New India Literacy Programme (NILP)

Source- This post on New India Literacy Programme (NILP) has been created based on the article “Education Ministry defines ‘literacy’, ‘full literacy’ in push for adult literacy” published in “The Hindu” on 27th August 2024.

Why in News?

The Education Ministry has recently defined ‘literacy‘ and outlined what it means to achieve ‘full literacy’ in a letter sent to all States. This clarification comes as part of a renewed push for adult literacy under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).

New India Literacy Programme (NILP)- It is a five-year initiative (2022-27) aimed at enhancing adult literacy across India by enrolling one crore learners aged 15 and above each year from all States and Union Territories.

 Definition of Literacy and Full Literacy

1. Literacy: Literacy encompasses the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension. It also includes understanding, interpreting, creating, and critical life skills such as digital and financial literacy.

2. Full Literacy: Achieving ‘full literacy’ is defined as reaching a 95% literacy rate in a State or Union Territory.

3. Criteria for Literacy Certification: Under NILP, a non-literate person is considered literate if they pass the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).

Literacy Challenges in India

1. Non-Literate Population: As per the 2011 Census, India had 25.76 crore non-literate individuals aged 15 and above, including 9.08 crore males and 16.68 crore females.

2. Progress and Remaining Challenges: Despite the Saakshar Bharat programme certifying 7.64 crore individuals as literate from 2009 to 2018, about 18.12 crore adults in India are still non-literate.

3. Impact of Illiteracy: Non-literate individuals face significant challenges, including difficulties with financial transactions, job applications, understanding rights, and participating effectively in higher productivity sectors.

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) Results

1. In 2023, 39,94,563 adult learners took the FLNAT, with 36,17,303 (approximately 90%) being certified as literate.

2.  On March 17, 2024, 34,62,289 learners appeared for the test, but only 29,52,385 (85.27%) were certified as literate, indicating a decline in the pass percentage compared to 2023.

UPSC Syllabus: Polity and nation