Mizoram leads India with 98.2% literacy, declared fully literate state

Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state, achieving a landmark feat in India’s educational landscape.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday during a function held at the Mizoram University Auditorium in Aizawl, attended by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary.

This milestone was reached through the implementation of the Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) initiative, also known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).

Mizoram surpassed the Ministry of Education’s literacy benchmark of 95%, recording a 98.2% literacy rate—a sharp increase from the 91.33% documented in the 2011 Census.

According to state education officials, "As per the evaluation of ULLAS, Mizoram has been declared as a full literacy state."

The program identified 3,026 non-literate individuals, of whom 1,692 came forward as willing learners.

The initiative was supported by 292 dedicated volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local resource persons.

Their contribution was deeply rooted in the Mizo value of “Tlawmngaihna,” symbolizing selflessness and community service.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma highlighted that this achievement marks a new chapter for the state.

“This is not the end but the beginning of a new era of empowerment,” he said, adding that Mizoram will now focus on broadening the concept of literacy to include digital, financial, and entrepreneurial skills.

Under ULLAS, literacy is defined as “the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e., to identify, understand, interpret, and create, along with critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy, etc.”

Mizoram’s literacy campaign sets a precedent for other states, showcasing how community-driven education efforts, coupled with government support, can achieve transformative results.

Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on February 20, 1987, and spans a geographical area of 21,081 square kilometers. Its steady focus on education helped it rank third in the country by literacy in 2011.

Building on that foundation, the ULLAS/NILP program successfully addressed the last mile of non-literacy in the state.