The Ministry of Education marked the conclusion of International Literacy Day 2026 celebrations with the opening of ULLAS Mela in New Delhi. The event, inaugurated by the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, brought together participating states, union territories, and educational institutions to showcase their literacy initiatives.
Key details of the ULLAS Mela
The ULLAS Mela featured exhibition stalls set up by 28 participating States and Union Territories, alongside displays from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). These stalls presented achievements, best practices, learning materials and new approaches in literacy work, with particular focus on states that have achieved full functional literacy.
The two-day event included cultural performances and panel discussions. Officials highlighted the importance of financial literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy and electoral literacy as essential skills that help citizens understand their rights and responsibilities in modern society.
The NCERT Director suggested exploring a new structure where students could earn credit points by assisting others to become literate, as an incentive mechanism to expand the reach of literacy programmes.
What this means for you
If you are an adult learner, the ULLAS scheme continues to offer pathways to acquire basic literacy skills through flexible, community-based programmes supported by your state government. For young people, these celebrations emphasise the role of your generation in spreading literacy as a social responsibility, particularly through digital platforms. States that have achieved full literacy are being called upon to lead the next phase of expansion, suggesting increased focus on quality and depth of learning beyond basic reading and writing skills.