Team Goemkarpinn
Panaji: In a landmark announcement, Goa was officially declared a fully literate state on Thursday, marking a major milestone under the Centre’s flagship ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme). The declaration was made by the Chief Minister of Goa during a press briefing attended by education officials and stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, Archana Awasti, Under Secretary, Education, Government of India, said, “Goa has moved swiftly and decisively in achieving the goal of full literacy. It is a proud moment for the state and an inspiring example for the rest of the country.”
The ULLAS programme, launched in 2022-23 as part of the National Education Policy 2020, aims to eradicate adult illiteracy and achieve full literacy across India by 2030. Goa is the first state to reach the national benchmark of 95% literacy—achieving an effective rate of 99.72%, according to data from the Ministry of Education (DO No. S-4/2024-AE.2).
Journey to Literacy
The literacy campaign in Goa was spearheaded by the Goa State Council of Educational Research and Training (GSCERT), with the support of volunteers, educational institutions, and multiple government departments. The programme followed the motto “Jan-Jan Sakshar” and targeted citizens aged 15 and above.
Initially, 6,299 illiterate individuals were identified across 191 Panchayats, 13 Municipalities, and one Municipal Corporation. Of these, 2,136 learners enrolled in the programme and successfully cleared the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) conducted in three phases between March and December 2024.
Multi-Departmental Effort
The implementation saw active collaboration among departments including:
* Directorate of Panchayats
* Directorate of Municipal Administration
* Directorate of Social Welfare
* Directorate of Women & Child Development
* Directorate of Planning & Statistics
Swayampurna Mitras and field workers from the Social Welfare Department played a critical role in identifying learners and supporting their educational journey. Retired teachers, NSS volunteers, and student teachers also participated as instructors.
Language, Learning & Assessment
Adult learners were provided instructional material in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English, covering literacy, numeracy, financial literacy, and life skills. Teaching aids included worksheets, test papers, and resources developed by the National Centre for Literacy.
Three phases of FLNAT were conducted:
* March 17, 2024: 729 candidates appeared; 545 cleared
* July 14, 2024: 1,289 appeared, including re-attempts
* December 1, 2024: 118 appeared (missed earlier tests)
All 2,136 learners successfully cleared the assessments.
Public Mobilization
A series of public campaigns were launched to drive awareness:
* Literacy Week (Sep 1–8, 2023): Drives conducted across all talukas
* Literacy Rally (Sep 4, 2024): Held in Porvorim to mobilize support
* ULLAS Mela (Jan 26, 2025): Celebrated neo-literates, featured exhibitions and personal success stories
Data Snapshot
* 82 Panchayats declared 100% literacy
* 33 Panchayats reported literacy between 95%–99.99%
* 1 Municipality confirmed 99% literacy
* Of the remaining local bodies, 2,136 learners completed training out of 6,299 identified
While over 4,000 illiterate individuals could not participate due to age or health-related constraints, officials noted that the state’s performance still meets the national criteria for full literacy status.
Setting a National Example
Officials emphasized that Goa’s achievement illustrates the impact of convergence, volunteerism, and strong leadership.
“This is not just a statistic—it is a celebration of empowerment and inclusion,” said the Chief Minister. “We thank every educator, volunteer, and citizen who made this possible.”
Goa’s literacy success is expected to serve as a blueprint for other states as India strives toward nationwide literacy by 2030.
