Sikkim Declared a Fully Literate State Under ULLAS Programme

IPR Gangtok,  PTI, May 29, 2026, Gangtok: Sikkim created history as the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang, officially declared Sikkim a Fully Literate State under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

The declaration was made during the 7th Convocation Programme of Sikkim University at Manan Kendra, Gangtok, in the presence of the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and the Hon’ble Governor of Sikkim, Shri Om Prakash Mathur.

Addressing the 7th Convocation of Sikkim University at Manan Kendra, the Hon’ble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, congratulated the Chief Minister of Sikkim and the people of the State on achieving the historic milestone of becoming a Fully Literate State under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

The President described the achievement as a proud and defining moment for Sikkim, extending her heartfelt congratulations to the Government and the people for their collective commitment to education and empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, the Hon’ble Governor of Sikkim, Shri Om Prakash Mathur, expressed immense pride and happiness at the State’s accomplishment. He lauded the coordinated efforts of the Government, institutions and citizens that made this landmark achievement possible, emphasising that literacy is the foundation of progress and inclusive development.

The convocation ceremony thus became a celebration not only of academic excellence but also of Sikkim’s remarkable journey towards universal literacy, marking a new chapter in the State’s educational journey.

The declaration comes at a significant moment as Sikkim concludes its year-long celebration of 50 years of Statehood.

Under the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, a State is considered fully literate under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram when the literacy rate among persons aged 15 years and above reaches 95 per cent or above.

According to the Unnayan Survekshan 2022 conducted by the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation (DESME), Government of Sikkim, the total population of the State in the age group of 15 years and above is 5,30,046.

During the implementation of the programme, 15,361 non-literate adults were identified through surveys conducted across the State. Out of them, 14,447 adults were successfully certified as literate through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) by the National Institute of Open Schooling.