The denominator used to calculate the literacy rate of the Indian population includes: a) Population aged 18 years or older, b) Population aged 7 years or older, c) School-going population, and d) Total midyear population.

The denominator used to calculate the literacy rate of the Indian population is the population aged 7 years or more. This means that when calculating the literacy rate, we consider only those individuals who are 7 years old and above.

The literacy rate is an important measure that indicates the percentage of people in a particular population who can read and write. It is commonly used as an indicator of the overall education level and development of a country or region.

When calculating the literacy rate, we need to determine the numerator and the denominator. The numerator represents the number of people who are literate, while the denominator represents the total population that we are considering.

In the case of India, the denominator used is the population aged 7 years or more. This means that only individuals who are 7 years old and above are included in the calculation. This age limit is chosen because it is generally assumed that by the age of 7, most children have started their education and should be able to read and write at least to some extent.

It is important to note that the population aged 7 years or more includes both those who attend school and those who do not. The literacy rate calculation does not specifically consider the school-going population as a separate category. Instead, it aims to capture the overall literacy level of the population as a whole.

By using the population aged 7 years or more as the denominator, the literacy rate calculation provides a more comprehensive picture of the literacy situation in India, as it includes individuals of various age groups who may or may not be attending school.