India's Literacy Leap: How the Country Is Moving Towards Full Literacy

What Happened

India has made huge progress in literacy over the last eight decades. In 1947, only 14% of the country could read and write. Female literacy was just 8% at that time.

The literacy rate rose from 18.32% in 1951 to 74.04% in 2011. Male literacy went up from 27.15% to 82.14%. Female literacy jumped from 8.86% to 65.46%.

Urban literacy grew from 34.59% in 1951 to 84.1% in 2011. Rural literacy rose from 12.10% to 67.8%. Between 2001 and 2011, rural female literacy grew by 26%, while rural male literacy grew by 10%.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 gives the latest picture. India's overall literacy rate is now 81.1%.

In urban areas, literacy is 89% for people aged 7 years and above. It is 88% for those aged 5 years and above. Among urban residents aged 7 and above, 93.1% of males and 84.8% of females are literate.

In rural areas, literacy is 77.4% for people aged 7 and above. It is 76.4% for those aged 5 and above. Among rural residents aged 7 and above, 84.8% of males and 70.3% of females are literate.

The Ministry of Education also defines literacy in a new way. It is the ability to read, write and compute with understanding. It also covers critical life skills like digital literacy and financial literacy. A State or UT is treated as fully literate when it reaches 95% literacy.

Who Is Eligible

ULLAS is for adults aged 15 years and above who missed formal schooling. It gives them a second chance to learn.

Volunteers who teach under ULLAS can be school teachers, civil society workers, ASHA workers or Anganwadi workers. Surveyors identify them at the district or block level.

NIPUN Bharat is for young children in the Foundational Stage, aged 3 to 8 years. The goal is for every child to pick up basic skills by Grade 2.

Other school schemes reach students in Bal Vatikas and Classes I to VIII in government and government-aided schools. PM SHRI covers students in more than 14,500 selected exemplar schools.

Benefits

ULLAS gives adults functional literacy, numeracy and critical life skills. Learners also get lessons in digital literacy and financial literacy through the ULLAS App.

The app carries teaching and learning material in 27 languages. It works on both iOS and Android devices, so you can study on your phone.

After learning, you can appear for the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). You then get evaluated and certified.

School schemes improve enrolment, retention and learning outcomes. PM POSHAN gives one hot cooked meal to 11.20 crore students in 10.36 lakh schools on all school days.

PM e-VIDYA brings digital, online and on-air learning together. It is expected to reach nearly 25 crore school-going children.

Higher education has also opened up. Enrolment grew from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.50 crore in 2023-24. The Gross Enrolment Ratio rose from 23.7% to 30% in the same period.

How to Apply

For ULLAS, surveyors conduct door-to-door visits. They find out who cannot read or write and also look for people who can teach.

If you are a learner, you are then connected with a Voluntary Teacher. That teacher helps you register on the ULLAS App.

Training, orientations and workshops are held both in person and online. You then learn at your own pace using the app material.

After studying, you appear for the FLNAT. Your result is evaluated and you receive a certificate.

The source does not list any separate form or portal for joining the other school schemes mentioned here.

ULLAS aims to cover 5 crore learners during 2022-27, with a financial outlay of ₹1,037.90 crore.

NIPUN Bharat was launched in July 2021 under Samagra Shiksha. It targets universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27.

Ten States and UTs declared themselves fully literate between 2024 and 2026. These are Ladakh, Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

NEP 2020 sets a target of 50% higher education GER by 2035. The current GER is 30%, based on 2023-24 data.

The PLFS 2025 survey figures are the latest available. The UDISE+ Report 2025-26 recorded over 24.72 crore students enrolled in schools.