Overview

• PLFS 2023-24 reports 80.9% literacy among Indians aged seven and above.
• Mizoram (98.2%), Lakshadweep (97.3%), Kerala (95.3%), Tripura (93.7%) and Goa (93.6%) rank highest while Bihar (74.3%), Madhya Pradesh (75.2%) and Rajasthan (75.8%) rank lowest.
• Urban literacy stands at 88.9% compared with 77.5% in rural regions, with gaps exceeding 14 points in states like Madhya Pradesh.
• Male literacy is 87.2% nationally compared with 74.6% for females, creating a 12.6-point gender gap that widens to 20.1 points in Rajasthan.
• The PLFS report underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy in underperforming states and narrow rural-urban and gender divides.