**Policy Summary: Literacy Position in India - Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24**
This document summarizes the findings of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India. The survey, conducted from July 2023 to June 2024, provides estimates of literacy rates among persons aged 7 years and above for each State, Union Territory (UT), and All-India level.
The All-India literacy rate for persons aged 7 years and above is 80.9%. State/UT-specific literacy rates vary, with Mizoram recording the highest literacy rate at 98.2% and Andhra Pradesh recording the lowest literacy rate at 72.6%. Other notable literacy rates include: Kerala (95.3%), Lakshadweep (97.3%), and Bihar (74.3%).
The PLFS has been conducted since 2017 to estimate various employment and unemployment indicators in the country. The data is sourced from the Annual Report, PLFS, 2023-24. Further inquiries can be directed to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is Rao Inderjit Singh.
Key Entities Referenced
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in India.
National Statistics Office (NSO): The organization responsible for conducting the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The ministry under which the National Statistics Office (NSO) operates.
Rao Inderjit Singh: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, mentioned in the context of its literacy rate according to the PLFS 2023-24.
Kerala: A state in India, mentioned in the context of its literacy rate according to the PLFS 2023-24.
Bihar: A state in India, mentioned in the context of its literacy rate according to the PLFS 2023-24.
All India: Refers to the entire country of India, with the literacy rate mentioned in the context of the PLFS 2023-24.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4441
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
LITERACY POSITION IN THE COUNTRY
4441. SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:
COM. SELVARAJ V:
Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 has
been released showing the overall literacy position in the
country; and
(b) if so, the gist of the survey findings and Government's reaction
thereof? if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF
STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE [RAO
INDERJIT SINGH]
(a) to (b): The National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI has been
conducting the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) since 2017 to
estimate various indicators related to employment and unemployment
situation in the country.
From the PLFS conducted during July 2023- June 2024, the estimates
of Literacy Rate (in percent) among persons of age group 7 years &
above for each State/ UT and All-India are given in table below:State/UT Literacy rate (in percent) of all persons of age group 7
years & above as per PLFS 2023-24 (Rural+Urban)
(1) (2)
Andhra Pradesh 72.6
Arunachal Pradesh 84.2
Assam 87.0
Bihar 74.3
Chhattisgarh 78.5
Delhi 86.9
Goa 93.6
Gujarat 84.6
Haryana 84.8
Himachal Pradesh 88.8
Jharkhand 76.7
Karnataka 82.7
Kerala 95.3
Madhya Pradesh 75.2
Maharashtra 87.3
Manipur 92.0
Meghalaya 94.2
Mizoram 98.2
Nagaland 95.7
Odisha 79.0
Punjab 83.4
Rajasthan 75.8
Sikkim 84.7
Tamil Nadu 85.5
Telangana 76.9
Tripura 93.7
Uttarakhand 83.8
Uttar Pradesh 78.2
West Bengal 82.6
Andaman & N. Island 91.1
Chandigarh 93.7
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
& Daman & Diu 87.8
Jammu & Kashmir 82.0
Ladakh 81.0
Lakshadweep 97.3
Puducherry 92.7
All India 80.9
Note: 1. 2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024
Source: Annual Report, PLFS, 2023-24