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Top 10 Indian states for education: Kerala leads; check out which states follow

Top 10 Indian states leading in education: 80.9% of Indians aged seven and older are now literate, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-2024.

3 min readNew DelhiJan 3, 2026 05:23 PM IST

Top 10 Indian states for education: Rajasthan comes second with a score of 72.86

Top 10 Indian states leading in education: In India, more individuals than ever before are literate, and more kids are enrolled in school than at any point in the past. 80.9 per cent of Indians aged seven and older are now literate, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-2024.

However, the narrative varies across states. While some states, like Mizoram, have attained literacy rates of more than 98 per cent, others continue to struggle to guarantee that every child attends school regularly. These variations demonstrate the significant influence of instructors, awareness, community support, and municipal policies on educational attainment.

To clearly measure how states are performing, NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Index (SEQI) provides a reliable and detailed picture. Instead of looking only at literacy, the index studies 30 indicators, including learning levels, access to schools, infrastructure, equality, and governance. For fair comparison, it ranks 20 large states, eight small states, and seven Union Territories separately based on overall education quality.

This listicle looks at the Top 10 Indian states in education, based on the last SEQI rankings.

Kerala leads the list with a SEQI score of 76.63 and a literacy rate of 95.3 per cent. Free primary education, the use of technology in classrooms, and strong community involvement have helped keep dropout rates low.

Rajasthan comes second with a score of 72.86. Programs under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, along with a focus on teacher training and digital classrooms, have helped the state improve despite difficult geographical conditions.

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With a SEQI score of 69.57, Karnataka benefits from Bengaluru’s strong technology ecosystem. Mid-day meal programs like Akshaya Patra have improved student attendance, while partnerships with private institutions have strengthened higher education.

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Gujarat, with a score of 61.95, ranks among the top five due to regular Gunotsav evaluations, industry-focused vocational training, and model schools that support higher enrolment.

The top 10 also includes Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, demonstrating consistent efforts to raise the standard of education. With a SEQI score of 53.34, Uttarakhand rounds out the list thanks to its creative educational models, eco-education programs, and low dropout rates.

Top 10 Indian states in school education:

Ranking	States	SEQI Scores
1	Kerala	76.63
2	Rajasthan	72.86
3	Karnataka	69.57
4	Andhra Pradesh	67.88
5	Gujarat	61.95
6	Assam	60.29
7	Maharashtra	57.43
8	Tamil Nadu	56.37
9	Himachal Pradesh	55.32
10	Uttarakhand	53.34