Lok Sabha Question No. 1241 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Literacy under ULLAS
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Radheshyam Rathiya, Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1241

ANSWERED ON 28-07-2025

## LITERACY UNDER ULLAS

† 1241. Shri Radheshyam Rathiya:

Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:

Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar:

Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:

Shri Khagen Murmu:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state :

- (a)  the  criteria  adopted  by  the  Government  to  declare  a  State  as  'Fully  Literate'  under Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) - the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakaram;
- (b) whether any steps have been taken for certified learners to pursue further vocational training or continuing education pathways;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of female learners certified under the said scheme and its impact on educational gender equality;
- (e) whether the scheme is likely to help in bridging regional disparities and improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER); and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  :  The  definition  of  'Literacy'  and  'Full  Literacy'  in  context  with  ULLAS-  Nav  Bharat Saksharta Karyakram is :

'Literacy is  the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e to identify,  understand,  interpret  and  create,  alongwith  critical  life  skills  such  as  digital literacy, financial literacy, etc.'

## 'Achieving ninety five percent literacy (95%) in a State/UT may be considered as equivalent to fully literate'.

(b)  and  (c)  :  The  ULLAS  scheme  has  five  components,  viz.  Foundational  Literacy  and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education (Equivalency), Vocational Skills Development and  Continuing  Education. In  convergence  with  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), communication has been sent to all the States/UTs to enable NeoLiterates under ULLAS- Nav Bharat Sakshrta Karyakaram  to benefit from appropriate scheme of MSDE with the aim of providing vocational skill training for obtaining local employment, reskilling and upskilling. Further, States and UTs have been directed to facilitate the enrolment of Neo-Literates under the Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme of NIOS. The NIOS OBE programme presents an pathway for these learners, allowing them to enroll in A, B, and C level courses which are equivalent to classes III, V, and VIII or directly in the Secondary Level programme (equivalent to class X), depending on their competency and interest.

(d):  Government of India is implementing ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram from 2022 to 2027. Under ULLAS, the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (FLNAT) is conducted by States/UTs to assess three skills, i.e. Reading with Understanding, Writing and Numeracy.  With  continuous  efforts  under  ULLAS,  1.49  crore  learners  have  become Neo- Literates, out of which 1.01 Crore are female. The inclusion of large numbers of adult women under ULLAS has contributed to increase in educational gender equality.

The female literacy  rate  in  the  age  group  of  seven  years  and  above  as  per  census  2011  is 65.46%.  As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Annual Report 2023-24, conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, female literacy rate in the age group of 7 years and above is 74.6%. This shows the increase in the female literacy rate and improvement in educational gender equality.

(e) and (f) : The scheme aligned with the NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 and above) who missed  formal  education  with  a  particular  focus  on  rural  and  urban  areas  especially Educationally Backward  areas, Women,  Persons  with Special Needs / Divyangjans, Marginalized/Nomads/Construction  Workers/Labourers,  etc.  contributing  towards  reducing regional disparities.

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