The Right to Education (RTE) Act is a landmark Indian legislation guaranteeing free and compulsory elementary education to children aged 6 to 14 years. Enacted...
The primary objective of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, is to ensure that every child aged 6 to 14 years receives free and compulsory elementary education.
The RTE Act came into effect nationwide on April 1, 2010, making India one of the 135 countries globally to recognize education as a fundamental right.
Key provisions include guaranteeing free and compulsory education (6-14 years), a 25% reservation for economically weaker sections in private schools, establishing norms for teacher qualifications, infrastructure standards, and prohibiting screening tests for admission or physical punishment.
The Act applies to government, government-aided, and specified category schools. It also mandates that private unaided schools reserve 25% of their entry-level seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.