Determinants of Female Literacy in India: the Role of School Education Quality, Health Outcomes and Poverty

Abstract

Education has become a powerful tool for achieving gender equality and promoting inclusive development. Higher female literacy has been a game changer inproviding employment opportunities for women, better health, higher family income and greater participation in decision-making. Although India has made significant progress in improving female literacy over the past decades yet large differences exist across various states. Some states have achieved universal or near-universal female literacy, while others continue to struggle because of poor educational facilities, weak health care systems and large poverty.

This study examines the factors influencing female literacy across Indian states using secondary data. Female literacy is taken as the dependent variable while the School Education Quality Index, Health Index and Poverty Headcount Ratio are considered as Independent variables. Multiple regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between these variables.

It indicates that States with better quality schools and stronger health care systems generally report higher female literacy rates whereas states with higher poverty levels tend to perform poorly. These results suggest that improving female literacy is not determined by a single factor instead it requires a combined effort to strengthen education, healthcare and poverty reduction programmes rather than focusing on one sector alone.

The study thus highlights the importance of integrated public policies for achieving gender equality and sustainable development. The findings may assist policymakers in designing targeted interventions to reduce regional disparities in female literacy across India.