Which Union Territory of India has the highest literacy rate according to the latest Census data among the following options?

Introduction / Context:
Literacy rate is an important socio economic indicator that shows how many people in an area can read and write with understanding. In India, Union Territories are smaller administrative regions that are directly governed by the central government, and their literacy performance is often compared in general knowledge and competitive exams. This question asks which Union Territory has recorded the highest literacy rate according to the latest national Census data among the given options. Knowing such facts helps candidates understand patterns of human development and regional progress within India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is only about Union Territories of India, not about full states.
• The comparison is based on official Census data for literacy rate.
• The options provided are Delhi, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• We assume that the candidate is expected to know relative literacy rankings among these Union Territories.

Concept / Approach:
The literacy rate of a region is calculated as the percentage of literate persons in the population aged seven years and above. Union Territories often perform better than many large states because of their smaller size, better administrative reach, and higher urbanisation. Among the listed Union Territories, Lakshadweep consistently shows one of the highest literacy rates in India. Therefore, the approach is to recall which Union Territory holds the top rank in literacy according to the Census and compare it with the options provided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that literacy rate means the percentage of people aged seven and above who can read and write with understanding.Step 2: Consider the Union Territories mentioned in the options: Delhi, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Step 3: From Census data, Lakshadweep has an extremely high literacy rate that is higher than Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Step 4: Therefore, among the listed options, Lakshadweep is the correct answer.Step 5: Confirm that none of the other Union Territories in the options surpass Lakshadweep in literacy rate.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify this is to remember that Kerala is the most literate state, and Lakshadweep, which is geographically close to Kerala and culturally influenced by it, also performs exceptionally well in literacy. Many exam preparation books and official statistics repeatedly mention Lakshadweep as the Union Territory with one of the highest literacy rates. Cross checking with standard general knowledge references confirms that Lakshadweep is ahead of Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in literacy percentage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Delhi is a highly urbanised Union Territory with a good literacy rate, but it is still lower than that of Lakshadweep. Chandigarh also has high literacy but does not surpass Lakshadweep. Puducherry has a strong educational record but again does not lead this specific list. Andaman and Nicobar Islands have improved in literacy but remain below Lakshadweep. Therefore, none of these alternatives match or exceed the literacy rate of Lakshadweep.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes select Delhi or Chandigarh because they are more familiar urban centres, and they assume these must be the most literate regions. Another common mistake is to confuse the most literate state, which is Kerala, with a Union Territory and answer incorrectly based on that association. It is important to distinguish between states and Union Territories and to base the answer on official Census rankings rather than guesswork.

Final Answer:
Lakshadweep is the Union Territory of India with the highest literacy rate among the options given.