Why in News?
International Literacy Day 2026 was observed on September 8, 2026, marking the 60th anniversary of its proclamation by UNESCO.
Key Points
- The 2026 theme is ‘Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity’.
- The global literacy rate has reached 88%, but about 739 million youth and adults still lack basic literacy skills.
- Around 4 in 10 children globally are not reaching minimum proficiency levels in reading.
Exam Connect
- International Literacy Day → proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 → first observed on September 8, 1967
- UNESCO → established 1945 → headquarters Paris, France