9 min readConcept sheetSection A MCQ (1 mark) and objective (2 marks, two parts, often one-word answers); Section B very short answer (2 marks) or short answer (3 marks)

Right against exploitation and the Right to Education

Articles 23 and 24 ban trafficking, begar and child labour below 14 in hazardous work. Article 21A makes free and compulsory education a right for children aged 6 to 14.

Article 23Bans traffic in human beings, begar and other forced labour; breaking it is a punishable offence

Article 24No child below 14 years may work in a factory, a mine or other hazardous employment

Article 21AAdded by the 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002: free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14

Right to Education ActPassed by Parliament in 2009 to put Article 21A into effect

What exploitation means

Exploitation means using a weaker person unfairly for one's own gain. Indian society was long hierarchical, that is, arranged in ranks of high and low. This allowed many kinds of exploitation. The poor, women, children and people of lower castes suffered most. So the Constitution gives a right against exploitation in Articles 23 and 24.

Article 23: no trafficking and no forced labour

Traffic in human beings means buying and selling people as if they were goods. Women, girls and even boys are still trafficked illegally.
Begar was forced work without pay. In feudal times, landlords and other powerful people made poor families work for them free.
Both are banned, along with other forms of forced labour. Breaking this rule is an offence punishable by law.

Article 24: no child labour in hazardous work

No child below 14 years may be employed in a factory, a mine or any other hazardous (dangerous) work.
Children have a right to a happy childhood and to education.
Child labour still goes on in many places, such as tea stalls, brick kilns and small workshops. Public opinion and alert citizens can help end it.

How education became a fundamental right

2002
The 86th Constitutional Amendment adds Article 21A: free and compulsory education for every child aged 6 to 14 becomes a fundamental right.
The same amendment adds a duty for parents and guardians to give their child of 6 to 14 a chance to study. Your NIOS lesson mentions this duty after the 2009 Act.
2009★
Parliament passes the Right to Education Act, 2009. Until then the new right could not be enforced.
Aim
Every child aged 6 to 14 who is out of school should go to school and get good-quality education.

★ key step

Article 24 and Article 21A work together

Article 24: out of hazardous workA child under 14 must not work in a factory, a mine or any other dangerous job.

Article 21A: into schoolEvery child aged 6 to 14 has a right to free and compulsory education.

Together they say: a child's place is in school, not at work.

In real life

A young child packing firecrackers in a small unit is the kind of exploitation Article 24 forbids. It can be reported to the police or a child helpline. Under the Right to Education Act, children aged 6 to 14 can study free in government schools.

Exam angle

1 marks: “What is begar?” Forced labour without payment. Article 23 bans it.

2 marks: “What is the main aim of the right against exploitation? Name the two Articles that provide it.” To protect weaker people from being used unfairly. Article 23 bans trafficking and forced labour; Article 24 bans employing children below 14 in factories, mines and hazardous work.

3 marks: “How did the Right to Education become a fundamental right? Whom does it cover?” The 86th Amendment (2002) added Article 21A, making free and compulsory education a fundamental right. It could be enforced only after Parliament passed the Right to Education Act, 2009. It covers all children aged 6 to 14, and parents have a matching duty.

Remember it

23 stops the sale of people and unpaid work; 24 stops child labour under 14; 21A sends every child of 6 to 14 to school.