Udupi declared fully literate district by Karnataka government

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 14, 2026: The Karnataka government has declared Udupi district in coastal Karnataka a fully literate district, with the formal district-level declaration expected to be held on November 1, coinciding with Kannada Rajyotsava.

As per the Centre’s literacy guidelines, Udupi has achieved a literacy rate of over 95%, qualifying it to be declared fully literate under the prescribed norms. The government has directed that the district be treated as having achieved 100% literacy for the purpose of the declaration.

The Udupi Zilla Panchayat had submitted a proposal seeking fully literate district status. Following verification of the proposal at the government level, an order was issued approving the declaration, subject to specified conditions.

Literacy programmes were implemented across all 155 Gram Panchayats, seven Taluk Panchayats and eight urban local bodies in the district, in accordance with the Centre’s guidelines.

The government has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat to complete the formal declaration after complying with the stipulated conditions.

Conditions for the declaration

The Zilla Panchayat CEO has been instructed to re-verify the literacy statistics from the 2011 Census and subsequent progress under literacy programmes to confirm that the district has achieved a literacy rate exceeding 95%.

After verification, the date for the formal declaration must be finalised in consultation with the district in-charge minister. The government has suggested that the declaration be held on an important occasion, such as a national holiday or a state celebration like Kannada Rajyotsava.

The district must be formally declared fully literate at a major public event attended by elected representatives, ministers, MLAs and officials. The entire process must also be documented and publicised to inspire other districts to achieve similar progress.

The government has further emphasised that literacy initiatives must continue even after the declaration. Efforts should be made to educate any remaining non-literate individuals, organise refresher classes for newly literate persons and extend literacy programmes to migrant workers.