Constitutional state · 2026
Constitution of India
Part III — Fundamental Rights
Article21A
Right to education
The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.
In plain languageOrientation
The State cannot take your life or your personal freedom unless it follows a procedure that is fair, not merely written down. Courts have used this article to protect dignity, privacy, livelihood, and humane treatment — far beyond the original one-line text.
Current official-edition wording. Historical reconstruction is not claimed for this article.
Judicial interpretation
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978). The Supreme Court held that procedure under Article 21 must be fair, just, and reasonable — not merely any procedure enacted by Parliament.
UPSC relevance
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Exam signal
Case law
7
Linked judgments
Linked topics
2
Articles + cases