Which of the following is not a feature of public sector work?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Flexible working hours

Option (1) Employees are registered with the government — A feature of public sector work (Incorrect). Units of the organised sector have to be registered with the government to ensure that their employees get proper salaries or wages, pension and other benefits.

Option (2) Formal rules of promotion — A feature of public sector work (Incorrect). Large organisations have well-defined rules, where recruitment is more transparent and there are ways to complain and get redress, unlike small workplaces where the employer’s liking decides a salary raise.

Option (3) Proper salary structure — A feature of public sector work (Incorrect). Very few Indians have secure jobs with benefits, and of those who do, two-thirds work for the government. This is why people strive hard to get into government jobs.

Option (4) Flexible working hours — Not a feature of public sector work (Correct). Government work runs on fixed hours laid down by rules, like its pay and promotion. Hours that change with the employer’s wishes belong to small, unorganised workplaces, where personal relationships determine many aspects of work.

NCERT (2025-26): “The Specificity of Indian Industrialisation … Economists and others often make a distinction between the organised or formal and unorganised or informal sector. There is a debate over how to define these sectors. According to one definition, the organised sector consists of all units employing ten or more people throughout the year. These have to be registered with the government to ensure that their employees get proper salaries or wages, pension and other benefits.…”

“…Here personal relationships determine many aspects of work. If the employer likes you, you may get a salary raise, and if you have a fight with him or her, you may lose your job. This is different from a large organisation with well-defined rules, where recruitment is more transparent and there are mechanisms for complaints and redressal if you disagree with your immediate superior. Second, very few Indians have access to secure jobs with benefits. Of those who do, two-thirds work for the government. This is why people strive hard to get into government jobs.…”