Sri Vijaya Puram, March 15: The Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands has achieved a historic milestone in the field of education and social development by being formally declared a fully Literate Union Territory under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme – NILP).
The flagship adult education scheme ULLAS–NILP was implemented in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the year 2023–2024 with a focused and systematic approach. Comprehensive surveys were conducted across the Islands to identify non-literate adults, following which eligible learners were enrolled at nearby Samajik Chetana Kendras. These learners were imparted Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) through committed voluntary teachers. All enrolled learners subsequently appeared in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and successfully qualified.
The Adult Education Bureau, Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of India, has prescribed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for declaring a State or Union Territory as fully literate, communicated vide letter No. 8-4/2024-AE.2 dated 11.12.2025. The provisions of the SOP are as under.
•Reference: Census of India 2011 data: Total number of population.
•Projected population in 2024 excluding population below 7 years.
•Derive the number of 5% of total population.
•If the total number of non-literate population identified through the ULLAS Survey is less than the 5% of total population, then the State/UT has literacy rate more than 95% and may declare as a fully literate State/UT
•Alliteratively, a survey under ULLAS may determine that 95% people are literate.
As per the suggested SOP, the following has been followed by the State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA), Andaman & Nicobar Islands for ascertaining the status of fully literate.
Total number of population 2011 (Source: Census 2011): 380581
Total Population in the age Group 0-6 years (Source: Census-2011): 40878
Projected population in 2025 (Source: NCP, MoHFW): 405000
Total population 0-6 years in 2025 (Source: HHS, SS, ANI): 21922
Projected population in 2025 excluding population 0-6 years: 383078
5% of the projected population: 19154
Total Non-literates identified under ULLAS Survey, 2023: 3387
Aforementioned data reflects that as per ULLAS Survey, 2023, the total number of illiterates were 3387 against 19154 (5% of the projected population of 2025). Thereafter, the State Literacy Mission Authority conducted ULLAS-Survey’s in 2024 and 2025 to identify the non-literates of age above 15 years and identified learners were imparted teaching at Samajik Chetna Kendra’s to enable them appear and pass the Foundation Literacy & Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). During the period 2023 to 2025, altogether 6087 learners qualified FLNAT and were declared literate by NIOS. This includes the recent and the last batch of 492 learners who qualified the FLNAT held on 21-09-2025.
Upon achieving this benchmark and fulfilling all conditions laid down by the Ministry of Education, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands formally declared the Union Territory as Fully Literate during his address at the 77th Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2026.
With this achievement, Andaman and Nicobar Islands becomes the third Union Territory in the country, after Ladakh and Chandigarh, to be declared fully literate as per the prescribed SOP.
This landmark accomplishment stands as a proud moment for the islanders and reflects the sustained commitment, meticulous planning, and dedicated efforts of the Education Department, voluntary teachers, and all stakeholders involved in empowering citizens and transforming lives through literacy.