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UPSC Notes

Labour Codes in India

PYQs

6

Articles

1

Momentum

17

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Labour reforms are a significant policy area impacting economic growth, social justice, and industrial relations. UPSC often asks about the objectives, provisions, impact, and criticisms of such reforms on various stakeholders.

India has enacted four new labour codes (The Code on Wages, 2019; The Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Code on Social Security, 2020; and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020) to consolidate and simplify existing labour laws, aiming to improve ease of doing business and ensure worker welfare.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Objective

Consolidate 29 central labour laws into 4 codes to rationalize labour laws, promote ease of doing business, and ensure worker welfare.

Implementation Status

Rules for all four codes have been notified, completing the implementation framework.

Key Criticisms

Trade unions and academics argue provisions are regressive, detrimental to worker interests, and may lead to informalisation.

Specific Concerns

Issues with Fixed-Term Employment, minimum wage definition, gig worker social security, and trade union recognition thresholds.

Reference table

Four Labour Codes

Code NameYear
The Code on Wages2019
The Industrial Relations Code2020
The Code on Social Security2020
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code2020

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaIndustrial Relations
Conceptual areaLabour Law Reform
Conceptual areaSocial Security

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Labour and EmploymentFormulates and implements labour policies and codes
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Quick revision

  • Four codes: Wages, IR, Social Security, OSHWC.
  • Aim: Consolidate laws, ease of doing business, worker welfare.
  • Criticisms: Worker vulnerability, informalisation, diluted union power.
  • Key issues: FTE, minimum wage, gig workers, union recognition.
  • Rules implementation completed, but concerns persist.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Which of the following international conventions have **not** been ratified by India? 1. Employment Policy Convention 2. Abolition of Forced Labour Conventi...

International RelationsOpen question
2024Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India, consider the following statements: 1. CSR rules specify that expenditures that benef...

Social Issues & SchemesOpen question
2021Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements: 1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund co...

Social Issues & SchemesOpen question
2020Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference of the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements: 1. Worker productivity (per worker at 2004-0...

EconomyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018 1. if rules for fixed-term employmen...

EconomyOpen question
2018Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

International Labour Organization's Conventions 138 and 182 are related to -

Social Issues & SchemesOpen question

Topic timeline

Industrial RelationsLabour Law ReformSocial Security
Prelims 2018· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

International Labour Organization's Conventions 138 and 182 are related to -

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018 1. if rules for fixed-term employmen...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference of the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements: 1. Worker productivity (per worker at 2004-0...

Open question
Prelims 2021· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements: 1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund co...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India, consider the following statements: 1. CSR rules specify that expenditures that benef...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Which of the following international conventions have **not** been ratified by India? 1. Employment Policy Convention 2. Abolition of Forced Labour Conventi...

Open question

Implementation complete, but workers still vulnerable

12 Jun 2026 · The four new Labour Codes aim to modernize India's labour laws by consolidating existing legislation. While intended to improve ease of doing business and worker welfare, their implementation rules have drawn significant criticism for potentially weakening worker protections, promoting informalisation, and diluting trade union rights.

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Related topics

Current topic

Labour Codes in India

Often confused with

Fixed-Term Employment (FTE)

Open notesOften confused with

Gig Economy and Social Security

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 6 linked questions on Labour Codes in India in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer
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