• On International Literacy Day 2025, India had more than symbolic reason to celebrate. With Himachal Pradesh becoming the fifth state/UT to achieve full functional literacy—after Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, and Ladakh—the country has marked a significant step forward in its educational journey.
• This milestone is not only about statistics; it reflects a deeper transformation in how literacy is being defined and pursued in the 21st century.
• India’s literacy rate has grown from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023-24, a steady rise made possible through sustained programmes like ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. By enrolling over three crore learners and mobilising 42 lakh volunteers, the initiative has shown how government, civil society, and community participation can converge to drive mass educational change.
• Equally encouraging is that nearly 1.83 crore learners have already been assessed for foundational literacy and numeracy, ensuring that learning is not just symbolic certification but measurable skill acquisition.