Illiteracy is a big problem in India and literally no one can deny that fact. Though, in some parts of the country, things are changing super fast and this entire illiteracy thing is getting solved, there sure are other past/regions/states where things were stuff in the 1980s. Yes, we are indicating the states that have the lowest literacy rate in the country. So, let’s just go over these top 5 most illiterate states in India, and try to find out what could be the reason behind it all. Alright, here we go now.
1. Bihar
Did you know that even in 2024, Bihar still is the state with the lowest literacy rate in India, which is 61.80%? And that fact right there is kinda saddening, don’t you think? Like, this number, which illustrates the actual problem, also includes some issues with poverty and inadequate access to education in rural areas. Not just that though, the gender gap is very wide with 71.20% of men being literate as compared to only 51.50% of women. If you’re wondering like what actually led to this low level of literacy, well, things like bad school infrastructure and a lack of trained teachers also contribute to the problem, just saying.
2. Arunachal Pradesh
The northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh registers a literacy rate of 65.38%. The rough terrain and dispersed population make it hard to open schools in remote areas. While the literacy rate is comparatively high among men at 72.55%, only 57.70% of women are literate, and if you compare it with other states in the nation, you’ll realize how big of a gap that is. Sure, the efforts are still ongoing to improve accessibility but the progress is very slow due to logistical issues and also, due to the limited resources.
3. Rajasthan
Then there is Rajasthan, this state actually has a literacy rate of 66.11%, and the gender gap is not only tremendously wide but also very dangerous. Although 79.19% of men are literate, the percentage is down to 52.12% only among women. And you may have seen the actual representation of the problems in Rajasthan many times. Yes, we are talking about things like cultural values and social barriers, especially in rural areas, which are the main obstacles to female education. In this modern age, things are getting better but not at the pace we expected. We can only hope for something better in the future for Rajasthan’s literacy rate because things surely are changing super fast down there.
4. Jharkhand
And just so you know, the state literacy rate of Jharkhand is 66.41%, which is attributed to the strengths of the socio-economic structure. Sure, this very state is resource-rich and known as the mining hub of the country, but still, the education department is where things are kinda way out of control. Like, looking at male literacy it is 76.84, but female literacy is way out of balance at 55.42%. The vast number of kids who have left school or are still leaning more towards finding just a way of making money for a family, and that’s not a good thing at all considering they could have had a good education and more opportunities to make money and support their families.
5. Andhra Pradesh
Last on the list, in Andhra Pradesh, the literacy rate is 67.02%. Sure, this state is on the last of our list, but don’t think that is a good thing. Like, while urban areas show moderate improvement, rural regions still struggle due to a lack of infrastructure and qualified teachers. Men’s literacy is 74.88% while women’s literacy is at 59.15% which is way low of a percentage and the balance is way off too. Though the state government has brought onward relief programs for education, the gains are yet to be witnessed by the underprivileged section of the populace.
Conclusion
Sure enough, in today’s digital and modern world, things are changing super fast in the education scene of the country, but still, these are the top 5 states that remain with somewhat low and concerning literacy rates.