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Is corporal punishment in schools illegal in India?

Partly. Corporal punishment in schools is restricted in India. Banned for ages 6 to 14; religious schools are exempt from the law.

RTE Act 2009 s17 bans physical punishment for ages 6-14 in schools covered by the Act; s1(5) exempts madrasas, Vedic pathshalas and religious schools (ECP Mar 2025: SOME). Exemption under Supreme Court review 2025.

Source: India RTE Act 2009 s17

• India is one of 124 countries where corporal punishment in schools is banned, and 30 more restrict it.
• Its neighbours: banned in 3 of 6 (Bangladesh, China and Nepal).
• In Asia: banned in 27 of 46 countries.

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Other countries that ban corporal punishment in schools

AndorraUnited Arab EmiratesAlbaniaArmeniaArgentinaAustriaAzerbaijanBosnia & HerzegovinaBangladeshBelgiumBulgariaBahrainBeninBoliviaAll 124 on the map ›

What else is banned in India