The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act was enacted by Parliament on:

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was passed by Parliament on 4 August 2009, received the President's assent later that month, and came into force on 1 April 2010.

Constitutional background:

• The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A, which makes free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years a Fundamental Right.
• It also changed Article 45, a Directive Principle, to focus on early childhood care and education for children below 6 years.
• It added a Fundamental Duty in Article 51A(k), requiring parents and guardians to provide opportunities for education to their children aged 6 to 14.
• The RTE Act was passed to give effect to Article 21A.

Main provisions of the RTE Act:

• Every child aged 6 to 14 has the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school until the completion of elementary education (Class 1 to 8).
• Private unaided schools must reserve 25 per cent of seats in the entry class for children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections, with the government reimbursing costs.
• No child can be held back or expelled until the completion of elementary education; this "no detention" policy was later modified by an amendment in 2019.
• It sets norms for pupil-teacher ratios, buildings, infrastructure, school working days and teacher working hours.
• It prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment of children.
• It requires School Management Committees, with parents as members.

Judicial view:

• In the Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan case (2012), the Supreme Court upheld the 25 per cent quota for private unaided schools.
• In the Pramati Educational Trust case (2014), it exempted minority institutions from the Act.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1 April 2010 is when the Act came into force.
• ✗12 December 2002 is related to the 86th Amendment.
• ✗26 January 2008 does not match.