Passage Now India's children have a right to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain 'on paper' or 'become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary - a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated. In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last if a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life. This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. "Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it. Which one of the following statements conveys the key message of the passage?

The passage discusses the Right to Education (RTE) in India, highlighting that it's crucial for adults to ensure its implementation because children cannot demand it themselves. It emphasizes that denied education in childhood cannot be compensated later, especially for girls who face a "short childhood" and "tenacious prejudice against their intellectual potential," exacerbated by societal issues like female foeticide. Let's analyze the options: A) India has declared that education is compulsory for its children. While the passage mentions the right to education, its key message is not merely the declaration but the challenges in its implementation and the specific vulnerabilities. This statement is a factual premise, not the core message. B) Adult society is not keen on implementing the Right to Education. The passage states that adult society *must act* on behalf of the child. It points out the *responsibility* of adults and the *difficulties* in implementation, but it doesn't explicitly state that adult society is *not keen*. It's more about the challenge and necessity of their action. C) The Right to Education, particularly of a girl child, needs to be safeguarded. This statement accurately captures the essence of the passage. The passage repeatedly emphasizes the unique challenges faced by girls (short childhood, foeticide, prejudice against their potential) and the irreversible nature of missed educational opportunities for them. The phrase "needs to be safeguarded" reflects the urgency and the "gnawing question" of whether the right will become a reality, requiring active protection and implementation. D) The system of education should be address the issue of right to education. The passage does mention that "the system of education has not been able to address" the prejudice against girls. While this is a valid point, it's a specific aspect of the problem. The overall message is broader, encompassing societal responsibility, the vulnerability of children (especially girls), and the critical need for the right to be realized, not just a systemic reform. Therefore, option C is the most comprehensive and accurate summary of the key message, as it highlights both the general right to education and the specific, critical need to protect it for girl children, which is a major focus of the passage.