Which Constitutional Amendment Act of India inserted Article 21A and made elementary education a Fundamental Right for children aged six to fourteen years?

Introduction / Context:
Education is a key area where the Indian Constitution has evolved over time. Initially, free and compulsory education for children was placed among the Directive Principles of State Policy. Later, in recognition of its importance, Parliament decided to elevate elementary education to the status of a Fundamental Right. This was done by inserting Article 21A into the Constitution. The question asks you to identify which Constitutional Amendment Act brought about this major change.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The issue is making elementary education a Fundamental Right.
• Four Constitutional Amendments are listed as options: 84th, 85th, 86th, and 87th.
• The correct Amendment inserted Article 21A and modified related provisions.
• We assume familiarity with the broad timeline of educational reforms in the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, is the Amendment that made elementary education a Fundamental Right. It inserted Article 21A, stating that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine. It also modified Article 45 and added a new Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k) requiring parents and guardians to provide opportunities for education to their children in this age group. The other Amendments listed in the options dealt with different issues such as representation and service matters, not with Article 21A.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the insertion of Article 21A, dealing with the right to education, was done by the 86th Amendment Act.Step 2: Note that the same Amendment rearranged the Directive Principle on education and introduced a Fundamental Duty related to children's education.Step 3: Compare the four Amendments listed and identify 86th as the one associated with education rights.Step 4: Confirm that the 84th, 85th, and 87th Amendments relate to other issues such as delimitation and reservation, not to Article 21A.Step 5: Select the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Indian polity textbooks and exam guides always link the phrase right to education as a Fundamental Right with the 86th Constitutional Amendment. They explain that while education was originally a Directive Principle under Article 45, the 86th Amendment upgraded the right to elementary education by adding Article 21A under the chapter on Fundamental Rights. Official summaries of Constitutional Amendments also clearly identify the 86th Amendment as the one related to making elementary education a Fundamental Right.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 84th Constitutional Amendment Act: This Amendment dealt with the delimitation of constituencies and related population figures.
• 85th Constitutional Amendment Act: It focused on service matters, particularly reservation in promotions.
• 87th Constitutional Amendment Act: It related to readjustment of constituencies and census data, not education rights.

Common Pitfalls:
Since several Amendments numbered in the 80s and 90s were passed around similar times, students sometimes mix up the numbers. The best way to avoid confusion is to memorise a few high impact Amendments with their key themes: for example, 42nd as the Mini Constitution, 44th for right to property, and 86th for the right to education. Associating the number 86 with school age children and Article 21A makes it easier to recall the correct answer quickly in exam conditions.

Final Answer:
The Constitutional Amendment Act that inserted Article 21A and made elementary education a Fundamental Right is the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of India.