Right to Education Act, 2010.

April 1, 2010, Education becomes a Fundamental Right

On April 1, 2010 India joined a group of a few countries in the world, with a historic law making education a fundamental right of every child coming into force.

Making elementary education an entitlement for children in the 6–14 age group, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 will directly benefit close to one crore children who do not go to school at present. As per the Act, private educational institutions should reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society.

The Centre and the States have agreed to share the financial burden in the ratio of 55 : 45, while the Finance Commission has given Rs. 25,000 crore to the States for implementing the Act. The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs. 15,000 crore for 2010-11.