Question

The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the age of
1. Five to Fourteen years
2. Five to Fifteen years
3. Six to Fourteen years
4. Five to Sixteen years
5.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Six to Fourteen years

The correct answer is Six to Fourteen years.

• Article 21-A: 
  • The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.
  • It is a fundamental right.
  • This provision was not included in the Constitution of India, 1950.
  • The 86th Constitution Amendment Act, 2002 added Article 21A to the Constitution which requires the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children from the age of six to 14 years.
  • India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the Act came into force on 1 April 2010.

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• Important features of Right to Education Act
  • The Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools.
  • It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats to children (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan).
  • Kids are admitted in to private schools based on economic status or caste based reservations.
  • It also prohibits all unrecognized schools from practice, and makes provisions for no donation or capitation fees and no interview of the child or parent for admission.
  • The Act also provides that no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education.
  • There is also a provision for special training of school drop-outs to bring them up to par with students of the same age.