Sikkim Becomes India’s Fifth Fully Literate State

Sikkim was declared a fully literate state on 27 May 2026 under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. The state recorded a literacy rate of 99.82 per cent, which is above the Ministry of Education benchmark of 95 per cent for full literacy.

ULLAS Framework

ULLAS stands for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society. The programme was launched in Sikkim on 14 November 2022 and was implemented across all six districts, 34 blocks, Gram Panchayat units, and wards.

Declaration and Ceremony

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang made the declaration during the 7th convocation ceremony of Sikkim University in Gangtok. President Droupadi Murmu and Governor Om Prakash Mathur were present at the ceremony held at Manan Kendra in Gangtok.

Assessment and Volunteer Network

Surveys under the programme identified 15,361 non-literate adults in Sikkim. Of them, 14,447 were certified as literate through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test. More than 4,000 volunteer teachers, including school teachers and college students, participated in the campaign without honorarium.

Fully Literate States and Union Territories

Sikkim joined Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh among the states and Union Territories recognised as fully literate under the ULLAS programme. The recognition is linked to adult literacy, foundational numeracy, and certification through assessment-based verification.

Important Facts for Exams

• ULLAS is the national adult education programme launched by the Ministry of Education.
• The benchmark for declaring a state fully literate under ULLAS is 95 per cent literacy.
• Sikkim has six districts and 34 blocks.
• The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test is used to certify learners under the programme.

Exam-Relevant Context

India uses literacy surveys and adult education programmes to measure progress in foundational reading, writing, and numeracy. Sikkim’s declaration places it among the fully literate states and Union Territories recognised under the ULLAS framework.