Home > News & Trends > The Hindu - April 1, 2010, by Shahid

Education becomes a Fundamental Right in India

India will join a group of few countries in the world, with a historic law making education a fundamental right of every child coming into force from today onwards. Making elementary education an entitlement for children in the 6-14 age group, the Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act, 2009 will directly benefit close to one crore children who do not go to school at present.

Nearly 92 lakh children, who had either dropped out of schools or never been to any educational institution, will get elementary education as it will be binding on the part of the local and State governments to ensure that all children in the 6-14 age group get schooling. As per the Act, private educational institutions should reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society.