When was the ESI (Employee's State Insurance) Act enacted?

Appeared in: Punjab CHO - 2021

Explanation

The Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act was passed by the Parliament of India in 1948.
This Act is a cornerstone of social security legislation in India, providing a safety net for workers in the organized sector.
It aims to protect employees against the financial distress arising out of sickness, maternity, disability, and death due to employment injury.

Option A: The year 1945 is incorrect. While this marked the end of World War II, leading to significant global and national changes, the ESI Act was not enacted in this year.
Option B: The year 1946 is incorrect. The Bhore Committee submitted its influential report on health survey and development in 1946, which laid the foundation for many health reforms, but the ESI Act itself was passed later.
Option D: The year 1952 is the year the ESI Act was first implemented, not enacted. The question specifically asks for the enactment year.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Enactment year of the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
An occupational health nurse must be knowledgeable about the ESI Act to effectively guide employees on how to avail their medical, sickness, and maternity benefits.
Nurses often act as a bridge between employees and the ESI corporation, assisting with paperwork and explaining the process for claims and accessing ESI-affiliated hospitals.
What if? If an employee in a newly covered establishment asks about their family's medical benefits, the nurse must be able to explain that the ESI scheme provides full medical care to the insured person and their dependents from day one of insurable employment.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of a specific historical date in Indian legislation.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'ESI Act' and 'enacted'.
Differentiate between 'enacted' (when the law was passed by Parliament) and 'implemented' or 'came into force' (when the law's provisions were put into practice).
Recall or look for the specific year the Act was passed.
Evaluate the options. Note that 1952 is a common distractor because it's the implementation year, but the question asks for the enactment year, which is 1948.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QYzRunDvKKSpl4E06QGd_a

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 276-535 of 550) p. 61-63

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 133-135

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 46-48

Practise the full Punjab CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.