UPSC Prelims 2017 Q15: Indian Economy – Human Development, Poverty & Employment Schemes
The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided for
- (a) the participation of workers in the management of industries.
- (b) arbitrary powers to the management to quell industrial disputes.
- (c) an intervention by the British Court in the event of a trade dispute.
- (d) a system of tribunals and a ban on strikes.
Answer: (d) a system of tribunals and a ban on strikes.
Explanation
Trade Disputes Act, 1929
Passed by the colonial Government amid rising labour unrest, especially the Bombay textile strikes of 1928.
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Courts of Inquiry and Boards of Conciliation | Tribunals to settle industrial disputes |
| Ban on strikes | Strikes in public utility services without notice were made illegal |
| Ban on sympathetic strikes | Strikes meant to pressure the Government were outlawed |
It came with the Public Safety Ordinance and the Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929) against labour and communist leaders.
| Other option | Why wrong |
|---|---|
| (a) Workers' participation in management | Came much later, via Article 43A (1976) |
| (b) Arbitrary powers to management | The Act set up tribunals, not management powers |
| (c) Intervention by a British court | Disputes went to Indian courts of inquiry, not British courts |
Answer: (d) a system of tribunals and a ban on strikes.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Workers' participation in management came only with Article 43A in 1976.
- (b) Incorrect. The Act did not give management arbitrary powers; it created conciliation bodies.
- (c) Incorrect. Disputes went to courts of inquiry in India, not to a British court.
- (d) CORRECT. The 1929 Act set up tribunals and restricted strikes, especially in public utilities.
Key point
Trade Disputes Act 1929: courts of inquiry and boards of conciliation; ban on strikes in public utilities and on political strikes.
Remember
1929 Act = tribunals + strike ban.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with the Trade Unions Act, 1926, which allowed unions to register.
- Thinking it protected labour; it mainly curbed strikes.
- Forgetting the 1929 crackdown included the Meerut Conspiracy Case.
Exam tip
Pair the labour laws: 1926 Trade Unions Act (registration) vs 1929 Trade Disputes Act (tribunals, strike curbs).
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 16 (The Rise of the Working Class)
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Labour movement)