GK Questions on Right to Education

Education is one of the most important rights a child can have. It helps children learn new things, grow their skills, and build a better future. In India, the Right to Education (RTE) makes sure that every child has the chance to go to school and learn. It is not just a rule – it is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.

In 2002, the Indian government added Article 21-A to the Constitution through the 86th Amendment Act. This article says that all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years have the right to free and compulsory education. Later, in 2009, the government passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, commonly known as the RTE Act. It came into force on 1st April 2010.

The RTE Act has many important rules. It says that no child should pay fees or be denied admission because of poverty, caste, or background. Every child should study in a school that has proper classrooms, trained teachers, and clean toilets. It also says that schools cannot punish students, charge donations, or conduct entrance tests.

One special feature of the RTE Act is that it asks private schools to keep 25% of seats for children from weaker sections of society. This helps bring equality in education. The Act also protects children from being failed or expelled until they complete elementary education.

Knowing about the Right to Education is important for students, teachers, and parents. It tells us about our rights and duties. It also helps us understand what the government must do to improve schools and support children’s learning. Many competitive exams also ask questions about this important topic.

This set of General Knowledge (GK) questions on the Right to Education will help you learn all the key facts. The questions cover Indian laws, international rules, important dates, and key terms related to RTE. They are written in simple words, so everyone can understand them easily.

By reading and practicing these questions, you can gain more awareness about children’s rights and help build a better, educated society. Let’s explore these questions and understand why education is not a privilege, but a right for every child.

Do Check: Education Essay in English for Children and Students

40+ GK Questions on Right to Education

Ques. What is Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution about?

Ans. Article 21-A guarantees the right to free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years.

Ques. When was Article 21-A inserted into the Indian Constitution?

Ans. In 2002, through the 86th Constitutional Amendment.

Ques. What Act was enacted to implement Article 21-A?

Ans. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

Ques. When did the RTE Act come into force?

Ans. On 1st April 2010.

Ques. What is the age group covered under the RTE Act?

Ans. Children aged 6 to 14 years.

Ques. What does ‘free education’ mean under the RTE Act?

Ans. No child should pay any fee or charges that prevent them from completing elementary education.

Ques. What does ‘compulsory education’ imply?

Ans. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure a child’s admission, attendance, and completion of education.

Ques. What is the minimum teacher qualification requirement under RTE?

Ans. Teachers must have requisite entry and academic qualifications.

Ques. What is the ideal Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) according to RTE?

Ans. 30:1 for primary and 35:1 for upper primary classes.

Ques. Can a child be denied admission due to lack of age proof?

Ans. No, RTE prohibits denial of admission for this reason.

Ques. Can private schools charge capitation fees under the RTE?

Ans. No, capitation fees are strictly prohibited.

Ques. What percentage of seats must private unaided schools reserve for disadvantaged children?

Ans. 25% of seats in entry-level classes.

Ques. What is prohibited in schools under the RTE Act?

Ans. Physical punishment, mental harassment, screening tests, capitation fees, and unrecognized schools.

Ques. What are local authorities required to do under RTE?

Ans. Identify children needing education and ensure their admission.

Ques. Which international law first recognized the right to education?

Ans. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26), 1948.

Ques. What is the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)?

Ans. A government program launched to achieve universal elementary education.

Ques. Which Indian state was the first to implement the RTE provisions fully?

Ans. Kerala.

Ques. How many children were estimated to be out of school at the time of RTE’s implementation?

Ans. 8.1 million.

Ques. Which body monitors the implementation of the RTE Act in India?

Ans. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Ques. What does the term “neighbourhood school” imply in the RTE context?

Ans. A school within a defined radius from the child’s home.

Ques. Can a child be expelled before completing elementary education under RTE?

Ans. No, expulsion before completion is not allowed.

Ques. Is education under RTE provided in formal or informal settings?

Ans. Only in formal schools.

Ques. Can teachers be deployed for non-academic work?

Ans. Only for census, elections, and disaster relief duties.

Ques. Is there a provision for children with disabilities under RTE?

