National Current Affairs
Chandigarh Becomes Second Fully Literate Union Territory with 99.93% Literacy
- 13 Mar 2026
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Chandigarh has achieved a significant educational milestone by recording a 99.93% literacy rate, leading to its recognition as a fully literate Union Territory (UT) — the second UT in India after Ladakh to do so.
Key Points:
- The Announcement: It follows a comprehensive verification process under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), marking the highest literacy level ever recorded for any state or UT in the country.
- The Literacy Gap: Out of the total target population identified during the initial survey, the UT successfully educated and certified the remaining non-literate individuals, bringing the figure to near-absolute saturation.
- Methodology: The status was achieved through the rigorous implementation of the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), which targets non-literates aged 15 years and above.
- Verification: The 99.93% figure was validated through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) conducted across all government schools and community centres in the UT.
- Factors Driving the Success:The UT administration mobilised "Vidyalaya Kalyan Samitis" and student volunteers from colleges to act as "Preraks" (instructors) for non-literate adults.
- Digital Integration: Extensive use of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) mobile app helped track learners’ progress in real-time.
- Urban-Rural Convergence: Intensive drives were conducted in "Colonies" and peri-urban pockets of Chandigarh to ensure that migrant populations were included in the literacy net.
- Targeted Focus: Specific attention was given to functional literacy—teaching individuals not just to sign their names, but to perform basic banking tasks, read signboards, and use digital payment interfaces.
- Significance:This achievement is a direct contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
