Sikkim has officially become India’s fifth fully literate state under the ULLAS initiative, marking a major milestone in adult education, lifelong learning and inclusive literacy development across the Himalayan state.

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• Sikkim has been declared a fully literate state under the ULLAS initiative during the convocation ceremony of Droupadi Murmu at Sikkim University.
• With this achievement, Sikkim has become India’s fifth fully literate state after Mizoram, Goa, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
• The literacy mission was implemented under the ULLAS programme, which stands for “Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society.”
• ULLAS operates under the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram launched by the Ministry of Education in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
• The programme focuses on adult education, functional literacy, lifelong learning, skill development and basic reading and writing abilities for citizens aged 15 years and above.
• The literacy campaign successfully reached remote villages, rural communities, elderly learners and marginalized populations across Sikkim.
• Teachers, volunteers, local coordinators and community organisations played a crucial role in spreading literacy awareness in difficult geographical regions.
• Prem Singh Tamang described literacy as the foundation of empowerment, social equality, self-confidence and long-term development.