Question

Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, what is the mandatory age group for free and compulsory education?

• A. 3 to 14 years
• B. 6 to 14 years
• C. 5 to 15 years
• D. 7 to 16 years

Hint:

Key points about the \textbf{RTE Act 2009} for exams:

• Guarantees \textbf{free and compulsory education}.
• Covers children aged \textbf{6–14 years}.
• Implements \textbf{Article 21A} of the Constitution.
• Ensures \textbf{no detention policy} (initially introduced).
• Mandates \textbf{25% reservation for economically weaker sections} in private schools.

A quick memory trick: \[ \textbf{RTE = Classes 1–8 = Age 6–14} \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009 is a landmark legislation enacted by the Government of India to ensure that every child receives elementary education as a fundamental right. This Act was implemented on 1 April 2010 and operationalizes Article 21A of the Constitution of India. According to the RTE Act, every child within a specified age group has the legal right to receive free and compulsory education in a neighborhood school. The term “free education” means that no child shall be required to pay any kind of fee or charges that may prevent them from completing elementary education. “Compulsory education” places the responsibility on the government and local authorities to ensure enrollment, attendance, and completion of elementary education. The Act specifically covers elementary education, which includes:

• Primary education (Classes 1–5)
• Upper primary education (Classes 6–8)

The mandatory age group defined under the RTE Act is: \[ 6 \text{ to } 14 \text{ years} \]
Step 1: Understanding the legal provision.
The question asks about the age group for which the government guarantees free and compulsory education under the RTE Act.
Step 2: Recalling the key provision of the Act.
The RTE Act ensures that every child between the ages of 6 and 14 years has the right to receive elementary education without any financial burden.

Step 3: Analyzing the options.

• Option (A): 3 to 14 years — Incorrect; early childhood education is not fully covered under the original RTE age group.
• Option (B): 6 to 14 years — Correct; this is the legally mandated age group for free and compulsory education.
• Option (C): 5 to 15 years — Not specified in the RTE Act.
• Option (D): 7 to 16 years — Incorrect and not mentioned in the legislation.

Step 4: Selecting the correct answer.
Thus, the RTE Act guarantees free and compulsory elementary education for children aged: \[ \boxed{6 \text{ to } 14 \text{ years}} \]