Choose the correct option to fill the blank :
Literacy Rate is expressed as a proportion of the literate population in the age group _ and above.
Choose the correct option to fill the blank :
Literacy Rate is expressed as a proportion of the literate population in the age group _ and above.
Options
Official answer
A: 7 years — Literacy Rate is measured among the population aged 7 years and above.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark: for correctly choosing option A (7 years).
Hint
Recall the exact Census of India age cut-off used to define the literate population — it's a single-digit number just below 10.
Quick oral answer
Literacy rate is defined by the Census of India as the proportion of the literate population aged 7 years and above to the total population in that age group.
Common mistakes
- 1.Confusing the literacy rate age cut-off with the age for compulsory education (6-14 years) under RTE.
- 2.Guessing 10 years due to rounding habits rather than recalling the precise Census definition.
- 3.Not revising exact numerical definitions used for development indicators, assuming only concepts (not numbers) will be tested.
Analysis and explanation
Tests the exact age threshold used to define Literacy Rate as per Census methodology.
Concept
- Literacy Rate = proportion of literate persons in the age group of 7 years and above, relative to the total population of that age group.
Key points
- Option A (7 years) matches the Census of India definition used in the NCERT 'Development' chapter.
- Options B, C, D (8, 9, 10 years) are incorrect distractor ages.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the literacy age cut-off (7 years) with other syllabus age thresholds, such as those for school enrolment or child labour laws.
Interesting facts
As per the 2011 Census, India's overall literacy rate (age 7 and above) was about 74%.
Kerala has consistently recorded the highest literacy rate among Indian states in successive Censuses.
The Census of India has used the age-7-and-above cut-off for literacy calculations since the 1991 Census, replacing earlier looser definitions.
Question details
Q52 of 57 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Social Science
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section D
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- MCQ
- Chapter
- Development
- Topic
- Literacy Rate
- Bloom's level
- remember
- Syllabus topic
- Unit 3: Development — Indicators of Development (Literacy Rate)
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
Why is the age cut-off for literacy rate set at 7 years?
The Census of India considers children below 7 years too young to have developed reliable reading and writing ability, so the literate population is measured from age 7 and above.
Is literacy rate the same as the school enrolment ratio?
No. Literacy rate measures the proportion of people aged 7 and above who can read and write, whereas enrolment ratio measures the proportion of children of a specific age group enrolled in school.