Change and Development in Industrial Society
Short Questions with answers
1. What is industrialisation?
Answer : It is the shift to machine-based production and urban workplaces.
2. What is alienation according to Marx?
Answer : Alienation is the loss of connection between workers and their work.
3. What does the term “division of labor” mean?
Answer : It refers to specialized tasks assigned to workers in industries.
4. What is the organised sector?
Answer : It includes businesses employing ten or more workers with formal benefits.
5. What is the unorganised sector?
Answer : It consists of informal work settings without secure jobs or benefits.
6. What is liberalisation?
Answer : Liberalisation refers to reducing government control in industries.
7. What is outsourcing?
Answer : Assigning tasks to external firms or individuals to reduce costs.
8. What are badli workers?
Answer : Temporary workers substituting for regular employees in industries.
9. What is contract labor?
Answer : Employment through contractors without permanent benefits.
10. What is the main aim of privatisation?
Answer : To sell government-owned businesses to private firms.
11. What is the impact of liberalisation on small businesses?
Answer : They face competition from large multinational companies.
12. What is just-in-time manufacturing?
Answer : Delivering parts to factories only when needed to reduce costs.
13. What is the Mines Act of 1952?
Answer : A law regulating working conditions in mines.
14. What is home-based work?
Answer : Work done at home, such as making bidis or agarbattis.
15. What is the main feature of IT sector jobs?
Answer : They often involve long working hours and high stress.
16. What did Gandhiji oppose about machinery?
Answer : The use of machinery that replaces human labor.
17. What is the service sector?
Answer : Jobs in trade, banking, hotels, and IT services.
18. What is feminisation of labor?
Answer : Increasing involvement of women in the workforce.
19. What are public sector industries?
Answer : Industries owned and operated by the government.
20. What is a strike?
Answer : A collective refusal by workers to work as a protest.
21. What is the significance of the Bombay Textile Strike of 1982?
Answer : It highlighted labor issues and led to significant job losses.
22. What is subcontracting?
Answer : Assigning work to smaller firms or individual contractors.
23. What is the demographic feature of mining workers?
Answer : Many are migrants working under hazardous conditions.
24. What is the impact of industrialisation on rural areas?
Answer : It causes migration and land acquisition disputes.
25. What is the concept of “time slavery” in IT jobs?
Answer : Long working hours with tight deadlines and peer pressure.
26. What are the challenges of casual labor?
Answer : Insecurity, low wages, and lack of benefits.
27. What is the primary benefit of government jobs in India?
Answer : They provide secure employment and social benefits.
28. What are the working conditions in Maruti Udyog?
Answer : Exhausting work hours with minimal breaks.
29. What is globalisation?
Answer : Integration of global markets and economies.
30. What is the role of unions in industries?
Answer : They fight for workers’ rights and better conditions.
Medium Questions with answers
1. What are the features of the organised and unorganised sectors?
Answer : The organised sector provides formal jobs with security, wages, and benefits. The unorganised sector lacks secure employment, offering low pay and minimal protection. Most Indian workers are in the unorganised sector, highlighting inequality.
2. What is the significance of outsourcing in industries?
Answer : Outsourcing reduces costs by hiring external firms or workers for specific tasks. While companies benefit, workers face job insecurity and poor working conditions. It has become widespread, especially in private and multinational companies.
3. What is alienation in industrial work?
Answer : Alienation occurs when workers perform repetitive tasks and feel disconnected from their work. They do not see the end product or find meaning in their labor. This leads to dissatisfaction and a sense of isolation.
4. How does liberalisation impact employment?
Answer : Liberalisation encourages foreign investment and reduces government control over industries. It creates job opportunities but also increases competition, affecting small businesses. Workers face rising job insecurity due to casual labor and privatisation.
5. What are the challenges faced by contract workers?
Answer : Contract workers lack job security, benefits, and fair wages. They depend on contractors and are often exploited in unsafe conditions. Despite working for years, they rarely gain permanent status.
6. What is the role of home-based work in India?
Answer : Home-based work, such as bidi making, involves women and children paid on a piece-rate basis. It provides income but lacks benefits or protections. These workers remain invisible in formal economic statistics.
7. What are the working conditions in IT industries?
Answer : IT workers face long hours, peer pressure, and tight deadlines due to global demands. Flexi-time policies often result in extended working hours. Despite high pay, the work culture is stressful and demanding.
