With 96.2 per cent literacy, Kerala has once again emerged as the most literate state in the country, showed a report based on National Statistical Office (NSO) survey.

The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of 75th round of National Sample Survey - from July 2017 to June 2018’ provides for state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above.

A sample of 64,519 rural households from 8,097 villages and 49,238 urban households from 6,188 blocks was surveyed all-over India.

Highlights of the report

The overall literacy rate in the country is at about 77.7 per cent. In rural areas, the literacy rate is 73.5 per cent compared to 87.7 per cent in urban areas of the country.

After Kerala, Delhi has the best literacy rate at 88.7 per cent, followed by Uttarakhand (87.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (86.6 per cent) and Assam (85.9 per cent).

Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 per cent. Rajasthan is the second worst performer with a literacy rate at 69.7 per cent. 

At all-India level, the male literacy rate is higher at 84.7 per cent compared to 70.3 per cent among women. The male literacy rate is higher than female literacy rate among all states. In Kerala, the male literacy rate is 97.4 per cent compared to 95.2 per cent among females. Similarly, the male literacy rate in Delhi stood at 93.7 per cent compared to 82.4 per cent among females. 

Even in the worst performing states, there was a considerable gap in male and female literacy rate. In Andhra Pradesh, male literacy rate is 73.4 per cent and 59.5 per cent among females (of the age of seven year or above). In Rajasthan, the gap was even wider as male literacy rate stood at 80.8 per cent compared to 57.6 per cent of females. 

Nearly 4 per cent of rural households and 23 per cent of urban households possessed computers. Among persons of age 15-29 years, nearly 24 per cent in rural areas and 56 per cent in urban areas were able to operate a computer.

International Literacy Day

Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) is celebrated on September 8 around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. 

Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 77.3 crore adults worldwide lacking basic literacy skills. More than 61.7 crore children and adolescents are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.

International Literacy Day 2020 focuses on ‘Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond’, especially on the role of educators and changing pedagogies.

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