Legal education in schools: Time to make it mandatory?

India Today

a day ago

Legal education in India has largely remained on the fringes of the school curriculum, imparting generations with little more than a superficial, if any, understanding of the Constitution and the nation's legal framework. This omission has produced a young citizenry that often stands at a distance from the very democratic architecture designed to empower it.The gap is visible in everyday life. Gaps in constitutional awareness are not trivial, and they cascade into deeper vulnerabilities, where citizens, unfamiliar with their rights and obligations, find themselves disadvantaged, sometimes even exploited, by the very systems meant to protect them.advertisementAt the heart of this lies a persistent flaw in our educational priorities: the disconnect between constitutional literacy and the people it is meant to serve.
It is within this context that the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) decision to revamp the Legal Studies syllabus for Classes 11 and 12 must be viewed.The move represents far more than a routine update of textbooks; it is an overdue acknowledgement that legal literacy is not an academic luxury but an essential component of democratic participation.The revised framework will integrate pivotal developments in Indian law, including the repeal of triple talaq, the striking down of Section 377, the removal of the colonial-era sedition provision, and the enactment of three significant criminal codes, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.Approved by the CBSE Curriculum Committee and Governing Body, the new syllabus is slated for rollout in the 2026-27 academic session.The move raises a larger question: could this be the moment when legal studies move from the margins to the mainstream of Indian schooling, and, in doing so, equip the next generation with the tools to participate more meaningfully in the nation's democratic life?But as with most curriculum reforms in India, the announcement raises deeper questions. Is simply adding modern legal provisions to the syllabus enough to create an informed citizenry? Or does the country need a more fundamental rethink of how the law is taught in schools?"Legal education in schools represents a fundamental pillar for strengthening a democratic, equitable, and participatory society. In the context of current challenges - social polarisation, misinformation, and declining trust in institutions - the early development of a legal culture in my view has become a necessity," says Tahira Karanjawala, a Supreme Court advocate.TEACHING THE SENSITIVE AND THE COMPLEXThe inclusion of socially sensitive legal provisions, such as those on triple talaq and Section 377, will test the pedagogical readiness of schools. These are topics tied not only to the text of the law but also to entrenched social attitudes.advertisement'Introducing school-going students to sensitive legal topics such as triple talaq and Section 377,' one senior legal commentator noted, 'is an important and concrete step being envisaged by CBSE to ensure that young minds are appropriately shaped with necessary legal knowledge.'This duality, law as both a technical construct and a social force, underscores the challenge."Exposure to modern legal concepts, as also contemporary developments in law will indisputably help in improving the civic awareness among the youth. In my view, a solid foundation in legal studies at a school level will help children know and exercise their legal rights and appreciate their legal duties," says Tahira Karanjawala.AN EARLY EXPOSURE CAN LED TO DEEPER AWARENESSLegal education at the school level, in the words of another expert, 'represents a fundamental pillar for strengthening a democratic, equitable, and participatory society.'Can adding legal studies in primary classes help and nuances be left for higher grades? Tahira made comments in a way:"The curriculum of civics can possibly be revisited in light of this and basic legal concepts can be introduced alongside the civics curriculum in the primary classes. A basic education on fundamental rights from the primary classes is important".advertisement"Another important shift that needs to possibly be incorporated is that legal studies cannot be limited to be a 'elective subject' alone and needs to be included as a compulsory subject", she adds.It is, as one observer put it, less about producing lawyers and more about producing citizens who are aware of the constitutional promises and the mandate of the laws.
This will ensure that every child receives basic legal education, making them aware of the constitutional promises and the mandate of the laws. It will also ensure that they grow up informed about criminal statutes and the justice delivery system.HOW THE SCHOOL CURRICULA INTERNATIONALLY SUPPORTS LEGAL STUDIESInternationally, school curricula in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia often incorporate introductory courses on law, criminal justice, or specialised areas like environmental legislation.These aim to familiarise students with the structure of legal systems, the role of legal professionals, and the basic mechanics of justice delivery.Yet, as several experts point out, India's socio-economic and cultural context demands more than an import of foreign models.advertisementThe country's legal studies curriculum must grapple with specific historical and social realities, from caste discrimination and communal tensions to colonial legal legacies.It must also equip students to engage with laws that are often deeply contested in public life.One challenge in India's approach to legal education is that reforms tend to focus on content rather than context.'Simply adding content to books and curriculum,' one legal expert observed, 'will be inadequate unless children are also taught the basis for the said laws.'For instance, the removal of the sedition law from the Indian Penal Code might be celebrated as a move toward a more democratic ethos, but the new BNS still contains Section 152, a provision penalising acts that 'endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.'While the word 'sedition' is gone, the net may still be cast wide enough to curb dissent.CBSE's move to update the Legal Studies curriculum, with its inclusion of both landmark judicial decisions and new legislative frameworks, is a step in the right direction. But whether it will be transformative depends on how it is implemented.If the teaching of it is reduced to rote learning of statutes and sections, the reform will fail. If, however, it is approached as an exercise in critical thinking, debate, and contextual understanding, it could mark the beginning of a more legally literate generation.- Ends