---
title: "Article 21A: Right to Education in India | Model Diplomat"
description: "Article 21A guarantees free, compulsory education to Indian children aged 6–14, inserted by the 86th Amendment in 2002 and enforced through the RTE Act 2009."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/article-21a-right-to-education"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Article 21A of the Indian Constitution makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for all children aged six to fourteen years.
- How does Article 21A differ from the original Article 45?
- Which law enforces Article 21A?
- Are minority educational institutions bound by the RTE Act?
- What did the 2019 amendment change about the no-detention policy?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Article 21A of the Indian Constitution makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for all children aged six to fourteen years.

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## Timeline

1. 12 December 2002

   Article 21A of the Constitution of India declares that "the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen y…

2. 1 April 2010

   Article 21A of the Constitution of India declares that "the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen y…

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Example

The Supreme Court in Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan v. Union of India (2012) upheld the RTE Act's 25 percent seat reservation for disadvantaged children in private schools as a valid implementation of Article 21A.

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