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The employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories, mines and other hazardous work is prohibited under:
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Answer: Option C — Article 24
Detailed Solution
Articles 23 and 24 together form the Right against Exploitation, one of the six categories of Fundamental Rights in Part III of the Constitution.
Article 24 says: "No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment." This protects children from exploitation and harmful work, so that they can grow up healthy and get an education.
Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar (forced labour without payment) and other similar forms of forced labour. Any violation is an offence punishable by law. However, the State can impose compulsory service for public purposes, such as military service or social service, without discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste or class. Both Articles 23 and 24 are available to citizens and non-citizens, and they protect people against private individuals as well as the State.
To give effect to Article 24, Parliament passed the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. It was amended in 2016 and renamed the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. The 2016 amendment:
Completely prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in all occupations and processes, except helping the family in non-hazardous family enterprises after school hours, and working as child artists in the entertainment industry.
Prohibits the employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.
Increases the punishment for employers.
In the M.C. Mehta v. State of Tamil Nadu case (1996), concerning children working in the match and firework factories of Sivakasi, the Supreme Court directed the setting up of a Child Labour Rehabilitation Welfare Fund. 12 June is observed as the World Day Against Child Labour.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Article 23 prohibits human trafficking and forced labour.
- ✗Article 21A guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14.
- ✗Article 45 (a DPSP) provides for early childhood care and education below 6 years.
Quick tip
Remember: Right against Exploitation = Article 23 (trafficking, begar) and Article 24 (no child below 14 in factories, mines or hazardous work); Child Labour Act 1986 (amended 2016).
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Fundamental Rights — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Fundamental Rights, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Fundamental Rights are listed in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35). This topic covers the six Fundamental Rights (equality, freedom, against exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and constitutional remedies), the five writs, and the landmark cases that shaped these rights. Questions usually ask which article guarantees a right (Article 21 for life and personal liberty, Article 17 for abolition of untouchability), which writ serves which purpose, and why the right to property is no longer a Fundamental Right (it was removed by the 44th Amendment in 1978). B. R. Ambedkar called Article 32 the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution. Practise the Fundamental Rights questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.