Pratidin
Society, justice and ethicsData setsCensus 2011

Literacy rate

74.04% of people aged 7 and above.

Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Male and female rates differ by about 16 points.

Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Quick recall

What was India's literacy rate in Census 2011?
74.04%.
Male literacy?
82.14%.
Female literacy?
65.46%.
Which State had the highest literacy?
Kerala, about 94%.
Which State had the lowest?
Bihar, about 62%.
What age group is counted?
Persons aged 7 and above.

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Access to and quality of school education

Mains
  1. 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks

    The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children's education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse.

    Census 2011 literacy of 74.04% and its gender and regional gaps give context for judging the RTE Act's reach.

  2. 2020 · GS2 · 15 marks

    National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement.

    Literacy levels are the baseline against which NEP 2020 and SDG-4 targets on foundational learning are measured.

  3. 2016 · GS2 · 12.5 marks

    Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance?

    Literacy data show the gains and the remaining gaps in primary education that this answer must address.

The basics

Why it matters

Literacy is a basic indicator of human development. Census 2011 put India's literacy rate at 74.04%, with a large gap between men and women.

74.04%
Literacy rate, Census 2011
Male 82.14%, female 65.46%.

The gender gap

Female literacy lags.

Literacy, Census 2011
Female
65.46%
Overall
74.04%
Male
82.14%
Kerala was highest, Bihar lowest.

You now know

  • Census 2011 literacy: 74.04%.
  • Male 82.14%, female 65.46%.
  • Kerala highest (about 94%), Bihar lowest (about 62%).
  • Literacy counts people aged 7 and above who can read and write with understanding.

Go deeper

In one line: India's literacy has risen fast, but gaps by gender and State remain.

Why it matters for UPSC

Census figures and literacy missions are Prelims staples.

The core idea

Literacy enables participation; Adult literacy programmes target those left out, and Functional literacy matters more than just signing a name.

Where to go next

In one line: Newer surveys show higher literacy, but quality and adult skills lag.

Surveys

PLFS and NSS show literacy above 77% in recent rounds. See Adult literacy programmes and Functional literacy.

Where to go next

Adult literacy programmes

Reaching adults who missed school

In one line: Adult literacy programmes teach reading and numeracy to adults.

History

National Literacy Mission (1988), Saakshar Bharat (2009), New India Literacy Programme (2022-27).

Branding

ULLAS.

Where to go next

Functional literacy

Using reading skills in daily life

In one line: Functional literacy means using reading, writing and numeracy for daily tasks.

Why

Basic literacy may not mean understanding forms or finances.

Includes

Digital and financial literacy.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. India's literacy rate in Census 2011 was:

    1. 70.2%
    2. 74.04%
    3. 80.1%
    4. 64.8%
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 74.04%. 74.04%.

  2. Consider the following:
    1. Literacy is counted for ages 7 and above.
    2. Female literacy was above 70% in 2011.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Female literacy was 65.46%.

  3. The lowest literacy State in 2011 was:

    1. Uttar Pradesh
    2. Jharkhand
    3. Rajasthan
    4. Bihar
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Bihar. Bihar.

  4. The adult literacy programme launched in 2022 is:

    1. Padhna Likhna Abhiyan
    2. NIPUN Bharat
    3. New India Literacy Programme
    4. Saakshar Bharat
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) New India Literacy Programme. New India Literacy Programme (ULLAS).

Syllabus

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