It is a historic milestone for the northeast region that Tripura has been declared India’s third fully literate state, the distinction coming in the league of Kerala and Mizoram. The state has achieved a whopping literacy rate of 95.6%, as per figures made public under the Union Government’s ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).
The declaration was issued after the Functional Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) held from July 2024 to March 2025 was successfully done. Of 14,179 registered adult learners, 13,909 were certified as literate, taking the state beyond the 95% threshold necessary for the “fully literate” state.
Literacy Drive Under NILP
Rolled out nationally, the NILP program targets literacy in fundamentals for adult men and women of 15 years and older who had no chance to attend formal education. The scheme was aggressively implemented in Tripura both in urban and rural areas with a special emphasis on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections.
Officers observed that Tripura’s literacy achievement was fueled by grassroots-level coordination among Anganwadi workers, teachers at schools, community volunteers, and local bodies. The campaign was supplemented with digital equipment, ease of assessment, and community mobilisation work.
Education Reforms Behind the Success
Tripura’s solid education base has developed gradually over time, in constant growth. Important government interventions that helped achieve this landmark include:
• Universal enrollment of Anganwadi centres, particularly far-flung tribal regions
• A no-detention policy up to Class VIII, encouraging ongoing school attendance
• Emphasis on adult education, especially through the Integrated People-Centric Learning (IPCL) approach
• Government college education for free, lessening economic obstacles to higher education
With 98.1% of enrolled students clearing the FLNAT, the state’s strategy has now been celebrated as an example to other states looking to bridge gaps in education among marginalized groups.
Comparison with Other States
Prior to Tripura, Kerala (96.2%) and Mizoram (95.9%) were already beyond the 95% barrier. With the addition of Tripura, three Indian states now share the “fully literate” title. Delhi and Tamil Nadu are also very close, with marks of 94.8% and 94.3%, respectively.
Official Reaction
Commenting on the feat, a top official from Tripura’s Education Department reported that:
“This is not only a statistical milestone—it’s an indication of our people’s collective dedication to learning. Literacy is the doorway to empowerment, particularly for our rural and tribal populace.”
What’s Next?
With literacy rates now stabilised, Tripura is now setting its sights on moving towards digital literacy, skill-based education, and vocational training to make literacy lead to employability and lifelong learning.
The state also aims at developing adult learning infrastructure, upgrading rural libraries, and incorporating technology into community-based learning centres.
