UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Economic Survey promises, impact of new labour codes

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal Union Ministry that notified the four Labour Codes (Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Code on Social Security, 2020; and OSH Code, 2020) made effective from 21 November 2025?

  • A. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • C. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q2. Consider the following pre-existing central enactments: 1. Trade Unions Act, 1926 2. Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 3. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 4. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 Which of the above is/are correctly identified as having been subsumed under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020?

  1. Trade Unions Act, 1926
  2. Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
  3. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
  4. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Code on Social Security, 2020 as compared to the legal regime it replaces, consider the following statements: 1. The eligibility for payment of gratuity for fixed-term employees has been reduced from five years to one year of continuous service. 2. Gig workers and platform workers have, for the first time in Indian statute, been brought within the ambit of social security. 3. Aggregators are mandated to contribute between 1 to 2 per cent of their annual turnover (capped at 5 per cent of payments made to gig/platform workers) to a Social Security Fund. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The eligibility for payment of gratuity for fixed-term employees has been reduced from five years to one year of continuous service.
  2. Gig workers and platform workers have, for the first time in Indian statute, been brought within the ambit of social security.
  3. Aggregators are mandated to contribute between 1 to 2 per cent of their annual turnover (capped at 5 per cent of payments made to gig/platform workers) to a Social Security Fund.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following is the first among the four Labour Codes to have been enacted by the Parliament of India?

  • A. Industrial Relations Code
  • B. Code on Social Security
  • C. Code on Wages
  • D. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code