Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Madhya Pradesh Adult Literacy Drive Shows Sharp Urban-Rural Divide
Madhya Pradesh is running a programme to help adults learn reading, writing and other useful skills.
The programme is called ULLAS and is for people aged 15 or older who missed enough formal schooling.
Some districts are doing much better than others.
Bhopal reached only 14% of its target.
Indore reached 36%, while Gwalior and Sagar each reached 34%.
Smaller districts such as Jhabua, Neemuch and Vidisha completed or exceeded their targets.
The differences may be linked to how well districts find, encourage and support adult learners.
Across the state, millions of people have enrolled and passed under ULLAS.
Bhopal achieved 14% of its ULLAS adult literacy target, with 52,524 learners passing against a target of 376,851.
Indore achieved 36%, while Gwalior and Sagar each reached 34% of their targets.
Jhabua, Neemuch and Vidisha completed or exceeded their targets, while Burhanpur and Khandwa crossed 97%.
ULLAS supports people aged 15 and above who missed adequate formal education through literacy, numeracy, life skills and vocational learning.
Madhya Pradesh enrolled 9,968,100 learners under ULLAS, of whom 8,446,498 had passed, according to the figures cited.
- Who
- Adult learners aged 15 and above in Madhya Pradesh, along with teachers, students and other community volunteers supporting ULLAS.
- What
- District-level ULLAS results show major differences in achievement, with Bhopal at 14% and several smaller districts completing or exceeding their targets.
- When
- The figures cover the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram launched in 2022 and running through 2027.
- Where
- Across districts in Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Sagar, Jhabua, Neemuch and Vidisha.
- Why
- ULLAS aims to reach people who missed adequate formal education, and its results depend on identifying, enrolling, retaining and assessing adult learners.
- Bhopal target
- 376,851 learners
- Bhopal passed
- 52,524 learners
- Bhopal achievement
- 14%, the lowest among the districts listed
- Top-performing districts
- Jhabua, Neemuch and Vidisha reached 100% or more of their targets
- ULLAS target group
- People aged 15 years and above who lacked adequate formal education
- State ULLAS enrollment
- 9,968,100 learners enrolled
- State ULLAS passes
- 8,446,498 learners passed