Consider the following statements : 1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions. 2. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 1 is wrong: the Factories Act, 1881 only regulated child labour (minimum age 7, maximum 9 hours) and machinery safety; it said nothing about wages or trade unions (unions were legalised by the Trade Unions Act, 1926).
• Statement 2 is correct: Narayan Meghaji Lokhande founded the Bombay Millhands' Association (1890), the first labour organisation in India, and won a weekly holiday for mill workers.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: the 1881 Act did not fix wages or allow unions.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Statement 1 is wrong.
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Statement 2 is correct: Lokhande was a labour pioneer.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.