Education and Development of Muslims in India: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The present paper aims to analyse the state wise educational status of Muslims in India. It also aims to compare the educational status of muslims with the educational status of other religious communities in India. The country level and state level published data have been obtained from census of India. At the same time the association between the educational status of muslims is sought with their socio-economic development. The results have revealed that the educational status of Muslims in India is not satisfactory and needs special attention. It is found that more than half i.e., 53.95 per cent of the total population of the Muslims in India is illiterate with 17.48 per cent literate people just for the name sake only. Technical education or higher education is meager among the muslims. From the results it is also clear that Muslims who accounts for 13.46 per cent of the total population of the nation show lowest literacy rate, lowest percentage of higher education and lowest degree of female education. Budhist who only claim for less than half per cent of the total population of the country are most literate. The percentage of higher education, sex ratio and female literacy rate is also highest in this religious community.