Constitution of India · Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy

Article 45: Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years

Official text

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 45

• Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust v. The State of Maharashtra and Others
  2025 INSC 10631 September 2025Directions issued

  1) Whether the State can insist that a teacher seeking appointment in a minority educational institution must qualify the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET); If so, whether providing such a qualification would affect any of…

• Om Prakash @ Israel @ Raju @ Raju Das v. Union of India and Another
  2025 INSC 437 January 2025Appeal(s) allowed

  Issue arose as regards plea of juvenility raised u/s.9(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

• Yash Sharma v. Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors
  DHC DLHC010419552024 2408088 August 2024
• Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty & Anr. v. Union
  2023 INSC 92017 October 2023Disposed of
• Delhi Development Authority v. Action Committee , Unaided Recognized Pvt Schools
  DHC DLHC010031042020 23052626 May 2023
• Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India
  2022 INSC 11757 November 2022Disposed of
• Praneeth K. and Ors. v. University Grants Commission (Ugc) and Ors.
  2020 INSC 51928 August 2020Disposed of
• National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour (Ncc-Cl) v. Union of India and Ors.
  2018 INSC 24419 March 2018Directions issued
• State of U.P. & Anr. Etc. v. Anand Kumar Yadav & Ors. Etc.
  2017 INSC 66825 July 2017Disposed of
• Vikas Sankhala & Ors. Etc. v. Vikas Kumar Agarwal & Ors. Etc.
  2016 INSC 97018 October 2016Disposed of
• State of U.P. & Ors. v. Pawan Kumar Divedi & Ors,
  2014 INSC 5802 September 2014Dismissed
• Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust ® & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2014 INSC 3626 May 2014Disposed of
• Re. Exploitation of Children in Orphanages in the State of Tamil Nadu v. Union of India & Ors.
  2013 INSC 83816 December 2013
• Maharshi Mahesh Yogi Vedic Vishwavidyalaya v. State of M.P. & Ors.
  2013 INSC 4283 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
• Bhartiya Seva Samaj Trust Tr. Pres. & Anr. v. Yogeshbhai Ambalal Patel & Anr.
  2012 INSC 39914 September 2012Dismissed
• State of M.P. v. Rakesh Kohli & Anr.
  2012 INSC 23411 May 2012Appeal(s) allowed
• Society for Un-Aided P.School of Rajasthan v. U.O.I. & Anr.
  2012 INSC 16912 April 2012Disposed of
• Shri Girish Vyas & Anr. . v. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
  2011 INSC 75612 October 2011Disposed of
• Childline India Foundation & Anr. v. Allan John Waters & Ors.
  2011 INSC 22518 March 2011Appeal(s) allowed
• State of U.P. & Ors. v. Bhupendra Nath Tripathi & Ors.
  2010 INSC 75929 October 2010Dismissed
• Avinash Mehrotra v. Union of India & Ors.
  2009 INSC 48913 April 2009Disposed of
• Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India & Ors
  2008 INSC 47310 April 2008Disposed of
• Election Commission of India v. St. Marys School and Ors.
  2007 INSC 12416 December 2007Dismissed
• Rajesh Kumar Gupta and Ors. v. State of U.P. and Ors.
  2005 INSC 2564 May 2005Dismissed
• Islamic Academy of Education and Another v. State of Karnataka and Others
  2003 INSC 39114 August 2003Matter referred to larger bench
• Father Thomas Shingare and Ors. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.
  2001 INSC 60814 December 2001Disposed of
• Bandhua Mukti Morcha Etc. v. Union of India and Ors .
  1997 INSC 18421 February 1997Disposed of
• M.C. Mehta v. State Of.Tamil Nadu
  1996 INSC 145410 December 1996Disposed of
• Avinash Nagra v. Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti Etc.
  1996 INSC 112630 September 1996Dismissed
• Ganapathi National Middle School v. M. Durai Kannan (Dead) by Lrs. and Ors.
  1996 INSC 8407 August 1996Appeal(s) allowed
• State of Maharashtra v. Manubhai Pragaji Vashi and Ors.
  1995 INSC 46316 August 1995Dismissed
• State of Himachal Pradesh v. H.P. State Recognised and Aided Schools Managing Committees and Ors.
  1995 INSC 35910 May 1995Dismissed
• Unni Krishnan, J.P. and Ors. Etc. Irrc v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Ors. Etc. Etc.
  1993 INSC 404 February 1993Disposed of
• Miss Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka and Ors.
  1992 INSC 18630 July 1992Partly allowed
• M.C. Mehta v. State of Tamil Nadu and Ors.
  1990 INSC 33331 October 1990Disposed of
• Biharilal Dobray v. Roshan Lal Dobray
  1983 INSC 18323 November 1983Appeal(s) allowed
• Minerva Mills Ltd. & Ors v. Union of India & Ors.
  1980 INSC 14231 July 1980Disposed of
• All Saints High School, Hyderabad Etc. Etc. v. Government of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. Etc.
  1980 INSC 184 February 1980Remitted to Lower Court
• The Ahmedabad St.Xaviers College Society & Anr. Etc. v. State of Gujarat & Anr.
  1974 INSC 10426 April 1974Disposed of
• His Holiness Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalavaru v. State of Kerala
  1973 INSC 9124 April 1973
• In Re the Kerala Education Bill, 1957. Reference Under Article 143(1) of the Constitution of India v. -
  1958 INSC 6422 May 1958Reference answered