Information Literacy and Barriers to Social Inclusion among Muslim Women Postgraduate Students in Dharwad: A Survey Study

Abstract: This survey-based study examines information literacy proficiency and the barriers that hinder social inclusion among 90 Muslim women postgraduate students of Karnatak University, Dharwad. Data were collected in 2018-19 using a structured 23-item questionnaire, with a response rate of 90%. The findings show that while 77.77% of respondents could identify their information needs, only 12.22% used advanced search techniques such as truncation, and 16.66% never visited the library. Fifty per cent of the students relied primarily on smartphones for accessing information. These patterns reflect intersecting barriers related to gender, religion, and mobility that limit full participation in higher education. Framed within the goals of India’s National Education Policy 2020, the study argues that strengthening information literacy can serve as a practical pathway toward greater gender equity and social inclusion. Recommendations include gender-sensitive workshops, mobile-based learning tools, and more inclusive library practices.