ULLAS Scheme: Adult Education for Universal Literacy by 2030

Context:

• India’s goal of achieving 100% literacy by 2030 under the Union government’s adult education initiative is facing hurdles due to Bihar’s reluctance to fully implement the ULLAS scheme.

• This raises concerns about uneven progress in literacy across states, especially in regions with high adult illiteracy.

Key Highlights:

ULLAS Scheme and National Target

• The Union Education Ministry launched ULLAS to achieve universal literacy by 2030.

• The scheme focuses on adult learners above 15 years of age, aiming to provide:

  • Basic literacy

  • Numeracy skills

  • Lifelong learning opportunities

Bihar’s Literacy Challenge

• Bihar’s literacy rate is 74.3% (7 years and above), significantly below the national average of 80.9%.

• The state has around 2 crore non-literates in the age group 15–59 years.

• Among them, 1.32 crore are females, highlighting the gender gap in literacy.

Funding and Implementation Issues

• The Centre released ₹15.79 crore to Bihar in 2023 as its share for ULLAS implementation.

• However, Bihar has not transferred these funds into the mandated Single Nodal Agency (SNA) account, violating Department of Expenditure guidelines.

• This has stalled the rollout of the programme in the state.

State vs Centre Approach

• Bihar is prioritizing its own literacy programme, Akshar Anchal, which targets:

  • Dalit and Mahadalit communities

  • Minority groups

  • Extremely Backward Classes

  • Women and marginalized learners

Literacy Definition under NEP 2020

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stresses adult education to achieve universal literacy.

• Literacy is defined as the ability to:

  • Read and write with comprehension

  • Perform basic calculations

  • Possess digital and financial literacy

• The Ministry considers 98% literacy as practically equivalent to full literacy.

Relevant Prelims Points:

ULLAS Scheme

• Central scheme aimed at 100% literacy by 2030 through adult education and lifelong learning.

• Requires states to:

  • Identify non-literates above 15 years

  • Provide training equivalent to Class 3 level

  • Conduct certification tests

Single Nodal Agency (SNA) Account

• Mandatory mechanism for transparent transfer and tracking of centrally sponsored scheme funds.

Akshar Anchal

• Bihar’s state literacy scheme focusing on disadvantaged and socially marginalized communities.

NEP 2020 and Adult Education

• Universal literacy is a foundational goal aligned with SDG-4 (Quality Education).

Relevant Mains Points:

Governance and Federal Issues

• Literacy programmes require strong Centre–State coordination.

• Non-participation by key states can jeopardize national targets.

Social Justice Dimensions

• Bihar’s focus on marginalized groups reflects the need for inclusive literacy policies.

• Female illiteracy remains a major barrier to empowerment and development.

Significance of Adult Literacy

• Improves employability, awareness, and democratic participation.

• Essential for achieving socio-economic development and reducing inequality.

Challenges

• Administrative delays in fund transfer and implementation.

• Overlap between Central and State schemes.

• Persistent gender and caste-based literacy gaps.

Way Forward

• Strengthen cooperative federalism in education governance.

• Ensure timely fund utilization through SNA compliance.

• Integrate Central and State literacy efforts for broader coverage.

• Focus on women-centric and digital literacy interventions.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: Governance challenges, Centre–State coordination, education policy

• GS 2 (Social Justice): Adult literacy, inclusion of marginalized groups, gender equity

• Prelims: ULLAS, NEP 2020, SNA account, SDG-4