## Policy Summary: ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Education, is implementing the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, a centrally sponsored scheme aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to promote literacy across the country.
**Revised Literacy Criteria:** Literacy is defined as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, encompassing identification, understanding, interpretation, and creation, alongside critical life skills such as digital and financial literacy. This definition aligns with UNESCO's international standard.
**Target and Scope:** The scheme aims to achieve 100% literacy, targeting individuals above 15 years of age who have missed formal education opportunities. The NEP 2020 emphasizes government initiatives for adult education, community involvement, and technology integration to expedite literacy goals.
**Implementation and Engagement:** The Government of India engages with States and Union Territories through various channels, including written communications, regional conferences, video conferences, regional workshops, and review meetings, to monitor progress, share best practices, and strengthen program implementation.
**Progress:** As of July 21, 2025, 35 States/UTs are implementing ULLAS, and 1.7 crore learners have participated in the Foundational Literacy Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). Four States/UTs – Ladakh, Mizoram, Goa, and Tripura – have achieved full literacy under the program.
Key Entities Referenced
ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, implemented by the Government of India to promote literacy among non-literates across the country.
National Education Policy 2020: A policy document by the Government of India that refers to Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, aiming to achieve 100% literacy.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which provides the international definition of literacy.
Ladakh: A union territory in India that has become fully literate under ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
Mizoram: A state in India that has become fully literate under ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
Goa: A state in India that has become fully literate under ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
Tripura: A state in India that has become fully literate under ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 30
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
REVISED CRITERIA OF LITERACY
30. Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:
Shri Manish Jaiswal:
Shri Sudheer Gupta:
Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) Whether the Government has revised the criteria for literacy in the country, if so, the details
thereof alongwith the reasons for the same;
(b) whether the Government has set any target to achieve full literacy rate in the country by the
year 2030, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/to be taken in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has held any deliberations with State Governments for achieving
the full literacy, particularly with States having poor literacy rate;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the State Governments in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government has made any specific scheme for the States lagging behind in
literacy rate in the country and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) : The definition of 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.”
The definition is aligned with the International definition of ‘Literacy’ given by UNESCO. The
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 refers to Adult Education and Lifelong Learning at para
21.4, which states that:
“Strong and innovative government initiatives for adult education in particular, to
facilitate community involvement and the smooth and beneficial integration of technology -
will be affected as soon as possible to expedite this all important aim of achieving 100%
literacy”.
A Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram aligned with the
National Education Policy 2020 is being implemented by the Government of India. The aim of
the scheme is to support all the States and Union Territories in promoting literacy among non-
literates across the country and targets all above the age of 15 years who have missed availing
formal education. Government of India has continued engagement through written
communications, regional conferences, video conferences, regional workshops, and review
meetings with States/UTs to assess progress, share best practices, and strengthen
implementation strategies of Adult Education Programmes.
35 States/UTs are implementing ULLAS and 1.7 crore learners have appeared in the
Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) so far. Four States/UTs i.e.
Ladakh, Mizoram, Goa and Tripura have become Fully Literate under ULLAS – Nav Bharat
Saksharta Karyakram.
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