Uttarakhand became India's sixth fully literate state, crossing the 98% literacy mark

Uttarakhand officially joined the ranks of fully literate states on July 8, 2026, when Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) approved the declaration after the state cleared adult literacy benchmarks set under the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) program and NEP 2020. It's now the sixth state in the country to earn this status, following Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

Key Reasons for Uttarakhand's Literacy Achievement

The achievement didn't rest on one department alone. 

1. Samagra Shiksha, district administrations, volunteer teachers, literacy motivators, local bodies, and everyday citizens all played a part. 
2. Secretary Ravinath Raman pointed to full literacy as the base layer for social and economic progress.
3. Director General Akanksha Konde credited coordinated work across every district, block, and community.
4. Director Kunwar Singh Rawat added that digital education and life skills remain the state's next focus area.
5. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami called the milestone a result of sustained government work paired with genuine public participation, tying it to the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. 
6. Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat framed it as a matter of pride for every resident of the state.

Which is the highest literacy state in India in 2026?

Mizoram is currently the most literate state in India. Here is the list of India’s top literacy states as of 2026.

1. Mizoram - 98.2%
2. Uttarakhand - 98%+ (fully literate certified)
3. Lakshadweep - 97.3%
4. Nagaland - 95.7%
5. Tripura - 95.6%
6. Kerala - 95.3%.
7. Goa: 93.6%

What Are the Top Illiterate States in India?

Bihar is the state with the lowest literacy rate in India. Here is the list of India’s top illiterate states.

1. Bihar - 61.8%
2. Arunachal Pradesh - 65.38%
3. Rajasthan - 66.11%
4. Jharkhand - 66.41%

What Does Fully Literate Status Under the ULLAS Program Mean?

The Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Union Ministry of Education, laid down the criteria states must meet before earning this tag. ULLAS goes beyond basic reading and writing; it's built to connect adults with digital literacy, financial literacy, everyday life skills, and continuous learning opportunities.