Mizoram Has Officially Achieved Full Literacy— 98.20%! Here's What Made It Possible

Literacy in Mizoram isn’t a recent win. It’s the result of decades of community-driven efforts that made learning a way of life.

Even in the 1980s, Mizoram ranked among India’s most literate states. But the people didn’t rest on their laurels.

They launched Mission Mode Literacy Campaigns — going home to home, identifying non-literate adults, and bringing practical, community-led classes to them.

A turning point came with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Zoram Education Foundation. Schools reached remote villages. Local teachers were trained and recruited.

Civil society stepped up too. Churches, the Young Mizo Association, and women’s groups made adult education part of everyday life.

By 2011, Mizoram already stood tall with a 91.3% literacy rate — but they still asked: Who is left behind?

Through the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, Mizoram launched one of its boldest drives: No one would be left behind this time.

From students to retired educators, over 290 volunteers came forward — driven not by salary, but by duty.

Thanks to them, Mizoram crossed the national benchmark of 95%, officially making it fully literate .

The use of Mizo as the medium of early education helped children connect with learning from day one.

Dropout rates stayed low. By 2022, more than 90% of students in elementary school were staying in school.

Learning didn’t stay in classrooms. Volunteers went door-to-door. Local councils ran adult classes. Literacy became a shared mission.

This success wasn’t accidental. It was powered by community values, inclusive policy, and a belief that education changes lives. Mizoram’s 98.20% isn’t just a number. It’s a message to India: Empower people — and they’ll educate themselves.