Whereas the Preamble to the Constitution resolves to secure to all citizens of India JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; 

And whereas, despite the original Article 45 of Directive Principles of the Constitution having made it the duty of the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children up to age fourteen in ten years (1960), the number of out of school children particularly from the disadvantaged groups and those engaged in labour, and those receiving poor quality education has remained very large; 

And whereas, the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act 2002 has provided for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right under Article 21A of the Constitution, in such manner as the State may, by law, determine;

And whereas the above Act also provides under Article 45 that the State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years;

And whereas the above Act further provides under Article 51-A (k) that it shall be a fundamental duty of every citizen of India who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child/ward between the age of six and fourteen years;

And whereas it is considered important and essential to create a humane and equitable society that incorporates the secular values and the ethnic, religious and cultural diversities of India; 

And whereas it is recognized that the objectives of democracy, social justice, and equality can be achieved only through the provision of elementary education of equitable quality to all; and 

And whereas it is also imperative to improve the present delivery system of elementary education by, inter alia, greater decentralization of its management, and making it sensitive to the needs of children, especially of those belonging to disadvantaged groups.

Be it enacted by Parliament in the fifty-sixth year of the Republic as follows: 

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