Cities differ strikingly in literacy rates which are related to their location, function, population composition and size. Their literacy rates also have a strong association with the literacy patterns of the areas in which they are located. Cities with a sophisticated industrial base or with a pre-eminence of administrative and educational services display higher literacy rates. Low literacy rates are characteristic of cities in which Muslims or Scheduled Castes form a substantial segment of the population. Broadly speaking, south Indian cities are distinguished by higher literacy rates than the north Indian ones.
