August 25,2025 – Kerala has achieved a national milestone by becoming the first state in India to attain complete digital literacy, recording an impressive success rate of 99.98 percent.
The state government announced that nearly 21.88 lakh residents above the age of 14 have been trained in essential digital skills under the DigiKerala project. The programme, which followed the earlier Pullampara pilot initiative, was carried out through an extensive volunteer network and supported by local self-government institutions.
According to officials, more than 2.57 lakh volunteers, including students, women’s self-help group members, and literacy mission workers, were engaged in the campaign. The training covered smartphone usage, online payments, access to e-governance services, and measures to avoid cyber fraud. Each participant’s skills were tested through a mobile-based evaluation system, with results verified by the state’s Department of Economics and Statistics.
What has drawn particular attention is the wide age range of the participants. Over 15,000 citizens above 90 years of age, including centenarians, successfully completed the training. Among them was 104-year-old M. A. Abdullah Moulavi, who now actively uses digital platforms for communication and learning.
Minister for Local Self-Government and Excise M. B. Rajesh described the achievement as a “historic step” that builds on Kerala’s earlier distinction as the first state to achieve total literacy in 1991. He added that digital literacy will strengthen transparency in administration, promote citizen empowerment, and improve access to essential services.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to make the official declaration on August 21, during a public event in the state capital. The government has also indicated that the next phase of the programme will focus on advanced training, including cyber awareness and digital entrepreneurship, to prepare citizens for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Kerala’s achievement has been widely welcomed by educationists and technology experts, who say the state has once again set a benchmark for inclusive development. By extending literacy into the digital age, Kerala has reaffirmed its reputation as a leader in social progress and innovation in governance.
