NEW DELHI, Sept 7 - Assam has emerged as the fifth most literate state in the country, while Kerala with 96.2 per cent literacy rate is the most literate state in the country.
Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom of the list with a literacy rate of 66.4 per cent, showed a report based on National Statistical Office (NSO) survey.
The report on �Household Social Consumption: Education in India� as part of 75th round of National Sample Survey � from July 2017 to June 2018� provides for state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above.
According to the study, after Kerala, Delhi has the best literacy rate at 88.7 per cent, followed by Uttarkhand�s 87.6 per cent, Himachal Pradesh�s 86.6 per cent and Assam�s at 85.9 per cent.
On the other hand, Rajasthan is just above Andhra Pradesh with literacy rate at 69.7 per cent. The other states with low literacy rates are � Bihar at 70.9 per cent, Telangana at 72.8 per cent, Uttar Pradesh at 73 per cent and Madhya Pradesh at 73.7 per cent.
The study has pegged the overall literacy rate in the country is 77.7 per cent. In rural areas, the literacy rate is 73.5 per cent compared to 87.7 per cent in urban areas of the country.
At all-India level, the male literacy rate is higher at 84.7 per cent compared to 70.3 per cent among women.
The survey showed that the male literacy rate is higher than female literacy rate in all states. In Kerala, the male literacy rate is 97.4 per cent compared to 95.2 per cent among females.
Even among the worst performing states, there was a considerable gap in male and female literacy rate.
The report also revealed that nearly 4 per cent of rural households and 23 per cent of urban households possessed computer.
Among persons of age 15-29 years, nearly 24 per cent in rural areas and 56 per cent in urban areas were able to operate a computer.
Nearly 35 per cent of persons of age 15-29 years reported use of internet during the 30 days prior to the date of survey. The proportions were nearly 25 per cent in rural areas and 58 per cent in urban areas.