What is the minimum age below which it is illegal to employ a child for labour at home or factories?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
According to Article 24 of the Indian Constitution, "No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed in work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment." Additionally, the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986, defines a "child" as a person who has not completed their 14th year of age, making it illegal to employ them below this age in any form of labor, whether at home or in factories. This legal framework is designed to protect children's right to education (Article 21A, 6 to 14 years) and to safeguard their well-being, ensuring they are not subjected to exploitation or hazardous working conditions.

The incorrect option is (2):
12 years is an incorrect option because the legal minimum age for employment in India is clearly set at 14 years. Employing a child aged 12 years in any form of labor would be a direct violation of both the Indian Constitution (Article 24) and the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986. These laws specifically aim to prevent children below 14 from being engaged in any work, emphasizing their right to childhood and education over labor.

The incorrect option is (3):
16 years is an incorrect option because while some countries or specific industries might have a higher minimum working age, in India, the primary legal threshold for prohibiting child labor in general employment is 14 years. Although certain hazardous occupations might have a higher minimum age for employment, 16 years is not the universally applicable minimum age below which all child labor is illegal in India for home or factory settings.

The incorrect option is (4):
15 years is an incorrect option because the constitutional and legislative provisions in India explicitly state 14 years as the minimum age below which child labor is prohibited. There is no provision in the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act or the Constitution that sets the minimum age at 15 years for general employment at home or in factories. Therefore, choosing 15 years would be a misunderstanding of the established legal age.