School Education Minister Dr. Vanlalthlana Attends International Literacy Day 2025 in New Delhi

New Delhi, Sept 2025: Mizoram’s Minister for School Education, Dr. Vanlalthlana, attended the International Literacy Day 2025 programme held at Janpath Road, New Delhi, where he delivered a speech highlighting Mizoram’s remarkable achievements in literacy. He stated that Mizoram’s attainment of a 100% literacy rate was the result of collective efforts and shared commitment.

The Minister recalled the historical roots of education in Mizoram, explaining that the foundation for literacy was laid during the British era through the efforts of Christian missionaries, who introduced reading and writing to the region. He noted that the ability to read and write became a transformative asset for Mizoram after India’s Independence. To strengthen this legacy, the Adult Education Wing was established, which later played a crucial role in the success of the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).

Dr. Vanlalthlana pointed out that under NILP, Mizoram had already achieved a literacy rate of 96.41% by 2022–23, and further progress was made through sustained initiatives. He highlighted that according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report (July 2023 – June 2024), Mizoram recorded a literacy rate of 98.2% among individuals aged seven and above. Consequently, on 20th May 2025, Mizoram was officially declared as the first fully literate state in India under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative.

He attributed this milestone to the close coordination between the State and Central Governments, churches, NGOs, civil society organisations, and the Education Department, all of whom worked together tirelessly. He stressed that the next step must be to strengthen education further, particularly in the area of skill development, so that literacy translates into improved livelihoods and socio-economic growth.

Dr. Vanlalthlana concluded by affirming that Mizoram would continue to support national efforts to make India a country where every citizen is literate, and would stand as an example in advancing both education and skill development for the future.