Ans. Separate legislation, the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2005 covers their rights up to age 18.

Ques. What did the 86th Amendment do apart from inserting Article 21-A?

Ans. It added Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k) for parents to educate their children.

Ques. What is the funding ratio between the Centre and States for RTE implementation?

Ans. Initially 65:35, later revised to 68:32 or 70:30.

Ques. Who were part of the National Advisory Council (NAC) for RTE?

Ans. Members included Kiran Karnik, Krishna Kumar, Yogendra Yadav, and others.

Ques. What is meant by “age-appropriate class” in the RTE Act?

Ans. A class that matches the age of a child who has missed formal education.

Ques. Can schools conduct interviews for child or parent before admission?

Ans. No, this is prohibited under the Act.

Ques. What is the purpose of surveys under the RTE Act?

Ans. To identify out-of-school children and plan educational facilities.

Ques. Which international covenant recognizes education as a human right?

Ans. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Ques. What are the ‘4As’ of the Right to Education?

Ans. Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Adaptability.

Ques. Which Act preceded RTE in India to promote elementary education?

Ans. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Ques. What was the initial estimated cost of implementing RTE?

Ans. ₹1.71 trillion across five years.

Ques. What does the RTE Forum do?

Ans. It monitors and critiques implementation of RTE provisions.

Ques. What year did the World Bank support education reforms in India begin?

Ans. In the 1990s.

Ques. Which Indian Constitution article originally planned free education within 10 years?

Ans. Article 45.

Ques. Who was the Education Minister who criticized poor implementation of Article 45?

Ans. M.C. Chagla in 1964.

Ques. Which institution did the Supreme Court urge to implement RTE in Northeast India?

Ans. State Governments in the region.

Ques. What is the Abidjan Principles?

Ans. An interpretive text guiding right to education amid private sector involvement.

Ques. What recent step did the UN take in June 2024 regarding education?

Ans. Set up a working group to draft a protocol recognizing free pre-primary and secondary education.

30+ GK Quiz on Right tot Education

Ques. When did the RTE Act come into effect?
a) 2009
b) 2008
c) 2010
d) 2012

Answer: c) 2010

Ques. Which Article was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment?
a) Article 19-A
b) Article 21-A
c) Article 15-A
d) Article 30-A

Answer: b) Article 21-A

Ques. What age group does the RTE Act cover?
a) 3–18 years
b) 6–14 years
c) 0–6 years
d) 5–16 years

Answer: b) 6–14 years

Ques. What is the minimum Pupil-Teacher Ratio prescribed?
a) 20:1
b) 30:1
c) 40:1
d) 35:1

Answer: b) 30:1

Ques. How many seats are reserved in private unaided schools under RTE?
a) 10%
b) 15%
c) 25%
d) 20%

Answer: c) 25%

Ques. Who monitors the implementation of the RTE Act?
a) NCPCR
b) UGC
c) NCERT
d) CBSE

Answer: a) NCPCR

Which of the following is prohibited under RTE?
a) Entry-level screening
b) Capitation fee
c) Physical punishment
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

Ques. What does the term ‘free education’ mean?
a) Tuition fee exemption
b) No books required
c) No cost for any component
d) Only government school admission

Answer: c) No cost for any component

Ques. What is a ‘neighbourhood school’?
a) Any private school
b) School near public transport
c) A school within a specified radius
d) A central government school

Answer: c) A school within a specified radius

Ques. RTE prohibits deployment of teachers for:
a) Census
b) Elections
c) Disaster relief
d) Mid-day meals

Answer: d) Mid-day meals

Ques. Who is responsible for ensuring admission under RTE?
a) Parents
b) Government
c) NGOs
d) School Principal

Answer: b) Government

Ques. Is RTE applicable to unrecognized schools?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Only partially
d) Only in urban areas

Answer: b) No

Ques. Under international law, which document first declared education a human right?
a) ICCPR
b) UDHR
c) CEDAW
d) CRC

Answer: b) UDHR

Ques. What year was the Right to Education recognized as fundamental in India?
a) 1950
b) 1986
c) 2002
d) 2010

