Literacy in India

Literacy in India is a key factor for socio-economic progress, and the Indian government has implemented various programs to promote literacy rates across the country. Despite the rise in literacy over the years, there remains a significant disparity in literacy rates across different regions and population groups in India.

History

The history of literacy in India dates back to the ancient times with the development of the Brahmi script. However, the concept of literacy was different in ancient times, as it was often limited to the elite class. The British colonial rule introduced the modern form of literacy, focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Literacy Rate

According to the 2011 Census of India, the overall literacy rate in India is 74.04%. The male literacy rate is 82.14%, while the female literacy rate is 65.46%. There is a significant rural-urban divide in literacy rates, with urban areas having a higher literacy rate compared to rural areas.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to improve literacy rates. The National Literacy Mission was set up in 1988 to provide functional literacy to non-literates in the age group of 15-35 years. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a flagship program for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education.

Challenges

Despite the progress, there are several challenges to literacy in India. These include gender disparity, socio-economic inequality, and regional disparity. The quality of education and infrastructure are other major concerns.

See Also

• Education in India
• Right to Education Act
• Digital Literacy in India