India is a developing country which has grown significantly in the area of studies. It is very important for a state to develop. Even though some states managed to reach a higher development rate, some states still have lower literacy rates. However, the government has planned several ways to make education better in such states. This article will contain the states with the 10 most illiterate states in India.
Top 10 Most Illiterate States in India
1. Andhra Pradesh
This state comes on top when it comes to the illiteracy rate in India. However, it has beautiful traditions and views but it lacks knowledge. Andhra Pradesh is contributing to the country through its agricultural and textile industries. According to 2024, its literacy rate is 66.4%. Moreover, there was a difference in male and literacy female rates. Male literacy rate was 73.4% while women’s literacy rate was just 59.9%. Furthermore, the state is trying to uplift their education policies but it is just not happening.
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2. Jharkhand
Its average literacy rate is just 66.41%. There are many tribal groups that struggle to get an education. Moreover, the state is known for child labour and they are often forced to work at construction sites. Unfortunately, they have to work when it is time for them to get an education. The government has been trying to work on these causes to make it better for the children to get an easy education. Furthermore, there has not been any improvement in their literacy rate for a very long time.
3. Rajasthan
The state has very much gender discrimination issues since the male literacy rate is 0.8% but women’s literacy rate is just 57.6%. It is one of the biggest states in the country and definitely a hard task for the government to provide for all 68 million of the population. However, there are several steps being taken by the state government to improve the system. A few of the areas they are working on are ending gender discrimination, focusing on women’s education and providing a good education for everyone.
4. Bihar
Bihar is actually known to be the hub of excellent education but it only has a literacy rate of 70.9%. The state has actually improved since the last decade as back then it was number one. It is still striving to improve the curriculum of the school, give better knowledge to students and make efforts towards gender equality. The teachers were also not known to be paid well, but now it has changed. This shows their dedication to improve further.
5. Telangana
Telangana is considered to be a new state in India since it was just established in 2014. However, it has not been able to provide a good education to the children. Their literacy rate is 72.8%, which is not a very bad number for a state that has just been made. Moreover, the government is helping to provide good education to the kids and has started several programs as well. They are using technology and helping people to learn skills.
6. Uttar Pradesh
The highly populated state, which has over 241 million people but still failed to provide quality education. The average literacy rate of UP is 73.3%. The state is doing well in teaching people how to read and write and also helping poor people to get an education. It is a really hard-working state and has no gender discrimination since it focuses on both genders to get equal knowledge. The government is supporting the state by helping them launch programs and trying to improve the school structures.
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7. Meghalaya
Even though Meghalaya has a literacy rate of 74.4%, it still lacks in some areas. This state is much better than the other states when it comes to education. The state is mostly a remote area and it is on a hill, which makes it very tough for the government to build proper buildings. Moreover, the teachers there are also not well qualified. The government has launched plans to make the education system better for them.
8. Odisha
This state faces several problems even after achieving a literacy rate of 72.8%. Again, many tribal communities find it challenging to enroll in schools because of the cultural differences. The government has launched programs such as mid-day meals to encourage students to go to school instead of working. Furthermore, we need to do more to improve the quality of education that schools provide to students and to better train teachers.
9. Madhya Pradesh
MP has a literacy rate of 69.3%. The reason for this state to have a low literacy rate is the bad infrastructure and the teachers not being serious towards providing education to the students. Nonetheless, like the other states, tribals here also face the same problem which is the cultural difference. The government has made many policies to improve the condition of the state in the educational sector.
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10. Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is not only rich in natural beauty but also has a unique culture. However, it faces massive challenges when it comes to education. The state which has a 66.95% literacy rate is facing problems in providing quality education. It has remote and inaccessible regions. Learning is held back by inadequate infrastructure, a lack of trained teachers and language barriers. Tribal communities are taught to prioritize tribal practices over education.
Conclusion
The government is taking steps in order to develop India in the education sector. It strives to provide education for both males and females. Their aim is to remove the cultural differences from the society and create a more just environment.
FAQ
- Which state has the lowest literacy rate in India?
Andhra Pradesh has the lowest literacy rate in India at 66.4%.
- What is the literacy rate of Bihar?
Bihar’s literacy rate is 70.9%.
- Why is Jharkhand struggling with literacy rates?
Jharkhand faces challenges due to its tribal population, child labour issues, and lack of access to quality education.