Uttarakhand Becomes India’s Sixth Fully Literate State

Uttarakhand was declared India’s sixth fully literate state on 8 July 2026. The declaration was made under the National Education Policy 2020 and the ULLAS programme, which stands for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.

Fully Literate State Benchmark

The Union Ministry of Education uses an adult literacy benchmark of 95% or above for persons above 15 years of age. Uttarakhand met the literacy criteria set by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education.

Uttarakhand Literacy Status

Uttarakhand’s literacy rate stood at over 98% in 2026, with 98.7% cited for 2025. The state’s literacy rate was 83.8% in 2023-24, which marked a rise of 14.9 percentage points in two years.

Approval and Administrative Process

The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the proposal on 19 June 2026. Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh, the Governor of Uttarakhand, approved the declaration on 8 July 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• Mizoram became India’s first fully literate state before Uttarakhand.
• Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim were fully literate states before Uttarakhand.
• ULLAS is the abbreviation for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
• The adult literacy benchmark for a fully literate state is 95% or above for persons above 15 years of age.

Related Static GK

Literacy in India is measured through census and survey-based indicators for persons aged seven years and above, while adult literacy refers to persons above 15 years of age. The National Education Policy 2020 includes adult education and lifelong learning as part of its framework.