The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which came into force on April 1, 2010, is one of the most significant legislative milestones in the history of Indian education. By conferring elementary education as a justiciable fundamental right under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, the Act sought to guarantee free and compulsory education to every child between the ages of 6 and 14 years. More than a decade and a half since its enactment, the RTE Act has yielded notable outcomes in terms of school enrolment, infrastructure development, and social inclusion; however, persistent challenges related to learning quality, teacher recruitment, infrastructural inadequacies, and implementation gaps continue to undermine its transformative potential. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analytical review of the impact of the RTE Act, systematically examining both its achievements and the structural limitations that constrain its effectiveness. Drawing upon national-level data, district-specific reports, and scholarly literature, the study evaluates enrolment trends, physical infrastructure upgrades, the operationalisation of the 25% reservation clause for economically disadvantaged sections in private unaided schools, and the state of teacher availability and training. The paper further identifies critical challenges including low learning outcomes, delayed reimbursement mechanisms, poor rural infrastructure, and inadequate awareness among marginalised communities. On the basis of this analysis, the paper proposes a forward-looking policy framework encompassing outcome-based education, continuous teacher professional development, strengthened monitoring through School Management Committees (SMCs), digital infrastructure expansion in rural areas, and targeted awareness campaigns. The paper concludes that while the RTE Act represents a revolutionary step towards universal elementary education, its ultimate success hinges upon sustained political will, adequate financial commitment, and systemic reforms in implementation at all levels of governance.