Sure, India’s literacy rate on the global stage isn’t the highest, but keep in mind that things are getting better with every passing year. That’s mainly because of the modern and digital era we live in and people nowadays understand the importance of education. Though India’s literacy rate may be lower overall, there are some states that are outperforming others, like you may have heard that Kerala is the most educated and highest literacy rate state, right? But the question is, which other states are down on this list? Well, that’s what we are up to today in this post of the top 5 high literacy rate states in India. So, let’s just get to it then.
1. Kerala
At this point, you see, it shouldn’t even be surprising for you to know that Kerala still holds the first place in the literacy graph of India with a literacy rate of 97.25% in 2024, and we all know why that is the case. Right? Well, for those who don’t know, you see, the state’s inclination toward academic accomplishments is directly correlated with the historical constraints of the 19th century and later the introduction of free public education. For sure though, down the line, this has persisted in contemporary programs like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and a sturdy public education system. Not just that though, you see, Kerala is almost touching the luck line of gender parity in education by having literacy rates for men and women almost equal, which is a manifestation of its positive attitude.
2. Lakshadweep
While not actually a particular state, keep in mind that the union territory of Lakshadweep with a literacy rate of 96.7% is the second most literate region in India. Because it is a Union Territory, that’s why you don’t often see Lakshadweep’s name on high literacy states’ lists. Just so you know, its education system is primarily government-supported and community-driven. Something of recent, you see, now the island group (Lakshadweep) has made remarkable improvements such as replacing CBSE with all the schools as the curriculum from 2024.
3. Mizoram
On the contrary, with a literacy rate of 95.5%, Mizoram stands out as the most literate state for community-focused education in the country, were you aware of that? Furthermore, the advancement of education is commendable as the formal system was just introduced in the 20th century. Not just that though, like, the Mizo community has prioritized education with the aid of governmental initiatives like scholarships and programs encouraging gender balance in education. Practically, in every village, Mizoram comes with a school that provides students with sufficient access to education even in the most inaccessible parts of the territory, you know? This is precisely the reason why Mizoram is often in the list of the highest literacy rate holding states in the country, and for all the good reasons actually.
4. Goa
Next on the list, you see, with a literacy rate of 93.25%, Goa enters the ranks of the top English-speaking states in India, which is pretty insane if you think about it for a sec. Like, the state’s education system was marked by the Portuguese colonial period, every educational institution and college bit by bit provided the students with a strong infrastructure, you know? Not just that though, even after independence, Goa has undertaken several new policy initiatives including the introduction of a multilingual curriculum, which is a reflection of the state’s cultural diversity, and this will be done in a holistic manner using this point to develop the system of education in the state. You see, one thing that makes Goa’s education system kinda unique and best in its own way is that they do not just push kids/students to remember things, they focus more on practical knowledge and nature-related things.
5. Puducherry
Last on the list, taking fifth place, Puducherry which is actually an union territory with a 91.75% literacy rate that deserves appreciation, quite a lot actually. You see, its educational past as a history of the French colonial power influenced the opening of schools and colleges, which are still crucial to the educational system of the area Staple schools and institutions. On the other hand, a student of Puducherry gets a unique experience of attending schools where different languages like Tamil, English, and French are being taught, so, the focus is not only on one language, which is pretty interesting. In higher education though, things are also very well, when reputed institutions like Pondicherry University make a significant impact.
Conclusion
Over the years, these states in the country have been keeping up the literacy rate no matter what. And sure enough, if it wasn’t for these states, India’s literacy rate could have been much worse overall.