Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak, listen, and communicate effectively. Literacy is the ability to read and write one's own name and further for knowledge and interest, write coherently, and think critically about the written word. Reasons for Low Literacy Rate in India. Some of the reasons for low literacy rates in India are:- 

(a) Inadequate / Poor Infrastructure : Study of 188 government-run primary schools in central and northern India revealed that 59% of the schools had no drinking water facility and no toilets. In , villages and multiplying urban slum habitats, free and compulsory education„ is the basic literacy instruction dispensed by barely qualified para teachers„. The average Pupil - Teacher Ratio for All India is 1:42, implying teacher shortage. It is estimated that at least 35 million, and possibly as many as 60 million, children aged 6– 14 years are not in school. 

Caste System: Discrimination of lower castes has resulted in high dropout rates and low enrolment rates. The National Sample Survey Organization and the National Family Health Survey collected data in India on the percentage of children completing primary school which are reported to be only 36.8% and 37.7% respectively. 

(b) Poverty: Absolute poverty in India has also deterred the pursuit of formal education as education is not deemed of as the highest priority among the poor as compared to other basic necessities. 

(c) Gender Bias: The large proportion of illiterate females is another reason for low literacy in India. Inequality based on gender differences resulted in female literacy rates being lower at 65.46% than that of their male counterparts at 82.14%. Less than 2% of girls who engaged in agriculture work attended school. 

(b) Lack of Political Will : At the time of independence, the literacy rate of India was only 12 %. The fact that we needed to invest more in education was well established, but successive governments have failed to take the required initiative in this regard. The expenditure allocated to education was never above 4.3% of the GDP from 1951–2002 despite the target of 6% laid down by the Kothari Commission.