CONSTITUTION OF INDIAArticle 45
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The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.
Until they complete the age of six years fixes the under-6 band that distinguishes 45 from Article 21A.
mcqquestion.com · Indian Polity🧸 Exam Edge
🧸 Article 45: Early Childhood Care
The State’s duty for early childhood care and education below six.
Art. 45Early childhood care and education below age six
DPSPA Directive Principle
RTEArticle 21A secures the right; 45 guides the State
Under 6Focus on children below six years
Part IVNot enforceable but aspirational
Exam45 (DPSP) vs 21A (Fundamental Right)
💡The trap: Article 45 is a Directive Principle for children under six; Article 21A is the enforceable right.
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🏛️ Must Know
Article 45 Today
- Current formToday’s Article 45 directs the State to provide early childhood care and education, for children below age 6.
- Post-2002This is the post-2002 version; the original 1950 text covered free, compulsory education up to age 14.
- 86th AmendmentThe 86th Amendment (2002) rewrote Article 45 after transferring its 6-14 job to Article 21A.
- 21A nowArticle 21A now makes education for ages 6-14 a Fundamental Right.
- Why it mattersBecause 45’s role shifted, exams test which age band belongs to which article.
The Original Article 45
- 1950 textThe State must try to provide free, compulsory education up to age 14, within 10 years.
- A targetIt was a directive goal, not an enforceable right.
- Why it mattersThe original age-14 target shaped Unni Krishnan.
- So whatUnderstanding the old text explains the 2002 change.
🏘️ Good to Know
The Role Shift
- 1950 originalThe State must try to provide free, compulsory education up to age 14, within 10 years.
- 1993 Unni KrishnanThe Court read a right to education into Article 21, using 45’s age-14 limit to define scope.
- 2002 86th AmendmentEducation ages 6-14 became a Fundamental Right; 45 was rewritten for under-6 care.
- 2009 RTE ActArticle 21A finally got legislative teeth.
- So what45 moved from the 6-14 job to the under-6 job.
Early Childhood Now
- Under 6Today’s 45 covers early childhood care and education for children below 6.
- ComplementIt complements 21A’s 6-14 fundamental right.
- Why it mattersThe under-6 band is 45’s distinct current scope.
- So what45 + 21A together cover all childhood education.
✅ Test Yourself
Work through a 5-question chain on Article 45, then keep practising with a random Indian Polity question.
⚡ Great to Know
One Article, Two Jobs
- Old jobArticle 45 used to cover ages up to 14.
- New jobToday that band belongs to 21A; 45 covers only children below 6.
- So whatThe age-band shift is the core exam story.
- How to recall45 = under 6; 21A = 6 to 14.
- Why testedThe 2002 reassignment is a precise, high-yield fact.
🎯 Exam Angle (PYQ & MCQ Traps)
NDA 2020: DPSP Inserted by the 42nd Amendment
- QuestionNDA and other competitive exams ask which Directive Principle was inserted by the 42nd Amendment, 1976 — including principles on children and equal justice.
- WhyThe 42nd Amendment expanded Part IV; several child-welfare and justice principles were added.
- LinkSource: NDA 2020 (see Q57).
The Education-to-14 Trap
- Trap optionArticle 45 today covers free, compulsory education up to age 14.
- DistractorThat was its original role, so it feels current.
- Fact testedSince 2002, 45 covers early childhood care for children under 6; 21A covers 6-14.
- Eliminate fastIf an option assigns the 6-14 job to 45, it is outdated.
- Try this rule45 = under 6 now.
The 45 vs 21A Trap
- Trap optionArticle 45 and Article 21A are the same provision.
- DistractorThey overlap on education.
- Fact tested45 is a DPSP for under-6 care; 21A is a Fundamental Right for 6-14.
- Eliminate fastIf an option treats them as identical, it is wrong.
- Try this rule45 = DPSP (under 6); 21A = Fundamental Right (6-14).
📰 Current Affairs
Early Childhood Care Today
- DevelopmentArticle 45’s early-childhood focus ties to current anganwadi and pre-school policy.
- Why it mattersThe under-6 band is a live welfare-policy area.
- So whatExpect it linked to early-childhood education initiatives.
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