Lowest literacy rate in India found in Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan: Ministry of Education

Tags: Reports

According to the Ministry of Education, Bihar has the lowest literacy rate in India at 61.8%, while Kerala has the highest at 94%.

An Overview of the News

• Apart from Bihar, other states with low literacy rates are Arunachal Pradesh at 65.3% and Rajasthan at 66.1%, while Lakshadweep with 91.85% and Mizoram with 91.33% follow Kerala.

• The literacy rate in rural India is 67.77%, while the literacy rate in urban areas is 84.11%.

About Saakshar Bharat Scheme

• Saakshar Bharat Yojana was implemented in rural areas of 404 districts of 26 states and one union territory to improve the adult literacy rate. The program targets areas with a female literacy rate of 50% or less as per the 2001 census.

• The objective of the plan was to raise the country's overall literacy rate to 80% and reduce the gender gap to 10% by the end of the Twelfth Five Year Plan. The program was extended till March 31, 2018.

• The objective of the Samagra Shiksha scheme is to provide universal access and retention in education, bridge gender and social category gaps, and enhance learning levels from pre-school to senior secondary level.

• The Central Government assists the States and Union Territories in implementing the Samagra Shiksha Yojana as a programme.