Context:
India’s goal of achieving 100% literacy by 2030, aligned with NEP 2020 and global SDG commitments, is facing a major hurdle due to Bihar’s refusal to participate in the Centre’s flagship ULLAS adult literacy programme.
What is ULLAS?
- Full form: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society
- Launched: 2022
- Ministry: Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Focus: Adult literacy (15+ age group) through surveys, training & certification
- Five states/UTs – including Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Tripura, Mizoram, and Ladakh – have already declared 100% literacy under ULLAS.
Where Bihar Stands:
- Bihar and West Bengal are the only major states not enrolled in ULLAS.
- Bihar’s literacy rate (age 7+): 74.3% — 2nd lowest after Andhra Pradesh.
- National average: 80.9%
- Bihar has a large adult non-literate population: nearly 2 crore, including 1.32 crore women.
- The Centre says Bihar didn’t utilise ₹15.79 crore released in 2023-24 and hasn’t submitted its annual literacy plan.
