NEW DELHI: India’s literacy rate has climbed from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24, but true progress will be achieved only when literacy becomes a lived reality for every citizen, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday.
“Literacy goes beyond reading and writing. It is a means to dignity, empowerment and self-reliance,” Pradhan said in a virtual address on the occasion of International Literacy Day 2025.
He underlined the contribution of the ULLAS–Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, under which over 3 crore learners and 42 lakh volunteers have registered. So far, 1.83 crore learners have taken foundational literacy and numeracy assessments with a 90% success rate. The programme now provides study material in 26 Indian languages, making it more inclusive.
Pradhan also congratulated Ladakh, Mizoram, Goa, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh for achieving full literacy, calling the milestone a testament to the collective efforts of government, society and volunteers. Ladakh was declared the first Union Territory to achieve 100% literacy in June 2024.
This year’s theme, “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era”, highlighted the growing role of technology in advancing reading, writing, numeracy and lifelong learning across the country.
Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary noted that India’s literacy framework has now expanded to include digital literacy. “Through robust digital public infrastructure, India has achieved in a decade what might have otherwise taken fifty years, setting an example for the Global South,” he said.
