By which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts, was the Article 21A (Right to Education) inserted into the Constitution of India?
- A.83rd Amendment Act
- B.84th Amendment Act
- C.85th Amendment Act
- D.86th Amendment Act
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Explanation
The correct answer is D, 86th Amendment Act. The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A and made elementary education a Fundamental Right. Article 21A says the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years in the manner the State may by law determine. That law is the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which came into force on 1 April 2010. The same amendment rewrote Article 45 to cover early childhood care up to 6 years and added Fundamental Duty 51A(k), under which parents or guardians must provide opportunities for education to their child aged 6 to 14. A is wrong, because the 83rd Amendment, 2000 exempted Arunachal Pradesh from SC reservation in Panchayats. B is wrong, because the 84th Amendment, 2001 extended the freeze on readjusting constituencies. C is wrong, because the 85th Amendment, 2001 gave consequential seniority in promotions to SC and ST employees. Exam tip: 86th Amendment 2002 made three changes, 21A, 45 and 51A(k); the RTE Act 2009 came into force on 1 April 2010.