The correct answer is C. Higher than the national average.
The literacy rate of Karnataka is 77.9%, which is higher than the national average of 74.04%. This means that more people in Karnataka are able to read and write than the national average.
There are a number of reasons why the literacy rate in Karnataka is higher than the national average. One reason is that the state has a strong focus on education. The government of Karnataka has invested heavily in education, and this has helped to improve the literacy rate. Another reason is that the state has a relatively young population. The median age in Karnataka is 26.8 years old, which is lower than the national median age of 28.2 years old. This means that there are more people in Karnataka who are of school-going age, and this has helped to boost the literacy rate.
The high literacy rate in Karnataka has a number of benefits. It means that more people are able to participate in the workforce, and this can help to boost the economy. It also means that more people are able to access information and services, and this can help to improve their quality of life.