The quality of human population of any society can be judged through its literacy level. Literacy particularly female
literacy plays a significant role in the social advancement and economic development of a region. North East India
recorded a low level of female literacy in the past because of its isolated location and social taboo and restriction in
female outdoor activities. However in independent India the progress in female literacy is significant. Though there
has been progress, the gender gap in literacy was not covering till 2001 which remained wide. In 2011, significant
progress in female literacy is observed recording 59.94 percent female literacy as against 68.99 percent male
literacy. Besides, significant spatial disparity in respect of female literacy is observed across the region. Among the
seven states of the region viz, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram,
the state Mizoram recorded the highest female literacy rate during the post independence period. Interestingly
Mizoram ranked second in both male and female literacy among the states of India as per census of India, 2011. An
attempt has been in this paper to analyze the changing pattern of female literacy in all the districts of North East
India and the sex disparity in literacy in the region.