8. What is the demographic profile of mining workers?
Answer : Mining employs many migrants under harsh conditions, often without safety measures. They face health risks like silicosis and injuries from unsafe practices. Low pay and lack of social security worsen their situation.
9. What is just-in-time manufacturing?
Answer : This system delivers parts to factories only when needed, reducing storage costs. It increases efficiency but puts pressure on workers to meet production targets. Delays in supply can cause stress and affect output.
10. How has privatisation affected government workers?
Answer : Privatisation reduces job security and benefits for government employees. Workers fear layoffs and wage cuts after disinvestment. This trend is seen as a shift toward casual labor practices.
11. What is the role of strikes in improving labor conditions?
Answer : Strikes are a tool for workers to demand better wages and conditions. However, they risk job losses and retaliation from employers. The Bombay Textile Strike of 1982 highlights both the potential and challenges of strikes.
12. What are the features of feminisation of labor?
Answer : Increasing numbers of women work in industries like textiles and fish processing. They face low wages, unsafe conditions, and limited social support. Despite challenges, this trend offers women economic independence.
13. What is the impact of mechanisation on workers?
Answer : Mechanisation increases production but reduces job opportunities and deskills workers. Machines replace human labor, leading to unemployment and repetitive work. This creates challenges for workers and industries alike.
14. What are the issues with land acquisition for industries?
Answer : Land acquisition displaces farmers and tribals, offering them low compensation. They lose livelihoods and face migration to cities as casual laborers. Industrial projects often cause environmental degradation in rural areas.
15. What is the role of unions in the organised sector?
Answer : Unions protect workers’ rights, negotiate better wages, and address grievances. They are more common in the organised sector but face challenges in the unorganised sector. Union activity fosters solidarity among workers.
Medium Questions with answers
1. What are the social implications of industrialisation in India?
Answer : Industrialisation reduces caste barriers in workplaces but creates economic inequality. Migration to urban areas disrupts traditional family structures. Workers in unorganised sectors face insecurity, while organised sectors promote unions. Industrialisation transforms rural societies but introduces challenges like alienation.
2. What are the effects of globalisation on Indian industries?
Answer : Globalisation integrates Indian industries with global markets, increasing competition and opportunities. However, it affects small businesses and reduces job security due to outsourcing. Workers face exploitation, while some sectors, like IT, flourish. The impact varies across industries and regions.
3. How has liberalisation changed employment patterns in India?
Answer : Liberalisation fosters private investment, creating jobs but increasing casual labor. Formal employment declines, with outsourcing replacing permanent roles. Small businesses face challenges, and government jobs lose prominence. The policy has widened economic inequality.
4. What are the working conditions in industries like Maruti Udyog?
Answer : Workers face long hours with minimal breaks, leading to physical exhaustion. Mechanisation increases productivity but reduces job opportunities. Outsourcing tasks lowers costs but affects job security. Such conditions highlight the challenges of modern industrial work.
5. What is the role of home-based work in the economy?
Answer : Home-based work supports industries like bidi making and handicrafts. It involves informal labor, mainly women and children, paid on piece rates. Workers lack benefits and face health hazards. This sector highlights the vulnerabilities of informal employment.
6. What were the outcomes of the Bombay Textile Strike of 1982?
Answer : The strike lasted two years, with workers demanding better wages and union rights. Many lost jobs, and the textile mills declined. Workers migrated to smaller towns or casual labor. The strike underscored the struggles of labor movements.
7. How does feminisation of labor affect society?
Answer : More women in the workforce challenge traditional gender roles. They face low wages and unsafe conditions but gain economic independence. This trend reshapes family dynamics and highlights gender inequalities. Women’s participation is vital for social progress.
8. What is the impact of contract labor on workers?
Answer : Contract labor offers flexibility for employers but insecurity for workers. They lack benefits, fair wages, and career growth opportunities. Dependence on contractors often leads to exploitation. Addressing these issues is crucial for inclusive industrial growth.
9. What are the ecological impacts of industrialisation?
Answer : Industrialisation causes pollution, resource depletion, and deforestation. It affects rural communities through land acquisition and displacement. Sustainable practices are essential to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Industrial policies must include ecological considerations.
10. What is the significance of government jobs in India?
Answer : Government jobs provide security, benefits, and social mobility. They reduce caste, regional, and religious barriers in workplaces. However, privatisation threatens these roles, increasing job insecurity. Strengthening public employment is crucial for balanced development.
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