The right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years was made a Fundamental Right by inserting Article ______ through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
- 21A
- 21B
- 45
- 46
Answer: 21A
Right to Education evolution: (a) Unnikrishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1993): SC held right to education up to age 14 is fundamental right implicit in Article 21, (b) 86th Amendment (2002): Inserted Article 21A making education for 6-14 years a Fundamental Right; modified Article 45 for early childhood care; added Fundamental Duty (Article 51A(k)) for parents, (c) RTE Act, 2009: Operationalizes Article 21A with norms for infrastructure, teacher qualifications, 25% reservation in private schools. Illustrates judicial legislation prompting constitutional amendment.