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.
- 2016: not asked
- 2017: not asked
- 2018: not asked
- 2019: asked
- 2020: not asked
- 2021: asked
- 2022: not asked
- 2023: not asked
- 2024: asked
- 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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Syllabus: UPSC Civil Services notification. Topic breakdown, subtopics and PYQ years: GS Score UPSC Syllabus 2026-27 booklet. Sources & credits
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