Daily Passage Test for CLAT - Apr 16 MCQs & solutions Free

Article 21-A explicitly guarantees the right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14, making it a justiciable fundamental right. Article 45, a Directive Principle, emphasizes early childhood care and education. Together, they form the constitutional foundation for ensuring access, equity, and quality in elementary education.

The Court recognized education as integral to the right to life under Article 21. This interpretation highlighted that the ability to access education is essential for personal development, empowerment, and the enjoyment of other fundamental rights, making it enforceable against the state.

The RTE Act ensures free and compulsory elementary education for children aged 6–14. It focuses on equitable access, infrastructural standards, and inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups, ensuring education serves as a tool for social justice rather than privilege.
 

While treaties like the CRC are not self-executing in India, they provide guidance for aligning domestic laws with international standards. Courts and policymakers refer to these norms to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education, reinforcing global commitments in the national context.

India’s education framework integrates multiple dimensions: constitutional provisions (Article 21-A, 45), statutory mandates (RTE Act), judicial interpretation (Unnikrishnan and later cases), and international commitments (CRC, SDG 4). This convergence ensures access, quality, and equity while promoting education as a tool for empowerment and social justice.