1986
Explanation
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act is the primary statutory framework in India designed to address the engagement of children in employment. It establishes the legal boundaries for child work and regulates conditions in permitted sectors.
Historical Context and Enactment:
The Act was originally enacted in 1986. Its formulation was based on the recommendations of the Gurupadswamy Committee (1979), which was the first statutory committee formed to study the issue of child labour in India. The 1986 Act aimed to prohibit the engagement of children in certain specified hazardous occupations and processes and to regulate the working conditions in others.
Evolution:
The Act was significantly amended in 2016 and renamed the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The amendment expanded the prohibition to cover all occupations for children under 14 years (linking it to the Right to Education Act) and introduced a new category of "adolescents" (14–18 years) prohibited from working in hazardous occupations.
Key Takeaway:
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act was originally enacted in 1986 to consolidate laws regarding the employment of children and to prohibit their engagement in hazardous industries.