Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a literacy rate of 82% for individuals aged seven years and above, according to the latest government data presented in Parliament.
The figure places the Union Territory above the national average of 80.9%, as per the Annual Report 2023–24 of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
The data was shared in response to a question by MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal in the Lok Sabha regarding India’s literacy landscape and government efforts to achieve 100% literacy across states and union territories.
According to the Ministry of Education, the relatively high literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir reflects progress but also highlights the continued need for focused interventions in adult education, especially among underserved and rural populations.
The government has attributed low literacy in various parts of the country to a combination of factors such as poverty, gender disparity, and social inequality. While J&K’s figure of 82% suggests better outcomes than some states like Bihar (74.
3%) or Madhya Pradesh (75.2%), it still falls behind literacy frontrunners such as Kerala (95.3%), Mizoram (98.2%), and Nagaland (95.7%).
To address literacy gaps, the Centre is implementing the ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (2022–2027), which focuses on providing literacy and life skills to adults aged 15 and above who missed formal education. The scheme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes lifelong learning and community engagement, along with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.6, which calls for universal literacy by 2030.
The government stated that “full literacy” is defined as the ability to read, write, and perform basic calculations with comprehension, and it includes digital and financial literacy.
A region is considered “fully literate” once it reaches a 95% literacy rate. So far, Ladakh, along with Mizoram, Goa, and Tripura, has already achieved this milestone under the ULLAS programme.(KNS)
