As per the Census 1951, the female literacy rate in India was:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. 8.86%.
According to the Census of 1951, the female literacy rate in India was 8.86%, reflecting the deep-rooted gender disparity in education during the early post-independence period. This figure highlighted the limited access women had to formal education, especially in rural areas, due to social, economic, and cultural barriers. In contrast, the male literacy rate at the time was significantly higher, around 27.16%. The low female literacy rate became a key concern for policymakers, prompting government initiatives to promote girls’ education in the following decades. Since then, India has made steady progress in improving literacy among women.