India’s national literacy rate has hit 83% in 2025, the highest in the country’s history, thanks to targeted programs like NEP 2020, digital learning initiatives, and regional mother-tongue instruction.
Kerala remains the highest-literate state at 98%, while significant gains have been recorded in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan—traditionally underperforming regions. The government’s Padhna Bharat Mission, aimed at adult education, has helped over 25 million people learn to read and write in the last three years.
Online platforms like DIKSHA, e-Pathshala, and YouTube-based learning have allowed millions to access education remotely. NGOs and EdTech startups are also contributing through evening schools and AI-based literacy tools.
Despite the achievement, challenges such as school dropout rates and lack of digital infrastructure in tribal areas persist. Still, India’s literacy milestone is a major step toward inclusive national development.