & Statistics, and the Directorate of Women & Child Development. These departments played a
pivotal role in identifying non-literates within their respective jurisdictions.
In addition, Swayampurna Mitras were engaged in awareness campaigns, assisting learners in receiving
literacy certification and facilitating their integration into learning modules. Field workers from the Social
Welfare Department were also instrumental in the identification process.
The efforts of the Goa Education team, including SCERT, local administrations, school heads, and volunteers,
were widely appreciated. Goa’s success showcases the potential of people-centric, volunteer-driven literacy
campaigns, supported by inter-departmental cooperation and inclusive educational tools. It sets a precedent
for other states to follow in achieving the national goal of full literacy by 2030. This is a step towards the
vision of Viksit Bharat of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram continues to be implemented nationwide, and Goa today
stands as a beacon of progress, affirming the spirit of “Jan-Jan Sakshar”.
ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme is a centrally sponsored
scheme implemented from 2022-2027. The scheme, aligned with NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 years and
above) who can’t go to school. The scheme has five components - Foundational Literacy and Numeracy,
Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education. The vision of the ULLAS
Scheme is to make India Jan Jan Saakshar and is based on the spirit of Kartavya Bodh and is being
implemented on volunteerism. Under the ULLAS scheme, more than 1.77 crore learners have appeared in the
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) till now across the country. More than 2.40
crore learners and 41 lakh volunteer teachers have been registered on the ULLAS Mobile app.
*****
MV/AK
MOE/DoSEL/30 May 2025/14
(Release ID: 2132893)