AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSION: RURAL-URBAN DISPARITIES IN INDIA

Abstract

Education is a basic human right that equips children with the essential tools to create stable and successful futures. Yet, gender inequality in education remains a major obstacle for many children around the world. Besides gender disparity in education in India, rural-urban disparity in education is also a prominent feature in Indian society. This paper explores the persistent disparities in educational progression between rural and urban areas in India. The paper aims to address rural – urban disparity in literacy rate among male and female, gender-wise literacy growth rate, and analyze decadal literacy growth rate and their trend in India. Drawing on secondary data from various rounds of census, national surveys and reports such as NSSO, ASER, and UDISE+, it identifies significant variations in literacy rates in India. The paper reveals that there are significant rural – urban inequality in literacy rate for male and female. The paper has identified declining trend for male – female literacy rate in rural and urban areas.

Keywords: Education, Literacy, Disparity, Rural, Urban.