Implementation of RTE and Budget Allocation for Education

As of August 7, 2024, Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, and West Bengal have yet to implement the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chowdhary, disclosed this in the Rajya Sabha. Education is on the concurrent list, giving states the authority to create rules under the RTE Act, but these states have not yet done so.

Right to Education Act 2009

Background: The 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2022 introduced Article 21 A, ensuring free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years.

Legislative Action: The RTE Act was enacted by Parliament on April 1, 2010, to operationalize this amendment.

Key Provisions

Guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 until they complete elementary education.

• Ensures no fees are charged for education.
• Specifies duties of state governments and local authorities.
• Sets a teacher-student ratio for classes.
• Prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment.

Allocation for Education in Union Budget 2024-25

Total Allocation: Rs 1.20 lakh crore, a reduction of Rs 9,091 crore from the revised estimate for 2023-24 (Rs 1,29,718 crore).

School Education and Literacy: Rs 73,008 crore, compared to Rs 72,473 crore in the revised estimate for 2023-24.

Higher Education: Rs 47,619 crore, down from the revised estimate of Rs 57,244 crore for 2023-24.

University Grants Commission (UGC): Rs 2,500 crore, reduced from Rs 6,409 crore in the revised estimate for 2023-24.