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Change and Development in Industrial Society – Class 12 Sociology notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Sociology, chapter 11. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Industrialisation transforms work, social relations and cities. In India, industrialisation began under colonial rule and expanded after independence through planned public sector industries. Today the economy has a small organised (formal) sector and a very large unorganised (informal) sector. Liberalisation has brought privatisation, outsourcing and new types of work, while also creating insecurity for many workers.

Industrialisation and work

Early sociologists such as Marx and Durkheim studied industrial society: Marx emphasised alienation and class conflict, while Durkheim emphasised the division of labour.
After independence, the state set up heavy industries in the public sector; employment in the organised sector offered security, pensions and union rights, but covered only a small share of workers.
Most Indian workers are in the unorganised sector, with low wages, no job security and few benefits, such as agricultural labourers, construction workers, domestic workers and street vendors.

Liberalisation and new forms of work

Since 1991, privatisation, disinvestment in public enterprises, outsourcing and contract labour have increased; many permanent jobs have been replaced by contract jobs.
Information technology and service industries created new jobs with long hours and 'flexible' work, including the 'time-bound' culture of IT and call centres.
Strikes and trade unions have been ways of workers' struggle, such as the Bombay textile strike of 1982; home-based work, such as bidi rolling and agarbatti making, is often done by women at low piece rates.

Key terms

Organised sector: units with regular employment, registered and covered by labour laws
Unorganised sector: small, unregistered units with irregular work and few benefits
Outsourcing: getting work done by outside firms or workers
Alienation: workers' sense of separation from their work and its products
Trade union: an organisation of workers to protect their rights

Important questions with answers

Distinguish between the organised and unorganised sectors.2 marks

The organised sector consists of registered units with regular employment, fixed working hours and benefits such as provident fund, paid leave and pensions under labour laws. The unorganised sector consists of small, often unregistered units and self-employment with irregular work, low wages and few or no benefits.

How has liberalisation affected industrial workers?3 marks

Liberalisation brought privatisation, disinvestment and outsourcing; permanent jobs were often replaced by contract and casual labour with less security; trade unions weakened; new service and IT jobs were created for skilled workers but with long hours and pressure.

Describe the nature of work in the unorganised sector and the challenges faced by workers.5 marks

The unorganised sector in India employs the vast majority of workers, including agricultural labourers, construction workers, domestic workers, street vendors, home-based workers making bidis or incense sticks, rickshaw pullers and workers in small workshops. Work is irregular and often seasonal, wages are low and frequently below the legal minimum, and there is little or no job security. Workers usually lack written contracts, paid leave, health insurance, pension or provident fund. Working conditions can be unsafe, with long hours and exposure to hazards, as in brick kilns, mines and construction sites. Many workers are migrants who live in poor housing and lack access to services. Home-based workers, mostly women, are paid by piece rates and are often invisible to labour laws. Recruitment through contractors leads to exploitation, debt bondage and cheating of wages. Workers find it difficult to organise into unions because they are scattered and employers change frequently. Children are also found working in some industries. The state has introduced schemes for social security and minimum wages, but implementation is weak. Thus workers in the unorganised sector face insecurity, exploitation and vulnerability.

Quick revision

Industrialisation; Marx and Durkheim.
Public sector industrialisation after independence.
Organised versus unorganised sector.
Liberalisation, contract work, IT sector, strikes.

Exam tips

Compare organised and unorganised sectors in a two-column table.
Give two examples of home-based work.

Practice MCQs

Small, unregistered units with irregular work form the
1. organised sector
2. joint sector
3. public sector
4. unorganised sector
Show answer
Answer: (d) unorganised sector. Most Indian workers are here.
An organisation of workers to protect their rights is a
1. company
2. trade union
3. cooperative bank
4. panchayat
Show answer
Answer: (b) trade union. Unions bargain collectively.
Getting work done by outside firms is called
1. insourcing
2. outsourcing
3. nationalisation
4. recruitment
Show answer
Answer: (b) outsourcing. It increased after liberalisation.
The concept of alienation of workers was developed by
1. Marx
2. Durkheim
3. Weber
4. Srinivas
Show answer
Answer: (a) Marx. Workers lose control over their work.
The Bombay textile strike took place in
1. 1947
2. 1982
3. 1991
4. 2004
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1982. It was led by Datta Samant.
Which is an example of home-based work
1. working in a steel plant
2. teaching in a college
3. driving a train
4. bidi rolling
Show answer
Answer: (d) bidi rolling. It is usually paid by piece rates.
Why did contract work increase after liberalisation
1. labour laws became stricter
2. firms sought flexibility and lower costs by replacing permanent jobs
3. unions demanded it
4. the public sector expanded
Show answer
Answer: (b) firms sought flexibility and lower costs by replacing permanent jobs. It reduced job security.
Workers in the organised sector differ from those in the unorganised sector mainly because they have
1. lower wages
2. job security, regulated hours and benefits
3. no contracts
4. seasonal work only
Show answer
Answer: (b) job security, regulated hours and benefits. Labour laws cover them.

All chapters of Class 12 Sociology

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.