India 2018

8 India 2018
females in a society at a given point of time. The sex ratio in the country has
always remained unfavourable to females. It was 972 at the beginning of the
twenthieth century and thereafter showed continuous decline until 1941. The
sex ratio from 1901-2011 has registered a 10 point increase at census 2011 over
2001; however, child sex ratio has declined to 919 per thousand male.
Literacy
For the purpose of census 2011, a person aged seven and above, who can both
read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate. A
person, who can only read but cannot write, is not literate. In the censuses prior
to 1991, children below five years of age were necessarily treated as illiterates.
The results of 2011 census reveal that there has been an increase in literacy
in the country. The literacy rate in the country is 73.0 per cent, 80.9 for males
and 64.6 for females.
Kerala retained its position by being on top with a 94 per cent literacy
rate, closely followed by Lakshadweep (91.9 per cent). Bihar with a literacy rate
of 61.8 per cent ranks last in the country. Kerala also occupies the top spot in the
country both in male literacy with 96.1 per cent and female literacy with 92.1
per cent. On the contrary, Bihar has recorded the lowest literacy rates both in
case of males (71.2 per cent) and females (51.5 per cent).
Note: For details, the Census Report 2011 may be referred to.