J&K records literacy rate of 82% for individuals aged seven and above

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JULY 21 (STC): 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 J&K 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).
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%).
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.
Meanwhile, the government defines the “full literacy” 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.(STC)