Which Constitutional Amendment included the Right to Education in the Fundamental Rights?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, Eighty-sixth Constitutional Amendment. The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002 inserted Article 21-A, making free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years a Fundamental Right.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The 1st Amendment (1951) restricted free speech grounds and added the Ninth Schedule for land-reform laws — unrelated to education.  (b) The 42nd Amendment (1976) moved 'education' from the State List to the Concurrent List and added the Fundamental Duties — but it did not make education a Fundamental Right.  (c) The 44th Amendment (1978) was a post-Emergency corrective amendment (e.g. removing the right to property as a Fundamental Right) — it did not touch the Right to Education.

Concept: Article 21-A, inserted by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002, makes free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 a Fundamental Right (under Part III), enforceable in courts — distinct from the earlier, non-justiciable Directive Principle on education (Article 45).

State PCS 2023 Q87 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q87 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer