Constitutional Amendments Archives

The Right to Education was added to the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of India through the :

Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002

Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005

Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003

Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002.

The Right to Education was incorporated into the Constitution of India as a Fundamental Right (Article 21A) by the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002. This amendment mandates the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen years. The same amendment also modified Article 45 (Directive Principle related to early childhood care and education) and added a new Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k), stating that it is the duty of every citizen who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

Following the 86th Amendment, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) was enacted to provide the detailed framework for the implementation of this fundamental right.