India Achieves Major Milestone In Literacy 2025
India marked achievement in literacy in 2025. The Ministry of Education celebrated International Literacy Day with the theme Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era. Himachal Pradesh became the fifth State/UT to attain full functional literacy. This follows Tripura, Mizoram, Goa and Ladakh. The event brought into light India’s rising literacy rate and the expanding definition of literacy in the modern age.
Recent Literacy Progress in India
India’s literacy rate increased from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023-24. This progress was largely driven by the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. Over three crore learners enrolled and 42 lakh volunteers mobilised under this programme. Nearly 1.83 crore learners have been assessed for foundational literacy and numeracy. The government emphasised literacy as empowerment, dignity and self-reliance beyond just reading and writing.
States and Union Territories Achieving Full Literacy
Himachal Pradesh joined the list of fully literate States/UTs with a 99.3% literacy rate, surpassing the national benchmark of 95%. Mizoram, Tripura, Goa and Ladakh had earlier achieved this status. Mizoram leads with 98.2% literacy as per 2023-24 data. Goa reached 100% literacy after focused training programmes. Tripura’s literacy rose from 20.24% in 1961 to over 95% now. Ladakh is the first Union Territory to be fully literate with a 97% rate.
Expanded Definition of Literacy
Modern literacy includes digital, financial and civic awareness. The Ministry praised India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for accelerating literacy efforts. Literacy now links closely with skills, livelihoods and social awareness. Volunteerism remains key to sustaining progress. The ULLAS programme uses a blended approach combining offline and online learning. The ULLAS Compendium showcases innovative learning materials supporting this mission.
Role of Youth and Collective Efforts
Youth and students are encouraged to actively participate in literacy drives. Integrating literacy efforts with academic credits was suggested to boost engagement. The achievements in difficult terrains demonstrate the power of collective effort. Officials called for expanding literacy to cover lifelong learning and social empowerment. Literacy week from September 1–8 registered new learners and volunteers nationwide.
Historical Context and Future Goals
India’s literacy rate was just 12% after Independence. Himachal Pradesh had only 7% literacy then. After 78 years, India aims for universal literacy by the next census. The drive aligns with the vision of building a developed and literate nation, Viksit Bharat. The progress reflects sustained government focus and community participation.
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