UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why inclusion is key to the RTE Act

Q1. With reference to the provision of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 that requires private schools to admit children from weaker and disadvantaged sections, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The school is reimbursed at its own fee or at the per-child expenditure incurred in government schools, whichever is lower.
  2. As held by the Supreme Court in 2012, the obligation extends to unaided schools established and administered by minorities.
  3. Where the school's fee exceeds the reimbursement amount, the school may recover the difference from the parents of the child so admitted.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q2. A State government directs an unaided school, established and administered by a linguistic minority, to admit children from disadvantaged groups against 25% of its entry-level seats under the RTE Act, 2009. In the light of the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling on the Act, which one of the following best describes the position of this direction?

  • A. Valid, because the quota is a reasonable restriction under Article 19(1)(g) binding minority and non-minority schools alike
  • B. Valid, but only if the State pays the school the full fee it charges for every child admitted against the quota
  • C. Invalid, because the Act does not reach such a school, its right being protected under Article 30(1) of the Constitution
  • D. Invalid, because the obligation under Article 21A binds only the State and can never be extended to private schools

Q3. With reference to the constitutional changes made by the Eighty-sixth Amendment, 2002, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The State's obligation to provide free and compulsory education to children aged six to fourteen is to be discharged in the manner the State determines by law.
  2. The duty of parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to their children of that age is placed among the Fundamental Duties.
  3. Early childhood care and education for children below six years was made an enforceable Fundamental Right.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Since free and compulsory education is a Fundamental Right, the 25% private-school quota for disadvantaged children is itself prescribed by the Constitution and cannot be changed by ordinary legislation.
  2. Article 21A leaves the manner of providing free and compulsory education to children aged six to fourteen to be determined by the State by law.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. With reference to Samagra Shiksha, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It treats the school as a continuum from the pre-school stage up to Class XII.
  2. Because the RTE Act covers children aged six to fourteen, the scheme's support is confined to the elementary stage of schooling.
  3. States and Union Territories can draw on it to reimburse expenditure under the RTE Act.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Union government does not run a separate scheme exclusively for the RTE Act; the Act's provisions are delivered through Samagra Shiksha.
  2. Samagra Shiksha is a Central Sector Scheme whose entire cost is borne by the Union government.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q7. Consider the following observations about a provision that reserves free private-school seats for disadvantaged children: monitoring records only whether reserved seats are filled; one child admitted under it is labelled as weak and seated at the back of the class; another child admitted under it in a different school excels in studies, sports and stage activities. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Children admitted under the provision necessarily perform worse academically than their fee-paying classmates.
  2. A high rate of filled reserved seats in a district does not by itself show that the provision's integrative purpose is being achieved.
  3. Suspending admissions under the provision until inclusion is measured would advance its integrative purpose.
  4. How a child admitted under the provision fares can depend on conditions within the school, beyond the fact of admission.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q8. With reference to the 2019 amendment to the RTE Act, 2009 concerning examinations and holding back of children, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The amendment requires the examinations in Classes 5 and 8 to be conducted by a single central board across the country.
  2. Before the amendment, the Act prohibited holding back any child until the completion of elementary education.
  3. A child who fails the examination in Class 5 or Class 8 must be given additional instruction and a re-examination before any holding back.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only