J&K hits 99.09% literacy under ULLAS scheme, L-G Sinha announces
Synopsis
Jammu and Kashmir has crossed 99.09 per cent literacy under the Centre's ULLAS scheme — the highest among all fully literate states and UTs, and the first to achieve the milestone with a large population base. The feat sets a new benchmark for India's adult education drive ahead of the programme's 2027 deadline.
Key Takeaways
J&K achieved 99.09 per cent success under the ULLAS scheme, joining India's fully literate states and UTs.
L-G Manoj Sinha announced the milestone on 4 August , calling J&K the largest-population region to achieve this.
A state or UT qualifies as fully literate under ULLAS upon crossing a 95 per cent literacy rate.
The ULLAS scheme targets five crore adult learners aged 15 and above between 2022 and 2027 , at one crore per year.
Earlier, Tripura , Mizoram , and Goa had achieved full literacy under the same programme.
Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a 99.09 per cent success rate under the Centre's ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) scheme, making it the largest-population region in India to attain full functional literacy, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced on Tuesday, 4 August. The milestone places the Union Territory among the country's fully literate states and UTs.
What L-G Sinha Said
L-G Sinha said in a statement: 'UT of Jammu Kashmir proudly joins the league of Fully Literate States/UTs under the ULLAS scheme of Union government. With 99.09 per cent success, it stands tall as the largest population region to achieve this milestone. Congratulations to our teachers, administrators and every stakeholder who made this possible.'
He added: 'Let us always remember that education is the truest force of empowerment and our collective responsibility is to keep advancing this mission.'
What the ULLAS Scheme Is
Launched by the Ministry of Education and implemented between 2022 and 2027, ULLAS — also known as the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) — is a centrally sponsored scheme targeting non-literate individuals aged 15 years and above. Its core focus is foundational reading, writing, and numeracy skills, alongside financial, digital, legal, and healthcare awareness.
The scheme leverages student and community volunteers as educators, and uses the DIKSHA Portal and a dedicated mobile app for registration, learning materials, and assessments. It also offers school-equivalent continuing education in arts and science streams.
National Targets and Benchmarks
The scheme sets a national learner goal of five crore adult learners between financial years 2022 and 2027, with an annual pace of one crore learners per year. A state or UT is classified as fully literate upon crossing a 95 per cent literacy rate. J&K's achievement at 99.09 per cent comfortably exceeds this threshold.
Where J&K Stands Nationally
Notably, Tripura was earlier declared fully literate under the same programme, becoming the third state to do so after Mizoram and Goa. J&K's entry into this group is significant given its larger population base — making it the biggest region by population to cross the full-literacy mark under ULLAS. This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to expand adult education coverage across previously underserved regions.
What Comes Next
With the foundational literacy milestone secured, attention is likely to shift toward the scheme's continuing education and vocational components, which are designed to help adults gain skills aligned with local employment needs. The ULLAS programme runs through 2027, with the remaining annual targets expected to focus on deepening quality of learning outcomes.
Point of View
But the more consequential detail is that it is the largest-population region to cross the ULLAS threshold — a distinction that matters for scalability. India's adult literacy challenge has historically been concentrated in high-density states where volunteer-led models strain under sheer numbers. If J&K's model holds, it offers a replicable template. The harder question — whether foundational literacy translates into sustained skill acquisition and employment — remains unanswered, and ULLAS's continuing education component will be the real test before the programme closes in 2027.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ULLAS scheme?
ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society), also called Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, is a centrally sponsored adult education scheme run by India's Ministry of Education from 2022 to 2027. It targets non-literate individuals aged 15 and above, focusing on foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills through volunteers and digital tools.
What literacy milestone has J&K achieved under ULLAS?
Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a 99.09 per cent success rate under the ULLAS scheme, making it a fully literate UT — and the largest-population region in India to reach this benchmark. L-G Manoj Sinha announced the achievement on 4 August.
What is the literacy benchmark to be declared fully literate under ULLAS?
Under the ULLAS scheme, a state or union territory is classified as fully literate once it crosses a 95 per cent literacy rate. J&K's 99.09 per cent comfortably exceeds this threshold.
Which other states have achieved full literacy under ULLAS?
Mizoram and Goa were the first two states to achieve full literacy under the programme, followed by Tripura as the third. J&K's achievement adds a significantly larger-population region to this list.
What is the national target of the ULLAS scheme?
The ULLAS scheme aims to reach five crore adult learners between financial years 2022 and 2027, at an annual pace of one crore learners per year, all aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
