**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Education addresses questions regarding literacy under the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakaram. The policy defines literacy, outlines vocational training and continuing education pathways, reports on female learner certification, and addresses the scheme's impact on regional disparities and the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). The ULLAS scheme is being implemented from 2022 to 2027.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Definition of Literacy:** Literacy is defined as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, including critical life skills like digital and financial literacy. A state/UT achieving 95% literacy may be considered fully literate.
* **Vocational Training and Continuing Education:**
* The ULLAS scheme includes Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education Equivalency, Vocational Skills Development, and Continuing Education.
* Communication has been sent to States/UTs to enable Neo-Literates to benefit from MSDE schemes for vocational skill training.
* States and UTs are directed to facilitate enrolment of Neo-Literates under the Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme of NIOS, which offers pathways equivalent to classes III, V, VIII, or X.
* **Female Learners:**
* 1.49 crore learners have become Neo-Literates under ULLAS, with 1.01 crore being female.
* The inclusion of women contributes to increased educational gender equality.
* The female literacy rate (age 7+) increased from 65.46% (Census 2011) to 74.6% (PLFS Annual Report 2023-24).
* **Regional Disparities and GER:**
* The scheme targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal education, focusing on specific groups and areas to reduce regional disparities.
**Impact Analysis**
* **States/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Required to implement ULLAS, facilitate vocational training through MSDE schemes, and enrol Neo-Literates in NIOS OBE program.
* *Action Required:* Enable Neo-Literates to benefit from MSDE schemes. Facilitate enrolment of Neo-Literates under the Open Basic Education OBE Programme of NIOS.
* **Neo-Literates:**
* *Impact:* Opportunity for skill development, vocational training, and continuing education through the ULLAS scheme and related programs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in available programs for vocational skill training and continuing education pathways.
* **Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE):**
* *Impact:* Convergence with ULLAS to provide vocational skill training for obtaining local employment, reskilling and upskilling.
* *Action Required:* Offer appropriate schemes for vocational skill training to Neo-Literates under ULLAS.
* **National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS):**
* *Impact:* Provide the Open Basic Education OBE Programme as a pathway for Neo-Literates.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate enrolment of Neo-Literates under the OBE Programme.
Key Entities Referenced
Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society ULLAS the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakaram: A literacy program in India aimed at promoting lifelong learning, also known as ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakaram.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship MSDE: A ministry of the Government of India focused on skill development and entrepreneurship.
National Institute of Open Schooling NIOS: An open schooling system in India that provides education to all segments of society.
Open Basic Education OBE Programme: A program by NIOS which presents a pathway for learners.
NEP 2020: National Education Policy 2020, a comprehensive framework for education in India.
National Sample Survey Office NSSO: An office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation responsible for conducting socio-economic surveys.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment FLNAT: Assessment conducted by StatesUTs to assess Reading with Understanding, Writing and Numeracy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1241
ANSWERED ON 28-07-2025
LITERACY UNDER ULLAS
†1241. Shri Radheshyam Rathiya:
Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:
Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar:
Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:
Shri Khagen Murmu:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state :
(a) the criteria adopted by the Government to declare a State as “Fully Literate” under
Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) – the Nav Bharat Saksharta
Karyakaram;
(b) whether any steps have been taken for certified learners to pursue further vocational training
or continuing education pathways;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the number of female learners certified under the said scheme and its impact on educational
gender equality;
(e) whether the scheme is likely to help in bridging regional disparities and improving the Gross
Enrolment Ratio (GER); and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) : The definition of ‘Literacy’ and ‘Full Literacy’ in context with ULLAS- Nav Bharat
Saksharta Karyakram is :
“Literacy is the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e to
identify, understand, interpret and create, alongwith critical life skills such as digital
literacy, financial literacy, etc.”“Achieving ninety five percent literacy (95%) in a State/UT may be considered as
equivalent to fully literate”.
(b) and (c) : The ULLAS scheme has five components, viz. Foundational Literacy and
Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education (Equivalency), Vocational Skills Development
and Continuing Education. In convergence with Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), communication has been sent to all the States/UTs to enable Neo-
Literates under ULLAS- Nav Bharat Sakshrta Karyakaram to benefit from appropriate scheme
of MSDE with the aim of providing vocational skill training for obtaining local employment,
reskilling and upskilling. Further, States and UTs have been directed to facilitate the enrolment
of Neo-Literates under the Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme of NIOS. The NIOS OBE
programme presents an pathway for these learners, allowing them to enroll in A, B, and C level
courses which are equivalent to classes III, V, and VIII or directly in the Secondary Level
programme (equivalent to class X), depending on their competency and interest.
(d): Government of India is implementing ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram from
2022 to 2027. Under ULLAS, the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (FLNAT)
is conducted by States/UTs to assess three skills, i.e. Reading with Understanding, Writing and
Numeracy. With continuous efforts under ULLAS, 1.49 crore learners have become
Neo- Literates, out of which 1.01 Crore are female. The inclusion of large numbers of adult
women under ULLAS has contributed to increase in educational gender equality.
The female literacy rate in the age group of seven years and above as per census 2011 is
65.46%. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Annual Report 2023-24, conducted
by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme
Implementation, female literacy rate in the age group of 7 years and above is 74.6%. This
shows the increase in the female literacy rate and improvement in educational gender equality.
(e) and (f) : The scheme aligned with the NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 and above) who
missed formal education with a particular focus on rural and urban areas especially
Educationally Backward areas, Women, Persons with Special Needs / Divyangjans,
Marginalized/Nomads/Construction Workers/Labourers, etc. contributing towards reducing
regional disparities.
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