Lok Sabha Question No. 948 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: New India Literacy Programme
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 948 ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## New India Literacy Programme

## 948.   Dr. C M Ramesh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has implemented the New India Literacy Programme (NILP) with target of achieving 95% literacy rate;

(b)    if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  strategy  adopted  and  achievements  made  by  the Government so far;

- (c)    if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)    whether the Government has allocated any funds for achieving the targets by 2027; and
- (e)    if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e)     The New India Literacy Programme (NILP) popularly known as ULLAS - Nav Bharat  Saaksharta  Karyakram,  is  being  implemented  from  FY  2022-23  to  2026-27.  The scheme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and targets to cover 5.00 crore non-literates  aged  15  years  and  above  who  have  missed  formal  schooling  and  provide educational opportunities to them and to make them literate. The scheme is implemented in a hybrid mode, allowing States/UTs the flexibility to adopt offline or online mode focusing on imparting foundational literacy and numeracy including critical life skills, digital & financial literacy.  ULLAS  works  with  the  vision  of  making  Bharat  'Jan  Jan  Saakshar',  driven  by Kartavyabodh  (a  sense  of  duty),  utilising  school  platforms  and  community  engagement through volunteerism to achieve full literacy. The learning can take place at Samajik Chetna Kendras  which  can  be  at  places  like  government-aided  and  unaided  schools,  Panchayat Bhavans,  Community  Halls,  Higher  Education  Institutes,  etc.  To  provide  academic  and resource  support,  a  dedicated  National  Centre  for  Literacy  (NCL)  has  been  established  at NCERT.  Institutions such as UGC, AICTE, and NCTE are supporting the ULLAS scheme in a comprehensive manner by offering credits to volunteers of ULLAS.

A  dedicated  ULLAS  Mobile  App  has  been  created  for  registering  learners  and  volunteer teachers which also enables teaching learning process by providing access to ULLAS primers in all official languages. Till now, over 1.6 crore learners and more than 38 lakh volunteer teachers have registered on the app.

The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) is an evaluation under the ULLAS scheme designed to assess basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills in nonliterate individuals, certifying them as 'neo-literates' upon successful completion.  More than 1 crore learners have appeared in the FLNAT so far.  The UT of Ladakh has declared itself as the first administrative unit of India to achieve Full Functional Literacy under the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

The scheme is implemented as a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for which total financial  outlay  for  five  years  (FYs  2022-23  to  FYs  2026-27)  is  Rs.1037.90  crore  which includes Rs.700 crore as Central share and Rs.337.90 crore as State share.

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