Understanding the Constitutional Amendment for Compulsory Education

The question asks which Constitutional Amendment made education compulsory for children in a specific age group. This refers to a significant change in the Indian Constitution concerning the fundamental right to education.

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, is a landmark amendment in the history of India's education system. This amendment introduced significant changes aimed at making education accessible and compulsory for a certain age group of children. Its key contribution was the insertion of a new article into the Constitution.

• It inserted Article 21A into the Constitution of India.
• Article 21A declares that 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.
• This made elementary education a fundamental right.

Prior to this amendment, education was included in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 45), which were not enforceable by courts. By adding Article 21A, the 86th Amendment elevated elementary education to the status of a fundamental right, ensuring its enforceability.

Impact on Compulsory Education

The primary goal of the 86th Constitutional Amendment was to ensure that all children aged 6 to 14 years receive elementary education. The term "compulsory education" means that it is obligatory for the State to provide education and obligatory for parents to send their children to school within this age bracket.

Following the 86th Amendment, the Parliament enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act), which details the provisions for implementing this fundamental right, including norms and standards for schools, teacher qualifications, and prohibition of capitation fees or screening tests for admission.

Analysing the Options

• 82nd Amendment: This amendment is related to relaxation in qualifying marks and standards for reservation in promotions for SC/ST government employees. It is not related to compulsory education.
• 85th Amendment: This amendment deals with consequential seniority in the case of promotion by virtue of rule of reservation for government employees. It is also unrelated to compulsory education.
• 83rd Amendment: This amendment is related to not providing reservation for Scheduled Castes in panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh. It is not related to compulsory education.
• 86th Amendment: As discussed, this amendment is directly responsible for introducing Article 21A, making education compulsory for children aged 6 to 14 years.

Therefore, the 86th Constitutional Amendment is the correct answer as it introduced the compulsory education provision for children between the age group of 6 to 14 years by inserting Article 21A into the Constitution.

Revision Table: Key Constitutional Amendments

Additional Information: Right to Education

The 86th Constitutional Amendment paved the way for the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act). The RTE Act specifies the practical implications of Article 21A. Key aspects include:

• Free education: No child has to pay fees or charges to receive elementary education.
• Compulsory education: The government is responsible for ensuring enrollment, attendance, and completion of elementary education for all children aged 6-14.
• Norms and Standards: Lays down standards for schools, including minimum infrastructure, teacher-pupil ratio, and working hours.
• No Detention Policy (initially): Prohibited holding back a child in any class or expelling them until the completion of elementary education (later amended).
• 25% reservation: Mandates 25% reservation for disadvantaged sections of society in private schools.

The 86th Amendment and the subsequent RTE Act are crucial steps towards achieving universal elementary education in India and fulfilling the vision of education for all children in the 6 to 14 years age group.