Mains GS Paper IISocial JusticeHigh-yield

Labour Reforms — Labour Codes, Gig Workers, Social Security & ESIC/EPFO

श्रम सुधार — श्रम संहिताएं, गिग श्रमिक, सामाजिक सुरक्षा

Labour Reforms — Labour Codes, Gig Workers, Social Security & ESIC/EPFO is part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper II syllabus, under Social Justice. It appeared in Mains GS Paper II question papers in 3 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2019, 2021, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Labour Reforms?

  • Four Labour Codes — Wages (2019), Industrial Relations (2020), Social Security (2020), OHSC (2020)
  • Gig workers — Platform economy, IFAT recommendations, Rajasthan model
  • ESIC & EPFO — coverage gaps, portability, social security for unorganised
  • Minimum wages — floor wage, scheduled employment, OECD comparison

How often is Labour Reforms asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 3 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: not asked
  2. 2017: not asked
  3. 2018: not asked
  4. 2019: asked
  5. 2020: not asked
  6. 2021: asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: not asked
  9. 2024: asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper II paper

GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. See all 40 Mains GS Paper II topics.

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