Why in News?
Literacy is a foundation of national development. Beyond being an indicator of educational progress, it enables individuals to access opportunities, participate in the economy, and engage meaningfully in society.
UNESCO recognises literacy as a fundamental human right and a significant driver of achieving equality, justice, inclusion, and respect for the rule of law.
India has made significant strides in improving its literacy rate over the past eight decades.
In 1947, the country’s overall literacy rate stood at just 14%, while female literacy was remarkably low at 8%.
India has undertaken several initiatives over the years to improve literacy and strengthen its education system. The government introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to reform education at all levels and develop a skilled, adaptable, and future-ready workforce.
Measuring Progress in Literacy and Education
India’s literacy rate has made remarkable progress since 1951, increasing from 18.32% in 1951 to 74.04% in 2011.
Male literacy rose from 27.15% to 82.14%, while female literacy increased significantly from 8.86% to 65.46%.
The urban literacy rate increased from 34.59% in 1951 to 84.1% in 2011, while the rural literacy rate rose from 12.10% to 67.8%.
- Between 2001 and 2011, rural female literacy grew by 26%, compared with 10% for rural males, reflecting significant gains in female literacy
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, the literacy rate in urban areas reached 89% for those aged 7 years and above, and 88% for those aged 5 years and above.
- Among urban residents aged 7 years and above, literacy reached 93.1% for males and 84.8% for females.
- In rural areas, the literacy rate among those aged 7 years and above was 77.4%, and 76.4% for those aged 5 years and above.
- Among the rural population aged 7 years and above, the literacy rate was 84.8% for males and 70.3% for females.
- The overall Literacy rate of the country is 81.1 % as per this survey.
According to the UDISE+ Report (2025-26):
School Enrolment: Over 24.72 crore students were enrolled in schools.
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Stood at 42.8% at the Foundational stage, 91.7% at the Preparatory stage, 89.6% at the Middle stage, and 71.7% at the Secondary stage.
Dropout rates were 1.8% at the Preparatory stage, 3.6% at the Middle stage, and 7.0% at the Secondary stage.
Retention rates stood at 98.5% for Foundational, 91.1% for Preparatory, 83.7% for Middle, and 51.9% for Secondary stages.
Transition rates improved, with 99.2% progressing from the Foundational to the Preparatory stage, 93.8% from Preparatory to the Middle stage, and 88.3% from Middle to the Secondary stage.
The transition rate refers to the percentage of students who successfully move from one level of education to the next. |
Participation in higher education has expanded significantly over the past decade:
Enrolment increased from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.50 crore in 2023-24.
GER increased from 23.7% to 30% over the same period.
Higher education out-turn increased from 88.28 lakh in 2014-15 to over 1.09 crore in 2023-24.
Higher education out-turn refers to the total number of students who pass out of higher education institutions in a given academic year. |
Key Government Initiatives
ULLAS (2022-27): Targets 5 crore non-literate adults aged 15+, providing functional literacy, numeracy, critical life skills and lifelong learning through community participation and digital platforms.
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Example: Over 4 crore learners have registered.
NIPUN Bharat (2021): Seeks universal foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by 2026-27, particularly for children in the 3-8 years foundational stage.
- Example: FLN is integrated into Samagra Shiksha.
Samagra Shiksha: Integrates SSA, RMSA and Teacher Education, focusing on equitable access, teacher development, vocational education and learning outcomes.
- Example: Supports FLN and inclusive schooling.
PM SHRI: Aims to develop 14,500+ exemplar schools aligned with NEP 2020, emphasising holistic, inclusive and experiential learning.
PM e-VIDYA & PM POSHAN: PM e-VIDYA expands multimodal digital learning, while PM POSHAN provides nutritional support to 11.20 crore students, supporting attendance and retention.
Significance for Viksit Bharat
Economic: Improves productivity, employability and human capital.
Social: Promotes women’s empowerment, inclusion and social participation.
Sustainable: Education facilitates green skills and environmentally responsible behaviour.
SDG linkage: Advances SDG-4 and generates multiplier effects across poverty reduction, gender equality and decent work.Type Here !
