Question

Under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, employment of children below 14 years is prohibited in:

• A. hazardous occupations only
• B. family enterprises only
• C. all occupations except family enterprises after school hours
• D. shops and establishments

Hint:

The 2016 Amendment changed the rule from "Don't work in bad places" to "Don't work anywhere, just go to school" (with small exceptions for family help).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act was significantly amended in 2016 to align with the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
• It aims to ensure that children have the opportunity to attend school and obtain basic education.

Step 1: Recall the 2016 Amendment Provisions
Before 2016, child labor was only prohibited in certain "hazardous" occupations. The 2016 Amendment changed this to a complete ban on the employment of children (those below 14 years) in all occupations and processes.

Step 2: Identify the legal exceptions
The Act provides two main exceptions: 1. Where the child helps his family or family enterprise, which is other than any hazardous occupations/processes, after school hours or during vacations. 2. Where the child works as an artist in an audio-visual entertainment industry (like films/TV), subject to safety conditions.

Step 3: Match with the options
Option (C) correctly captures both the general prohibition and the specific family-enterprise exception mentioned in the law.

Step 4: Conclusion
Therefore, children below 14 cannot be employed anywhere else, ensuring their right to education is not compromised.