As per Census 2011, the literacy rate of India was:

According to Census 2011, the effective literacy rate of India was 74.04%. In the Census, a person aged seven and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is counted as literate. Children aged 0-6 years are excluded from the calculation, even if they can read and write.

Key literacy figures from Census 2011:

• Overall literacy rate: 74.04%.
• Male literacy rate: 82.14%.
• Female literacy rate: 65.46%.
• Gender gap in literacy: about 16.68 percentage points (down from 21.59 in 2001).
• Rural literacy: about 67.8%; urban literacy: about 84.1%.

The literacy rate increased by about 9.2 percentage points during 2001-2011, from 64.83% in 2001. Female literacy grew faster (by about 11.8 points) than male literacy (by about 6.9 points).

Growth of literacy in India since Independence:

• 1951: 18.33% (only about 8.86% of women were literate).
• 1961: 28.30%.
• 1971: 34.45%.
• 1981: 43.57%.
• 1991: 52.21%.
• 2001: 64.83%.
• 2011: 74.04%.
• More recent surveys by the National Statistical Office (such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey) estimate India's literacy rate (age seven and above) at about 77-80%.

Among states, Kerala had the highest literacy rate (94.00%) and Bihar the lowest (61.80%) in 2011. Among Union Territories, Lakshadweep had the highest (91.85%).

India's literacy campaigns include the National Literacy Mission (launched on 5 May 1988), the Saakshar Bharat programme (2009) and the New India Literacy Programme (ULLAS, 2022-27), which targets adults aged 15 and above. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims for universal foundational literacy and numeracy among primary school children through the NIPUN Bharat Mission (2021).

Why not the other options?

• ✗64.83% was the literacy rate in Census 2001.
• ✗82.14% was the male literacy rate in 2011.
• ✗65.46% was the female literacy rate in 2011.