Youth Incorporated Magazine

Among India’s religious communities, Jains have the highest percentage of literates above the age of seven with 86.73% and a mere 13.57% illiterate, as per the Census India 2011. On the other hand, Muslims have the highest percentage of illiterates aged beyond seven years and stands at 42.72%. Other stats show that illiteracy among Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians were 36.40%, 32.49%, 28.17% and 25.66% respectively.

Data released on the ‘education level by religious community for those above the age of seven’ showed that other minority communities scored higher over Hindus and Muslims in terms of literacy levels. While 63.60% of Hindus and 57.28% of Muslims were found literate, Christians topped the list with 74.34% followed closely by Buddhists at 71.83% and Sikhs at 67.51%.

Jains also had the highest percentage of educated members of the community with 25.65% having a graduation as their minimum qualification. This bypasses other communities which stand at 8.85%, 6.40%, 6.18%, 5.98% and 2.76% for Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims respectively.

Findings from Census India 2011 observed that the overall literacy rates among all communities have gone up since 2011 with percentages standing at Hindus rising from from 54.92% in 2001 to 63.60% in 2011, while the corresponding rise for Muslims is from 48.05% to 57.28%, for Christians from 69.45% to 74.34%, for Sikhs from 60.56% to 67.51%, for Buddhists from 62.16% to 71.83%.