Rajasthan is least literate state in India: Census

Over one-third of Indian population living in rural areas is illiterate even after 68 years of independence, according to the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011.

Around 64% of the rural Indian population is literate, the Census data showed.

Rajasthan leads the pack of illiterate states with 47.58% of its population falling in that category, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 44.19% of its people in rural areas being illiterate.

Bihar is at the third place with 43.85% and followed by newly carved state Telangana with 40.42% population belonging to this category.

However, the most literate state of Kerala has only 11.38% population falling under the illiterate category.

After Kerala, Goa has the least illiterate population with 15.425 and Sikkim at the third spot with 20.12%.

Himachal Pradesh has also done well in terms of improving its literacy rate. The state has only 22.05% illiterate population.

All India average of the population having below primary education is 13.97%, while middle education pass out is 13.53%.

The percentage of graduate and higher education is only 3.45% across the country.

However, Goa is ahead of Kerala in term of population with graduate and above education qualification. While Kerala only has 7.75% falling in that category, 9.48% Goa's population is graduate and above.