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Question 57 of 70 · Important Days & Dates
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International Literacy Day is celebrated on:

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Answer: Option D — 8 September

Detailed Solution

International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on 8 September to highlight the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies.

About International Literacy Day:

  • It was proclaimed by UNESCO on 26 October 1966 at the 14th session of its General Conference.
  • It was first celebrated on 8 September 1967.
  • The idea came from the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy held in Tehran, Iran, in September 1965.

Each year has a theme. UNESCO also presents International Literacy Prizes.

Hundreds of millions of adults around the world still lack basic literacy skills, and about two-thirds of them are women.

Literacy in India:

  • According to the 2011 Census, India's literacy rate was about 74 per cent (male about 82 per cent and female about 65 per cent).
  • A person aged seven years or above who can read and write with understanding in any language is treated as literate in the Census.
  • Kerala had the highest literacy rate (about 94 per cent) and Bihar the lowest (about 62 per cent) among states.

Literacy programmes in India:

  • National Literacy Mission: launched on 5 May 1988.
  • Saakshar Bharat: launched in 2009, with a focus on women's literacy.
  • New India Literacy Programme ("ULLAS": Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society), 2022-2027: for adults aged 15 and above.
  • Article 21A, added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, makes free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 a fundamental right.
  • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 came into force on 1 April 2010.
  • Under ULLAS, Mizoram was declared the first fully literate state in May 2025, followed soon after by Goa.

Other education days:

World Book and Copyright Day: 23 April.

Teachers' Day (India): 5 September (birth anniversary of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan).

National Education Day: 11 November (birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad).

World Teachers' Day: 5 October.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗23 April is World Book and Copyright Day.
  • ✗5 September is Teachers' Day in India.
  • ✗11 November is National Education Day.

Quick tip

Remember: International Literacy Day = 8 September (UNESCO 1966, first 1967); Census 2011 literacy about 74 per cent (Kerala highest, Bihar lowest); ULLAS 2022-27; Teachers' Day = 5 September.

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Important Days & Dates — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Important Days & Dates, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers national and international days observed through the year, such as National Youth Day, World Environment Day and International Yoga Day, along with the themes announced for them and the events or people they commemorate. Questions ask for the date of a day, the day observed on a given date, or the person it honours (for example, National Sports Day on 29 August marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand). Revise days month by month in a calendar format. Themes change every year, so learn the current year's themes from current affairs. Practise the important days questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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