Tripura is all set to be declared the third fully literate state in India, after Mizoram and Goa. The announcement will be officially made by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha at a grand event scheduled on June 23 at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala. Officials from the state’s Education Department confirmed the development, calling it a “historic moment” in Tripura’s educational journey. The declaration marks the culmination of years of sustained efforts, particularly under the ULLAS – New India Literacy Programme, launched by the central government in 2022 to promote universal adult literacy in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
“Tripura becomes the third state in India to achieve this milestone after Mizoram and Goa. Among Union Territories, Ladakh was the first to reach full literacy,” a senior official told India Today NE. The success of Tripura’s literacy campaign is credited to the coordinated work of the School Education Department, the State Literacy Mission Authority, and SCERT, which together mobilized 2,228 Youth Literacy Corps volunteers and 943 Social Consciousness Centres. The initiative also included contributions from retired teachers, students, and local volunteers. Educational materials were developed in Bengali, English, and Kokborok, ensuring that tribal and rural communities were included in the learning process. The campaign reached deep into the state’s remote hills and villages—through informal backyard classes, community sessions in market areas, and home-based learning models.
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2023–24, Tripura’s literacy rate rose from 93.7% to 95.6%, surpassing the central benchmark for full literacy.“This is not just about reading and writing. The new literacy programme emphasizes functional skills—including basic math, digital literacy, and financial knowledge,” said an official involved in the mission.Tripura’s journey has been remarkable. In 1961, the state had a literacy rate of only 20.24%. Over the decades, the number steadily climbed, reaching 87.22% in the 2011 Census, placing it behind only Kerala and Mizoram. However, older literacy campaigns often focused only on the ability to sign names, whereas the current approach is much more holistic and practical. The June 23 event will be attended by top officials from both the state and central governments.
