India - Survey of Disabled Persons, NSS 58th Round, Schedule 26, July 2002 - Dec 2002

Principal earner of the household is that person among the household members who had the highest earnings during the 365 days preceding the date of survey from any type of activity economic or non-economic. Information regarding the general educational level attained by the principal earner will be recorded against this item in terms of the specified codes. For the purpose of making entries, only the course successfully completed will be considered. For instance, a person who had studied up to say, first year B.A., his educa­tional attainment will only be higher secondary. The codes to be used are:

not literate ………………………….. 01
literate without formal schooling …... 02
literate but below primary …………. 03
primary ……………………………. 04
middle ……………………………… 05
secondary ………………………….. 06
higher secondary …………………... 07
diploma / certificate course ……….. 08
graduate …………………………… 10
post graduate and above ………….. 11

A person who can both read and write a simple message with understanding in at least one language is to be considered as literate. Those who are not able to do so, are to be considered not literate and will be assigned code 01. Those who are literate but never attended any school will be given code 02. Those who are, by definition literate but are yet to pass a primary standard examination will be assigned code 03. Codes 04, 05, 06 and 07 will indicate the successive higher standards of examinations passed. Criteria for deciding primary, middle, secondary etc. will depend on the pattern followed in the concerned state or union territory. Persons who have attained proficiency in Oriental languages (e.g. Sanskrit, Persian etc.) through formal but not the general type of education will be classified appropriately at the equivalent level of general education standard.