The following describe people linked with recruitment in Indian facto…

The following describe people linked with recruitment in Indian factories. Three describe the jobbers (mistris) of the Kanpur textile mills. Identify the odd one out:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Expected to pass on the job to their children

Option (1) Came from the same regions and communities as the workers — Incorrect. The mistris, the jobbers of the Kanpur textile mills, came from the same regions and communities as the workers. So this describes the jobber.

Option (2) Bossed over the workers because of the owner's backing — Incorrect. Because they had the owner's backing, the mistris bossed over the workers. This too describes the jobber.

Option (3) Put community-related pressures on the worker — Incorrect. The mistri also put community-related pressures on the worker. It is one more feature of the jobber.

Option (4) Expected to pass on the job to their children — Correct. Many factory workers expect that they can pass on their jobs to their children. This describes the workers, not the jobbers, so it is the odd one out.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.3 How People Find Jobs …
Job recruitment as a factory worker takes a different pattern. In the past, many workers got their jobs through contractors or jobbers. In the Kanpur textile mills, these jobbers were known as mistris, and were themselves workers. They came from the same regions and communities as the workers, but because they had the owner’s backing they bossed over the workers. On the other hand, the mistri also put community-related pressures on the worker. Nowadays, the importance of the jobber has come down, and both management and unions play a role in recruiting their own people. Many workers also expect that they can pass on their jobs to their children. …”