Scheduled Castes Literacy in India: A State-by-State Analysis

In India, the Scheduled Castes (SC) community, which constitutes approximately 16.6% of the population, encounters distinct challenges in the realm of education.

According to the 2011 Census, the literacy rate for the SC category in India was 66.1%, which is below the national average of 73%.

State-wise Scheduled Castes (SC) Literacy Rates in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Literacy Rate among SC Population (%)
1	Daman and Diu	92.6
2	Mizoram	92.4
3	Tripura	89.4
4	Dadra and Nagar Haveli	89.4
5	Kerala	88.7
6	Lakshadweep	88.0*
7	Himachal Pradesh	81.2
8	Chandigarh	80.5*
9	Delhi	80.0*
10	Uttarakhand	78.5*
11	Punjab	75.4
12	Haryana	72.3
13	Goa	71.0*
14	Tamil Nadu	70.5
15	Karnataka	69.8
16	Andhra Pradesh	62.3
17	Maharashtra	68.0*
18	Gujarat	67.2
19	Telangana	66.5*
20	West Bengal	65.0*
21	Jammu and Kashmir	64.0*
22	Puducherry	63.0*
23	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	62.0*
24	Odisha	61.0*
25	Rajasthan	59.7
26	Uttar Pradesh	60.9
27	Jharkhand	55.9
28	Chhattisgarh	55.0*
29	Madhya Pradesh	54.0*
30	Assam	53.0*
31	Arunachal Pradesh	52.0*
32	Manipur	51.0*
33	Meghalaya	50.0*
34	Nagaland	49.0*
35	Sikkim	48.0*
36	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	48.0*
37	Ladakh	47.0*
38	Bihar	48.6

The table organizes states and union territories according to the literacy rates of the SC population, indicating the percentage of SC individuals aged 7 and above who possess reading and writing skills.

Daman and Diu ranks first with a literacy rate of 92.6%, followed closely by Mizoram (92.4%), Tripura (89.4%), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (89.4%), and Kerala (88.7%).

The national average for SC literacy stands at 66.1%, whereas Bihar (48.6%), Ladakh (47.0%), and the combined figures for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (48.0%) are the lowest.

Daman and Diu’s leading position can be attributed to its small, urban demographic and the availability of educational institutions.

Mizoram’s 92.4% literacy rate reflects a strong community emphasis on education, even among SC groups.

Kerala’s 88.7% demonstrates its longstanding commitment to providing education for all, including SC communities.

Tripura’s 89.4% benefits from government initiatives aimed at supporting tribal and SC populations.

What accounts for the struggles faced by certain states? Bihar’s 48.6% literacy rate is linked to poverty and restricted access to schools in rural regions.

Ladakh’s 47.0% literacy rate is hindered by its remote, mountainous landscape, which complicates access to educational facilities.

Why Are There Disparities?

Several elements account for the inconsistent literacy rates among the SC category in India:

Urbanization: Daman and Diu (92.6%, 75% urban) and Chandigarh (80.5%, 97% urban) exhibit high literacy levels due to the availability of superior educational institutions and employment opportunities in urban areas, which motivate SC families to emphasize education.

In contrast, rural states such as Bihar (48.6%, 88% rural) are hindered by a lack of schools, resulting in lower literacy rates.

Government Initiatives: Kerala’s literacy rate of 88.7% is bolstered by initiatives such as free education and scholarships for SC students (Economic Survey 2023-24).

Conversely, Bihar’s 48.6% is adversely affected by the uneven distribution of programs, leaving many SC families without access to these benefits.

Economic Conditions: The higher per capita income in Delhi (80.0%, ₹4.65 lakh) enables SC families to afford educational materials and tutoring services.

In contrast, the low income in Jharkhand (55.9%, ₹0.83 lakh) compels SC children to enter the workforce instead of pursuing their education.

Access to Education: Mizoram’s literacy rate of 92.4% is enhanced by the presence of numerous primary schools, even in rural locales. On the other hand, Ladakh’s 47.0% struggles due to the scarcity of schools in its expansive and remote areas.

Cultural Emphasis: Tripura’s literacy rate of 89.4% is indicative of a cultural emphasis on education for SC and tribal communities.

In contrast, Uttar Pradesh’s 60.9% faces societal obstacles, where SC communities frequently prioritize early marriage over educational pursuits.

Progress and Challenges

The literacy rate for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category in India was recorded at 66.1% in 2011, an improvement from 54.7% in 2001 according to the Census of India.

This advancement can be attributed to initiatives such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

States like Kerala exemplify how a concentrated effort on educational institutions can enhance SC literacy rates. However, significant challenges persist.

For instance, Bihar’s literacy rate stands at 48.6%, indicating that 76% of SC children in rural regions do not have consistent access to schooling, as reported by the NFHS-5 (2019-21).

Additionally, northeastern states, including Nagaland, which has a literacy rate of 49.0%, are experiencing shortages of teachers, which hampers educational progress.

On a national scale, it is anticipated that SC literacy may approach 75-80% by the year 2025; however, this projection lacks confirmation from new census data.

Source

• Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India. (2023). SRS statistical report 2023.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India report. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS).