RAS question
The Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 mandates free and compulsory education for children in which age group?
Correct answer: (B) 6 to 14 years.
The Right to Education Act, 2009 mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years.
Explanation
The RTE Act, 2009 gives effect to Article 21A of the Constitution by making education free and compulsory for children in the 6 to 14 years age group. That age band is the key exam point: the entitlement begins at 6, not 5, and stops at 14, not 16. The explanation also connects the law to access and equity, because private schools are required to reserve 25% of seats for economically weaker sections. For RAS purposes, the answer is therefore not a broad statement about school education in general; it is the precise constitutional and statutory age bracket under the RTE framework.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 5 to 14 years is wrong because the RTE mandate starts at age 6, so adding age 5 expands the statutory age group beyond the Act.
- (C) 6 to 16 years is wrong because RTE covers children only up to 14 years, not up to 16.
- (D) 5 to 16 years is wrong on both ends: the RTE age group begins at 6 and ends at 14 under Article 21A.
Concept
This tests the welfare and human-capital part of the Economy and Social Sector syllabus. RAS repeats it because RTE links a constitutional right, a statutory mandate and inclusion through EWS reservations.