Daily Mains Question – GS 2 – 20th June 2025
- TPP
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to help you understand the evolving definition of literacy in 21st-century India, particularly in light of national policies promoting inclusive, skill-based development. This question delves into how the concept of “full literacy” has broadened to include not only foundational reading and writing but also digital, financial, and entrepreneurial capabilities—core skills essential for functional empowerment in today’s economy.
Driven by national frameworks like the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative and aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Skill India Mission, this shift reflects India’s commitment to lifelong learning and real-world readiness. Through schemes like PMKVY, Digital India, and MUDRA Yojana, literacy is now being reimagined as a tool for self-reliance, social mobility, and economic inclusion. This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper 2 (Governance and Social Justice) and GS Paper 3 (Economic Development and Skill Building), as it encapsulates the role of education in empowering marginalized populations and fostering inclusive growth.
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QUESTION
“Full literacy now includes digital, financial and entrepreneurial skills” . Discuss this in light of national skill development policies.
Answer: The concept of "literacy" in contemporary India has expanded beyond basic reading and writing. In August 2023, the Ministry of Education redefined literacy under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative to encompass not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also critical life skills such as digital, financial, and entrepreneurial literacy.
Recent declarations by Goa (99.72%), Mizoram (98.2%), and Ladakh (97%+) as “fully literate” states under ULLAS signify the growing emphasis on holistic literacy aligned with the goals of inclusive national skill development.
ULLAS Scheme and Its Significance
The ULLAS scheme, also known as the New India Literacy Programme, launched by the Centre for 2022–2027, aims to equip 5 crore non-literate individuals aged 15 and above with:
Foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN)
Critical life skills: digital literacy, financial literacy, health awareness, legal literacy, disaster response skills, etc.
Vocational skills and avenues for continuing education
This reimagining of literacy aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes universal foundational literacy and numeracy, and lifelong learning as a national priority.
Why Full Literacy Must Include Digital, Financial and Entrepreneurial Skills
1. Alignment with National Skill Development Policies
The National Skill Development Mission (2015), led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), identifies digital and financial literacy as key 21st-century skills.
Programs like PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) and Skill India prioritize functional skills for self-reliance and job-readiness, particularly in rural and underserved populations.
2. Bridging the Digital Divide
In an era of e-governance and digital banking, digital literacy is critical for accessing public services, online education, and employment opportunities.
The ULLAS scheme addresses this by integrating ICT-enabled learning, supported through offline teaching and a dedicated mobile app.
3. Promoting Financial Inclusion
With increasing digitization of financial services (UPI, DBT, Aadhaar-enabled banking), financial literacy empowers individuals to manage savings, credit, investments, and avoid fraud.
It complements national efforts such as Jan Dhan Yojana, PM-SVANidhi, and Digital India.
4. Encouraging Grassroots Entrepreneurship
Basic entrepreneurial skills can transform literate citizens into micro-entrepreneurs, particularly among women and youth.
Literacy with entrepreneurship paves the way for participation in schemes like MUDRA Yojana, Start-Up India, and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
Implementation and Achievements under ULLAS
2.43 crore learners registered under ULLAS.
1.03 crore certified through the Functional Literacy Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) – a 150-mark test in reading, writing, and numeracy conducted in multiple Indian languages.
90% national average pass rate; Goa and Tamil Nadu recorded 100% pass rate, while Delhi and Rajasthan had over 99%.
In states like Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and others, 70% or more test-takers were women, demonstrating its inclusive design.
Examples of Progress:
Goa: Literacy rate of 99.72% achieved by identifying 6,299 non-literate individuals; 2,136 trained and certified.
Mizoram: 3,026 non-literates identified in 2023; 1,692 certified under ULLAS.
Ladakh: Over 32,000 identified; 7,300 appeared in Phase 1, 22,000 in Phase 2, and 4,600 in Phase 3 for FLNAT in 2023–24.
Comparison with PLFS and Census Data
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24:
Mizoram: 98.2%
Goa: 93.6%
Ladakh: 81%
Census 2011:
National literacy: 74.04%
Adult literacy (15+): 69.3% (9.08 crore males, 16.68 crore females)
Kerala had the highest literacy: 94%
Goa: 88.7%, Mizoram: 91.3%
These figures underscore the critical role of targeted adult literacy and skill-based interventions like ULLAS in bridging gaps between census and real-time functional literacy.
Challenges and Limitations
Elderly non-literate population often unwilling or unable to participate.
Digital infrastructure gaps in rural and remote regions hinder delivery.
Shortage of trained volunteers and regional resource centers in some areas.
Way Forward
Integrate ULLAS with Digital India and Skill India initiatives to ensure seamless access to digital, financial, and entrepreneurial training.
Enhance community participation and strengthen volunteer networks through incentives and local governance structures like panchayats.
Leverage public-private partnerships (PPPs) for resource sharing, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Monitor literacy outcomes beyond FLNAT certification by tracking improvements in real-world functionality (e.g., digital transactions, business registrations, etc.).
The ULLAS scheme marks a decisive shift in India’s approach to literacy—toward a more empowering, skill-based model. By recognizing digital, financial, and entrepreneurial capabilities as components of full literacy, India is aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aspires to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
States like Goa, Mizoram, and Ladakh exemplify how innovative, community-driven strategies can pave the way for universal, functional, and future-ready literacy.
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