Jains have highest percentage of literates: Census 2011

NEW DELHI: Jains have the highest percentage of literates above 7 years of age among India's religious communities, with Census India 2011 finding 86.73% of them as literate and only 13.57% as illiterate. Muslims, on the other hand, have the highest percentage of illiterates aged beyond 7 years at 42.72%, as compared to 36.40% among Hindus, 32.49% among Sikhs, 28.17% among Buddhists and 25.66% among Christians.

As per the latest Census 2011 data released on 'education level by religious community for age 7 and above" by the government, other minority communities score over both Hindus and Muslims in literacy levels. As compared to 63.60% of 7 years-plus Hindus and 57.28% Muslims in the 'literate' category, the percentage of literates among Christians is 74.34%, among Buddhists 71.83% and among Sikhs 67.51%.

The latest data, said a census official, has taken those between 0 and 6 years as illiterate.

Jains have the highest percentage of educated members who are graduates and above. At 25.65% of Jains who have minimum graduation as qualification, they far surpass corresponding numbers for other communities, which are 8.85% for Christians, 6.40% for Sikhs, 6.18% for Buddhists, 5.98% for Hindus and an abysmal 2.76% for Muslims.

The good news is that literacy levels (for those above 7 years) have gone up since 2001 for all religious communities. The percentage of these literates among Hindus is up 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%.

But though more Muslims beyond 7 years of age are literate, the community still has the highest illiteracy levels in this category at 42.72%. Barely 2.76% are educated till graduation level or above, only 0.44% have technical/non-technical diploma, 4.44% are educated till higher secondary level and 6.33% till matric level. The highest number of literates in the Muslim community are at the primary level (16.08%), followed by 14.32% at below primary level and 9.73% at middle school.

In comparison, Hindus have 11.83% of their members educated below primary level, 15.11% till primary level, 11.27% till middle school level, 9% till matriculation and 6.62% till higher secondary.