Udupi: Udupi has become Karnataka’s first district to be declared fully literate, with the state govt confirming that it has met the literacy standards prescribed by the Centre. The district has achieved a literacy rate of 99.5%, with 5,885 people trained and certified as literate under various literacy programmes between 2022–23 and 2025–26.Under the Neo-Literate and Gram Panchayat Literacy Programme and the New India Literacy Programme (NILP) from 2022–23 to 2025–26, a total 5,885 illiterate people were made literate across 155 gram panchayats and eight urban local bodies. Examinations were conducted for them, and certificates were issued to those who passed. Based on this, the district submitted a proposal to the state. After reviewing the proposal at the state level over the past four to five months and verifying that literacy standards set by the central govt have been met, the govt made the official declaration.The govt instructed the zilla panchayat CEO to verify the required documents at the district level and officially declare it through an event. According to sources, district minister Rizwan Arshad will make the official announcement during the Karnataka Rajyotsava programme on Nov 1.Udupi ZP CEO Prateek Bayal said that the district minister will be consulted regarding the plans for making the ‘Fully Literate District’ announcement on Nov 1. Currently, our total literacy rate stands at 99.5%, the ZP CEO said.“It has already been announced at the state level. The proposal was actually sent from here at the district level. The minister will make an official declaration during Kannada Rajyotsava. It was originally a central govt scheme and they provided the guidelines for it. We submitted the proposal to the state govt. After verification from GPs and through various literacy initiatives, those who were surveyed were given literacy certificates. Training was provided, exams were conducted, and certificates were issued to more than 5,800 people. Only after that was this announced,” he said.
