On May 20, 2025, Mizoram achieved a historic milestone by becoming India's first fully literate state, with a literacy rate of 98.2%, surpassing the Ministry of Education’s benchmark of 95% according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday declared:

As we celebrate this achievement, we also renew our commitment to sustaining literacy through continuous education, digital access, and vocational skill training. Let us now aim higher: digital literacy, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skill for all Mizos.

This outstanding achievement is the result of decades of hard work, community service, and progressive policies.

Historical Foundations

The roots of Mizoram's literacy success trace back to the late 19th century when Christian missionaries Frederick William Savidge and James Herbert Lorrain arrived in Aizawl in 1894. They laid the foundation for formal education in the area by founding the first school and creating the Mizo alphabet based on the Roman letter.

Post-Independence Progress

After India gained independence and Mizoram became a state in 1987, the state government implemented focused educational policies tailored to its unique needs. Programs like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) aimed at universalizing elementary education, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme encouraged school attendance by addressing nutritional needs.

Community participation played a pivotal role in promoting literacy. Local organizations, notably the Young Mizo Association, actively engaged in school management and adult literacy programs, representing a culture that valued education.

The ULLAS Initiative

The recent leap towards full literacy was achieved through the Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) initiative, also known as the New India Literacy Programme. This program identified 3,026 illiterate individuals, with 1,692 enrolling as learners. A dedicated team of 292 volunteer teachers, including students and educators, facilitated this learning process.

Union Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, congratulated the people of Mizoram on this remarkable achievement and commended:

This is a proud day not just for Mizoram, but for the entire nation.

The Mizo cultural attitude of Tlawmngaihna, which is selflessness and compassion, is reflected in ULLAS's success, inspiring volunteers to support literacy.

As an Indian, I feel extremely proud to see Mizoram's journey in becoming the country's first fully literate state. It serves as an inspiring example of how community driven education and dedicated government collaboration can produce life changing results. As a state that has all been deprived of it's limited recognition, but still it continues to build on this foundation, it sets an example for others to follow to achieve universal literacy.

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