Free and Compulsory Education

The Right to Education is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21A of the Constitution of India, 1950.¹ The law guaranteeing the right to education is known as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Every child between the age of 6 to 14 years, that belongs to disadvantaged groups including children who are differently-abled, children belonging to scheduled caste or scheduled tribes etc. as well as children belonging to all income groups shall have the right to free and compulsory education in the neighbourhood school till the completion of their elementary education which is from Class 1 to Class 8.²

Parents of such children do not have to pay any fee, charges or expenses to help their children receive elementary education.³ Every child who is enrolled in school for elementary education will also be provided with a nutritious meal, free of charge on all days except school holidays.⁴

1. Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka, (1992) 3 SCC 666. [↩]
2. Section 3(1), The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. [↩]
3. Section 3(2) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. [↩]
4. Section 3, The Mid-day Meal Rules, 2015. [↩]