Assistant Professor in,
The individual acquaintance derived from cartographic sketch or a free hand map refers as cartographic literacy. It is attained all the way through cartographic education only. As the location information, which has an important part of modern life is best related through sketches and maps. In other words cartographic education refers to the process of improving cartographic knowledge and understanding but it is a bitter fact that cartographic illiteracy is broadly prevalent among under degree students. Cartographic education is part and parcel of geography one of the well-liked and desired subjects at under-degree level. So the study of cartographic literacy at degree level student specifically among geography student to understand the pathetic picture of cartographic education is a need of the hour. Cartographic literacy and disparities in level of cartographic understanding and education is the new domain of geographic studies in post modern era. Cartographic literacy is also becoming more relevant for inclusive development of society and country. The present study is based on primary survey of 600 under degree geography students of various colleges out of four different Universitiesof India (Delhi University Delhi, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Maharashi Dayanand University Rohtak, Ch. Devilal University Sirsa) to determine the cartographic literacy level. The study area was selected by keeping in mind proximity, size and feasibility to carry out survey in the best possible way. Primary data was collected through systematic purposive random sampling technique with the help of a well designed questionnaire and requisite aid. For determining the cartographic literacy and education of under-degree level geographic students, Composite Index and Standard Deviation Technique has been used. To calculate the Composite Index principally 20 variables based on 4 indispensable categories such as location, Identification, Association and cartographic Technique were chosen to determine cartographic literacy. An endeavour has also been made to briefly compare the condition of cartographic literacy and suggests some measure of inclusive technique and methodology to improve cartographic literacy.