Answer: c) 2002

Ques. What body reviews state RTE implementation reports?
a) NITI Aayog
b) Ministry of Women & Child Development
c) Ministry of HRD
d) National Advisory Council

Answer: d) National Advisory Council

Ques. Which law protects the education rights of disabled children till 18 years?
a) RTE Act
b) PWD Act
c) POCSO Act
d) COTPA

Answer: b) PWD Act

Ques. The RTE Act applies to which levels of education?
a) Pre-primary
b) Elementary
c) Secondary
d) Higher Education

Answer: b) Elementary

Ques. What does the 4As model not include?
a) Availability
b) Adaptability
c) Accountability
d) Accessibility

Answer: c) Accountability

Ques. What is the role of parents under Article 51A(k)?
a) To vote
b) To fund education
c) To send children to school
d) To attend school meetings

Answer: c) To send children to school

Ques. Which international body adopted the Abidjan Principles?
a) WHO
b) UNHRC
c) UNESCO
d) IMF

Answer: b) UNHRC

Ques. Which amendment made education a fundamental right in India?
a) 42nd Amendment
b) 61st Amendment
c) 86th Amendment
d) 73rd Amendment

Answer: c) 86th Amendment

Ques. Who described poor implementation of Article 45 as a failure to provide real education?
a) Maulana Azad
b) Rajendra Prasad
c) MC Chagla
d) Zakir Hussain

Answer: c) MC Chagla

Ques. In which year was the RTE Act passed by the Indian Parliament?
a) 2002
b) 2009
c) 2010
d) 2005
Answer: b) 2009

Ques. What is the responsibility of the Block Resource Coordinators (BRCs) under RTE?
a) Conduct exams
b) Monitor school uniforms
c) Ensure implementation and monitoring of RTE
d) Hire teachers

Answer: c) Ensure implementation and monitoring of RTE

Ques. Which UN declaration first defined education as a human right?
a) UDHR (1948)
b) CRC (1989)
c) CEDAW (1981)
d) ICCPR (1966)

Answer: a) UDHR (1948)

Ques. Which international principle framework guides states on public-private roles in education?
a) Paris Agreement
b) Abidjan Principles
c) Doha Declaration
d) Geneva Guidelines

Answer: b) Abidjan Principles

Ques. Under RTE, who is eligible for special training programs?
a) Children with high IQ
b) Dropouts or never enrolled children
c) Teachers only
d) Students in private schools only

Answer: b) Dropouts or never enrolled children

Ques. Which component is NOT included in the RTE norms and standards?
a) Teacher working hours
b) Child’s dress code
c) Infrastructure
d) School working days

Answer: b) Child’s dress code

Ques. Which Indian mission supports universalization of elementary education?
a) Midday Meal Scheme
b) Beti Bachao Mission
c) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
d) PM POSHAN

Answer: c) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Ques. Which Act prohibits schools from running without recognition?
a) NCERT Act
b) PWD Act
c) RTE Act
d) UGC Act

Answer: c) RTE Act

Ques. Which key constitutional duty supports RTE by involving parents?
a) Article 39
b) Article 51A(k)
c) Article 44
d) Article 31

Answer: b) Article 51A(k)

Ques. According to RTE, how should curriculum be designed?
a) Focused on memorization
b) Child-centered and fear-free
c) Competitive only
d) Caste-based

Answer: b) Child-centered and fear-free

Ques. Which of the following is true about school fees under RTE?
a) Nominal fee allowed
b) Fee allowed for girls only
c) No fee at all for any child in government-supported schools
d) Fee mandatory in rural areas

Answer: c) No fee at all for any child in government-supported schools

Ques. Which institution intervened for RTE implementation in Northeast India?
a) NCPCR
b) Parliament
c) Supreme Court of India
d) NCERT

Answer: c) Supreme Court of India

Ques. What percentage of global youth were out of school as of 2023?
a) 10%
b) 5%
c) 16%
d) 8%

Answer: c) 16%