India’s Supreme Court to rule on whether government welfare work counts as "industry" under labor law, revisiting a 1978 precedent.

India’s Supreme Court will hear a landmark case from March 17 to 18, 2026, on the definition of "industry" under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, with a nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant. The review focuses on whether government social welfare activities and public instrumentalities qualify as "industrial activities," reassessing the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply ruling amid evolving labor laws, including the 2020 Industrial Relations Code. The court will examine conflicting precedents and legislative changes, following referrals dating back to 2005.