The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 is a historic piece of legislation in India that makes education a fundamental right. It operationalizes Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, which was added through the 86th Amendment Act in 2002.
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the specific age group of children for whom the RTE Act 2009 mandates free and compulsory education.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The RTE Act 2009 explicitly defines the age group for which the government is obligated to provide free and compulsory elementary education.
According to Section 3(1) of the Act:
"Every child of the age of six to fourteen years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education."
This age range corresponds to elementary education, covering classes 1 to 8 in the Indian school system.
Let's check the options:
(A) 3 to 14 years: Incorrect. While NEP 2020 now focuses on early childhood education (age 3+), the RTE Act's mandate starts at age 6.
(B) 6 to 14 years: Correct. This is the age group specified in the Act.
(C) 5 to 15 years: Incorrect.
(D) 7 to 16 years: Incorrect.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The mandatory age group defined under the RTE Act 2009 is 6 to 14 years.
\[
\boxed{6 \text{ to } 14 \text{ years}}
\]