Prospects (2017) 47:257–274 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-018-9429-x 1 3 OPEN FILE Literacy achievement in India: A demographic evaluation Vachaspati Shukla 1  · Udaya S. Mishra 2 Published online: 7 March 2018 © UNESCO IBE 2018 Abstract This article evaluates the progress in literacy among the Indian states, from an age-cohort perspective. It argues that age-cohort analysis ofers a robust understanding of the dynamics of literacy progress. The article clearly brings out the fact that, despite the accomplishment of universal elementary education, achieving the goal of full literacy is quite difcult, owing to the existence of an out-of-school-age illiterate population. Thus, the study suggests provision of an efective adult-literacy programme along with universal elementary education in order to realize the goal of full literacy. Further, it argues that comparisons based on the average literacy rate have led to a computation of a “literacy deprivation index” adjusted with age structure—and that such adjustment leads us to view the literacy gap across all the states as wider, given that it assumes lower values. This mini- mal standardization, along with the age structure of the population, ofers a valid com- parison of this commonly used indicator. Its prospect of progress, too, is largely dependent upon the emerging age structure of the population as a result of the unfolding demographic transition. Keywords Literacy · Age cohort · Group disparity Literacy rate, defned as the proportion of population able to read and write any language with understanding, is the most simple and widely used indicator to assess and compare the progress in educational development across regions. The United Nations’ Universal Decla- ration of Human Rights recognizes literacy as a fundamental right of every individual. * Vachaspati Shukla vachaspatishukla@gmail.com Udaya S. Mishra mishra@cds.ac.in 1 Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research, Thaltej Road, Near Door Darshan Kendra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India 2 Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, Kerala 695011, India