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NEW DELHI: In a powerful demonstration of a shared commitment to strengthening India’s reading culture, Read-A-Thon 2026 brought together children, teachers, schools, government officials and communities across 11 states. Preliminary consolidated figures indicate that the initiative reached over 7 million children, with participation also extending to teachers, government officials and community members.
Organised as part of India Gets Reading 8.0, Room to Read India’s national reading campaign, the Read-A-Thon invited children and adults to pause, pick up a book and experience the joy of reading together. The initiative transformed reading from an individual activity into a collective moment, creating dedicated time and space for reading across schools and communities.
According to the consolidated estimates received from participating states, the initiative reached nearly 6.8 million children, alongside over 2 lakh teachers, with participation also extending to government officials and community members.
The Read-A-Thon saw participation across Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with state teams mobilizing schools, teachers and communities to participate in the shared reading moment.
“Building foundational literacy is about more than developing reading skills, it is about helping children discover the joy, confidence and possibilities that reading can open up. Through story-based learning, reading can become an experience that children engage with curiosity and delight. A reading culture grows when reading becomes a shared experience; when children see teachers, parents, communities and institutions making time for books and stories. The overwhelming response to Read-A-Thon 2026 shows what is possible when we come together to put reading at the forefront and nurture a lasting love for reading in every child.” said Poornima Garg, Country Director, Room to Read India.
Running from August 15 to September 29, 2026, India Gets Reading 8.0 carries the theme My Words, My Story | मेरे शब्द, मेरी कहानी. The initiative is rooted in the belief that reading is much more than decoding words. It enables children to imagine, question, express themselves, connect with others and make meaning of the world around them. At the heart of Room to Read’s approach to foundational literacy is story-based learning, which helps children develop reading skills while creating joyful opportunities to engage with stories, build confidence and find their own voice.
By creating opportunities for children, teachers, families and communities to read together, the campaign seeks to make reading a natural and valued part of everyday life and nurture a lasting love for reading.
The Read-A-Thon is part of Room to Read India’s larger efforts to strengthen foundational literacy, promote reading for pleasure and meaning-making, and support stronger reading environments for children in partnership with state governments and education stakeholders. The initiative aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 and NIPUN Bharat Mission, which place foundational literacy at the heart of children’s early learning.
Read-A-Thon 2026 at a glance:
- 11 states engaged across India
- 7+ million people reached through the initiative
- Nearly 6.8 million children reached
- Over 2 lakh teachers engaged
- Participation from schools, teachers, government officials and communities
- A collective celebration of reading, children’s literature and the joy of books
About Room to Read India
Room to Read is a global organisation working to improve literacy and advance gender equality in education. Established in India in 2003, Room to Read India has partnered with state governments, communities and other stakeholders for over two decades to support systemic strengthening in foundational literacy and advance gender equality, helping children build strong reading and learning skills and enabling girls to develop the knowledge, skills and agency they need to thrive. The organisation has reached over 20 million children through programmes currently spanning 12 states across the country. Its programmes are aligned with India’s national education priorities, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission.