ExamCourses.in
Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Education
Article 21A (Fundamental Right, inserted by 86th Amendment Act 2002): free & compulsory education, age 6-14; implemented via RTE Act 2009 (in force 1 April 2010). Article 45 (DPSP, amended by same 86th Amendment): early childhood care & education, below 6 years (originally, in 1950, covered up to 14 years within 10 years). Article 46 (DPSP, unchanged): promotes educational/economic interests of SC/ST and weaker sections. Article 51A(k) (Fundamental Duty, added by 86th Amendment 2002): parent/guardian's duty to educate child/ward aged 6-14. All linked to the single 86th Amendment, 2002.
Important topics
- Article 21A - Fundamental Right to free and compulsory education (age 6-14), inserted by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002
- Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 - the enabling law for Article 21A, in force from 1 April 2010
- Article 45 (as amended by the 86th Amendment) - Directive Principle for early childhood care and education for children below 6 years
- Article 45 (original, 1950) - directed free and compulsory education up to age 14 within 10 years; now superseded in substance by Article 21A
- Article 46 - Directive Principle for promoting educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and weaker sections; unaffected by the 86th Amendment
- Article 51A(k) - Fundamental Duty of parents/guardians to provide educational opportunities to children/wards aged 6-14, inserted by the 86th Amendment
- The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 as the common source of Article 21A, the amended Article 45, and Article 51A(k)
- Non-justiciability of Directive Principles (Articles 45, 46) versus enforceability of Fundamental Rights (Article 21A) and Fundamental Duties (not court-enforceable but constitutionally recognised)