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Synopsis Even after fifty five years of India’s independence the goal of universal elementary education has not been achieved so far. About 10 million children of school going age are not attending elementary schools due to poverty and ill health even today. Mahatma Gandhi, who propounded basic education had given the idea of compulsory free education for the age group of 6 to 14 way back in 1937. Dr. Zakir Hussain, who later became the President of the republic of India, had framed the syllabus of basic education. In free India also initially the scheme of basic education was adopted at the elementary level. Later on a basic education assessment committee was asked to assess the viability of basic education and suggest improvements in the scheme. In the year 1986 a new education policy was adopted and efforts have been made through successive five year plans to achieve the target of 100 % literacy through compulsory and free education for the children of age group 6-14. All these developments have been traced historically in this book.