Home The Constitution Part III Article 24

Art. 24 Part III: Fundamental Rights

Prohibition of Child Labour in Hazardous Work

Exact text — Constitution of India

No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A direct, absolute constitutional ban — no exceptions listed — on employing children under 14 in factories, mines, or hazardous work. Parliament expanded this considerably through the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (amended 2016), which bans ALL work (not just hazardous) for children under 14, and specifically bars 14-18 year-olds from a defined list of hazardous occupations.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

If you see a child working in a factory, mine, or dangerous job — or even in any employment at all if they're under 14 — this Article and the 2016 Act give you a direct basis to report it to Childline (1098) or the local Labour Department, and the employer faces criminal liability.

How This Is Enforced

Laws and mechanisms that put this Article into practice

Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986/2016

Bans all child labour under 14, and hazardous work for 14–18 year-olds, with limited exceptions for family enterprises and specific creative/sports fields.

Read alongside this one

Art. 23 — Prohibition of Human Trafficking and Forced Labour Art. 21A — Right to Education

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 24

Can a 14-year-old legally work at all?

Only in non-hazardous work, and even then subject to the 2016 Act's conditions (like not interfering with schooling) — hazardous occupations remain banned for anyone under 18.

Is helping in a family business also banned?

The 2016 Act carves out a narrow exception for children helping a family enterprise after school hours or during vacations, as long as it isn't hazardous work — it's not a blanket permission for all family-business labour.

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The text above reproduces Article 24 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.