India: Drastic improvement in literacy rate

Indian literacy rate was just 12% in 1947, when India obtained freedom from Britishers. According to 1951 census, the literacy rate was just 18.33%. It rose to 64% by 2001. Though it is not a wonderful achievement, it is still a drastic achievement in Indian context!
The success story contains some other sub-stories of success like the state of Kerala achieving 99.86% literacy rate, which is equal to the literacy rate of both USA(where it is just 99.0%) and China(where the literacy rate is just 93.3%). It is a remarkable achievement in the history of Indian literacy. In 1990, Ernakulam district was certified as the district with 100% literacy rate.
Year Literacy rate in India
1951 18.33
1961 28.30
1971 34.45
1981 43.57

1991 52.21
2001 64.84
But, the achievement did not stop with the Kerala itself as some other states too are following the foot steps of Kerala. Mizoram, a remote state in North East, is set to achieve the same distinction with in a few years and here, literacy rate is 88.80% by the 2001 census.

Other states in the foot steps of Kerala
Mizoram: always above national average
An important aspect is that the literacy rate in Mizoram was 31.14% in 1951 while the national literacy was just 18%. Hence, it must be remembered that Mizoram, though a remote and small state in backward north-east region of India, has been maintaining a higher percentage of literacy when compared to national statistics, since from the very beginning of Indian independence. Here is an historical fact to be noted that the state is ahead of the country in literacy rate since 18th century.
Success story of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh, a small Himalayan state, has shown tremendous improvement over a period of four decades during 1961-2001. It is even more impressive than the achievement of Kerala. As it is mentioned above, Kerala has been ahead of the nation in literacy rate the 19th century. On contrary, the literacy rate of Himachal Pradesh, in 1961, was below the national average.
Tamil Nadu too has achieved an impressive literacy rate with 73.4% by 2001 census. In backward states like Rajasthan and Bihar too, the situation is changing very rapidly.
Success story of Rajasthan
The literacy rate in Rajasthan was just 38% by 1991 census and now, it reached 61%! The literacy rate has increased by 23% just with in ten years! Now, almost every village in Rajasthan has primary school coverage.
Bihar: Changing rapidly
Bihar is the only state, in India, where illiterates outnumber literates and it is the least literate state. Its literacy rate is just 47% by the 2001 census. Still, the situation is changing rapidly in Bihar too. Present 47% literacy is an improvement over the 39% by 1991 census. The Government of Bihar has launched several programs to boost literacy during recent past.