Literacy & Numeracy Index was recently released.

Why in news?

• The ‘Index on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’, an indicator of literacy among children below 10 years, was recently released by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) chairman Bibek Debroy.

About the Literacy and Numeracy Index

• The Index has been prepared by ‘Institute for Competitiveness’
• 5 pillars of Foundational Literacy Index
• The Foundational Literacy Index 2021 includes 5 pillars comprising 41 indictors on the basis of which the states have been ranked for literacy among children. The 5 pillars are-

1. Access to Education
2. Educational Infrastructure
3. Basic Health
4. Governance
5. Learning Outcomes

• There are four categories: large states, small states, Union Territories and North East.
• West Bengal (58.95) topped the chart and Bihar languished at the bottom in the ‘large states’ category.
• In the ‘small states’ category, Kerala (67.95) grabbed the top spot and Jharkhand was adjudged the worst performer on the index.
• Lakshadweep (52.69) and Mizoram (51.64) are top-scoring regions in the Union Territory and Northeast state category, respectively.