Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 congratulated the people of Sikkim after the state was formally declared a Fully Literate State under the ULLAS — Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, a milestone conferred during a visit by President Droupadi Murmu to the state.

Context

In his post on X, CM Tamang described the declaration as 'a defining milestone in the educational and social progress' of Sikkim, noting that the achievement was formalised during President Murmu's visit on 27 May 2026. The Chief Minister credited the success to learners — 'men and women, young and old, many of whom learned to read and write for the very first time in their lives' — as well as to volunteer teachers, educators, and officials across every block and Gram Panchayat.

Tamang invoked the phrase 'Saakshar Sikkim' (Literate Sikkim), calling the learners' determination 'a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations.' He also extended gratitude to the Education Department of Sikkim and all volunteers associated with the mission.

Policy Backdrop

ULLAS, short for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society, was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2022 as a successor to the Saakshar Bharat Mission (2009–2018). The programme targets non-literate adults aged 15 and above with the goal of achieving 100% functional literacy across India by 2027.

The scheme relies heavily on volunteer-based teaching, with trained volunteers — including school students and college youth — imparting foundational literacy skills in local languages. Sikkim's declaration as a Fully Literate State places it among the early achievers under this national programme, a pattern consistent with the northeastern region's record of rapid literacy gains driven by community participation and its comparatively smaller, more closely-knit population.

India's engagement with adult literacy dates to the National Literacy Mission of 1988, making ULLAS the latest iteration of a decades-long policy effort to eliminate adult illiteracy.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are adult learners in Sikkim's remote villages, hills, and rural settlements who previously lacked basic reading and writing skills. The Chief Minister specifically highlighted the role of Gram Panchayats, which served as the last-mile delivery units ensuring the programme 'reached every nook and corner of Sikkim.'

Volunteer teachers and state education officials are acknowledged as the operational backbone of the mission. For Sikkim's broader population, full functional literacy is expected to strengthen access to government services, digital platforms, and economic opportunities, reinforcing the state's development goals.

President Droupadi Murmu, India's first tribal President, lending her presence to the formal declaration carries symbolic weight — her visits to state-level scheme milestones have historically amplified the national visibility of such achievements, particularly for smaller northeastern and tribal-majority states.

What's Next

With Sikkim formally declared a Fully Literate State, attention now shifts to sustaining these gains through continuing education and skill-linked programmes under ULLAS. The Ministry of Education is expected to assess progress from other states as the 2027 national literacy target approaches.

CM Tamang's post, tagged to @PMOIndia and @EduMinOfIndia, signals the state government's intent to seek wider recognition of this achievement at the national level. Sikkim's model of volunteer mobilisation and panchayat-level outreach may offer a replicable template for other states still working toward the ULLAS benchmark.