Mizoram Declared India’s First Fully Literate State

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance 

In News

• Mizoram has been declared India’s first fully literate state, marking a historic milestone in the state’s educational journey. 

About Literacy

• As per the Office of the Registrar General of India, a literate person is someone aged 7 or above who can read and write with understanding in any language.
• The Department of School Education and Literacy has introduced a refined definition of literacy aligned with NEP 2020 and SDG 4.6 goals.
  • Literacy is now defined as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, along with critical life skills such as digital and financial literacy. This expanded definition aims to ensure full societal participation and economic progress. 
  • A state/UT achieving 95% literacy is considered fully literate. 

Present Status 

• India’s total literacy rate for individuals aged 7 and above, across both rural and urban areas, stands at 80.9% for the period 2023–24.
  • India’s literacy rate has grown from 14% at independence to approximately 80.9% in 2023–24.
• Mizoram has achieved “full literacy” status, reaching 98.2%, surpassing the 95% threshold set by the Ministry of Education as per the 2023–24 PLFS survey.
• Earlier, Ladakh became the first administrative unit to declare full functional literacy under ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society).
• Andhra Pradesh (72.6%) and Bihar (74.3%) have the lowest literacy rates, per the PLFS 2023–24 MoSPI survey.

Source :IE