Question

In the following question, a Statement is followed by two Conclusions, I and II. Statement: Section 5 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 gives a detailed procedure for fixing or revising minimum wages in respect of any scheduled employment. After considering the advice of the committees appointed, and all representations received by it before the date notified in the Gazette notification, the appropriate Government may by notification in the official gazette, fix or revise the minimum rates of wages. Conclusion I: If a date is specified in the notification, the minimum rates shall come into force from such date. Conclusion II: If no date is specified, then they shall come into force from the expiry of three months from the date of issue of the notification. In the context of the above Statement and Conclusions, which one of the following is correct?

• A. Only Conclusion II follows
• B. Only Conclusion I follows
• C. Both Conclusions I and II follow
• D. Neither Conclusion I nor II follows

Hint:

Remember the "Three-Month Default" rule: Minimum wage notifications are effective from the date they say, but if they forget a date, the law automatically defaults to an expiry of three months!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Read the statement.
The statement is about Section 5 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. It explains how the government fixes or revises minimum wages and then issues a notification in the official gazette. We must check two conclusions.

Step 2: Look at Conclusion I.
Conclusion I says that if a date is mentioned in the notification, the minimum rates come into force from that date. This is correct, because the government can choose the start date and write it in the notice.

Step 3: Look at Conclusion II.
Conclusion II says that if no date is given, the rates come into force after three months from the date the notification is issued. This is also correct, as the Act provides this default rule.

Step 4: Tie it to the section.
Section 5(2) of the Act covers exactly these two situations. It allows a stated start date, and if none is stated, it sets the start at the end of three months from issue.

Step 5: Decide which conclusions follow.
Since both Conclusion I and Conclusion II are true and flow directly from the statement and the Act, both of them follow.

Step 6: State the answer.
So both Conclusions I and II follow. \[ \boxed{\text{Both Conclusions I and II follow}} \]