Category: Awareness Days

September 8 is observed worldwide each year to highlight how essential literacy is for everyone. This day is celebrated as a special campaign across the world to promote education.This day highlights to people around the world that the ability to read and write is crucial for everyone. Let us know when this day started and what is the theme of International Literacy Day this year? Why is this day celebrated? The idea of observing Literacy Day was first proposed at the World Conference of Education Ministers, held in 1965 in Tehran, the capital of Iran. In this conference, emphasis was laid on making the elimination of illiteracy a global agenda. UNESCO officially recognized September 8 as International Literacy Day during its 14th General Conference held in October 1966. Then it was celebrated for the first time in 1967 and since then it has become an occasion for global reflection on education and literacy every year. Theme of International Literacy Day 2025 For the year 2025, UNESCO has announced a specific theme for International Literacy Day. This year two things are being emphasized the most. The chosen theme for International Literacy Day 2025 is ‘Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era’. Apart from this, the second theme is – ‘Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace’, which means to promote education through different languages, so that mutual understanding and peace can be established. Why is this theme important? Today’s world is changing. Earlier, reading and writing meant only reading books. But now times have changed. Now we also have to study through digital means like mobile and computer, internet. If we do not learn to connect with the digital world, we will be left behind. Along with this, if the study is in one’s own language, it is easier to understand. Everyone’s mother tongue is different. By understanding different languages, people can understand each other better. Multilingual education promotes peace and mutual understanding, which brings unity in society. Therefore, Literacy Day 2025 teaches us that education should be for everyone – in any language and in any way – from books or mobile. This is the real message of Literacy Day 2025. India’s literacy rate by 2025 According to the information, by 2025, the total literacy rate of India has reached more than 80%. In the year 2023–24, the literacy rate of India was 80.9%, that is, about 81% of the people know how to read and write. That is, 81 out of every 100 people are literate. More people are literate than in cities, about 89% people in cities are literate. But there is still improvement in villages, about 78% people in villages are literate. Earlier, fewer people were educated in villages. But now there has been a lot of improvement in the last 10 years, especially among women in rural areas, the literacy rate has increased from 57.9% to almost 75%. Despite this, it is clear that women still need more support in the field of education. Mizoram, Goa, Kerala and Tripura are among the most literate states. However, states such as Bihar and Jharkhand continue to report comparatively lower literacy rates. Government initiatives like Navbharat Literacy Program, Digital India and Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao are playing an important role in this direction.