International Literacy Day (ILD) 2025 | 08 Sep 2025
Why in News?
On 8th September 2025, the world will observe International Literacy Day, highlighting the power of reading and writing as tools for human progress and change.
Key Points
- About: The roots of ILD trace back to the 1965 World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, Iran, which sparked the idea of a day dedicated to promoting literacy globally.
- International Literacy Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 and first observed on 8th September 1967, has since been celebrated annually as a global reminder of the transformative power of literacy.
- Theme 2025: This year’s ILD focuses on “Promoting literacy in the digital era.”
- Digital literacy is the ability to access, evaluate, create, and communicate content online, enabling critical thinking, discerning credible information, and safely navigating complex digital environments, making it an essential skill today.
Literacy
- The National Sample Survey (NSS) defines literacy as the ability to read, write, and understand a simple message in any language.
- The term “universal” generally implies full or near-complete coverage, typically close to 100%.
- As per UNESCO, literacy extends beyond reading, writing, and counting; it's a continuous skillset involving identification, understanding, and communication, expanding to digital, media, and job-specific skills in our fast-changing, information-rich world.
- Government Strategies to Enhance Literacy: