Educated but Unsafe: Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Literacy and Crime Rates in India, with Special Emphasis on Assam

Crime rates in India tend to spatially vary over different states based on various socio-economic factors, education being considered as one of the most important. Higher literacy rates are often associated with lower crime rates; but is this really true? An apparent paradox emerges in urban areas where, despite higher literacy, crime rates often exceed those in less educated rural regions. This paper explores the complexities underlying the relationship between education, crime, and urbanization in overall India and Assam specifically. Through an analysis of data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Census of India, and certain other relevant academic and non-academic publication, like the crime data of Assam State portal and other additional crime statistics and district wise reports, the paper identifies key factors contributing to these complexities, including economic inequality, population density, migration, and the varying nature of crimes in urban settings. After the data collection, attempts have been made to derive meaningful relations between the different variables through proper tabulation and computation using simple yet meaningful carto-statistical methods, hypothesis establishment, and correlation methods. The results suggest that apart from literacy rate, other factors, such as economic inequality, unemployment, urbanization, and social unrest, may play a more decisive role. It underscores the need for nuanced policy interventions that address the unique socio-economic challenges of urban areas.