Synopsis Recognizing the relationship between the literacy and economic development of the individual and the nation as a whole, the Government of India has implemented a number of literacy promotion programmes. However, very few attempts have been made to study the level of retention of literacy and its impact on the Socio-economic development of the individuals. Keeping this inview an attempt was made in this direction to study the level of retention of literacy over a period of 3 years and level of social and economic development.