Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

Act No. 35 of 2009 In force from 01-04-2010 Ministry of Education 39 sections

An Act to provide for free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years.

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Chapter I: Preliminary

• 1 Short title, extent, application and commencement 1 judgment
• 2 Definitions 2 judgments

Chapter II: Right to Free and Compulsory Education

• 3 Right of child to free and compulsory education
• 4 Special provisions for children not admitted to, or who have not completed, elementary education
• 5 Right of transfer to other school

Chapter III: Duties of Appropriate Government, Local Authority and Parents

• 6 Duty of appropriate Government and local authority to establish school
• 7 Sharing of financial and other responsibilities
• 8 Duties of appropriate Government
• 9 Duties of local authority
• 10 Duty of parents and guardian
• 11 Appropriate Government to provide for pre-school education 1 judgment

Chapter IV: Responsibilities of Schools and Teachers

• 12 Extent of school’s responsibility for free and compulsory education 2 judgments
• 13 No capitation fee and screening procedure for admission
• 14 Proof of age for admission 1 judgment
• 15 No denial of admission
• 16 Examination and holding back in certain cases
• 17 Prohibition of physical punishment and mental harassment to child
• 18 No school to be established without obtaining certificate of recognition
• 19 Norms and standards for school
• 20 Power to amend Schedule
• 21 School Management Committee
• 22 School Development Plan
• 23 Qualifications for appointment and terms and conditions of service of teachers 8 judgments
• 24 Duties of teachers and redressal of grievances 1 judgment
• 25 Pupil-Teacher Ratio
• 26 Filling up vacancies of teachers
• 27 Prohibition of deployment of teachers for non-educational purposes
• 28 Prohibition of private tuition by teacher

Chapter V: Curriculum and Completion of Elementary Education

• 29 Curriculum and evaluation procedure
• 30 Examination and completion certificate

Chapter VI: Protection of Right of Children

• 31 Monitoring of child’s right to education 1 judgment
• 32 Redressal of grievances
• 33 Constitution of National Advisory Council
• 34 Constitution of State Advisory Council

Chapter VII: Miscellaneous

• 35 Power to issue directions
• 36 Previous sanction for prosecution
• 37 Protection of action taken in good faith
• 38 Power of appropriate Government to make rules
• 39 Power of Central Government to remove difficulties

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 October 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.