State rules under the four Labour Codes: the final rule sets notified by eleven States and Union territories, from Gujarat and Rajasthan to Ladakh and Lakshadweep, and how State rules sit with the Central rules

State rules explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.

The four Labour Codes leave much of the working detail to rules made by the appropriate Government. For a large part of the economy that Government is the State or Union territory, so an employer reads the State rules alongside the Central rules. This hub lists the final rule sets of eleven States and Union territories (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Jammu and Kashmir) as notified, and shows where to read each.

Eleven States and Union territories have final rules in the texts consulted, covering 34 rule sets in all. Each set says when it starts in its own words; some start from the commencement of the Code, most on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. A State employer follows the State rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government, and the Central rules for Central-sphere establishments. For every other State, final rules were not found in the texts consulted.

How State rules sit with the Central rules

Each Code lets the appropriate Government make rules. Under the Industrial Relations Code the term "appropriate Government" is defined in section 2; see our post on who the appropriate Government is. In short, an establishment in the State sphere follows its State's rules, and an establishment in the Central sphere follows the Central rules. Where the State rules repeat the Central rules, the Central rules are explained rule by rule on this site; the State articles in this series say what the State adds or prints differently, and do not restate the Central law.

Central rule posts to start from: rules 1 and 2 of the Central Wages Rules, rule 5 of the Central Industrial Relations Rules, rules 1 and 2 of the Central Social Security Rules and rules 1 and 2 of the Central OSH Rules.

The four Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025. A State rule that says it starts "from the date of commencement of the Code" therefore takes its start from that date; a rule that says it starts on publication in the Official Gazette takes its start from the date of publication, which is the Gazette date where the set shows one. This hub gives each set's commencement clause in its own words and asserts no other date. For an overview of the Codes, see 4 Labour Codes 2020: Code on Wages, IR Code, OSH Code and Social Security Code. If your establishments are in more than one State, our labour law compliance service can build a State-wise rule map.

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The eleven and what each has notified

As an example of the notification line used throughout the series: the Code on Wages (Gujarat) Rules, 2021, as notified on 5 October 2021 (No. KHR/2021/128/LVD/10/2020/555709/M(2)). Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette.

The Lakshadweep sets are titled "Rules, 2025" in rule 1 and notified in 2026; the table uses the titles as printed. Of the Codes, Jammu and Kashmir is covered only for Industrial Relations, Sikkim only for Wages, Uttarakhand for Wages and Industrial Relations, Rajasthan for Wages, Industrial Relations and OSH, and Uttar Pradesh for Wages, Social Security and OSH. Where a Code is not listed for a State, final rules under that Code were not found in the texts consulted.

How to use the series

Each State article follows one Code and says which rule set it explains, the notification and commencement clause as printed, what an employer must do, and the Central rule post to read alongside it. The Gujarat articles come first: start with the Gujarat wage rules, and the other States follow in the same order: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Figures in each article are those the State text prints, with the rule number; figures are never carried from one State to another.

States not listed

For every other State, final rules were not found in the texts consulted. An employer in such a State should check the State Gazette and the State labour department website for what has been notified under each Code before relying on any general summary.

A worked example

Gurukripa Engineering Pvt Ltd has a factory in Gujarat, a warehouse in Rajasthan and a head office that is a Central-sphere establishment. For the factory, the Gujarat OSH Rules, 2025 apply, with the commencement clause tied to the date the OSH Code came into force. For the warehouse, the Rajasthan OSH Rules, 2026 apply from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. For the head office, the Central rules apply. The company keeps one register of which rule set governs which site.

Need help mapping your sites to the right rules?

An employer with sites in several States needs a clear map of which rule set governs which site. Our labour law compliance team can prepare that map and the State-wise registers and returns calendar.

Key takeaways

• Eleven States and Union territories have final rule sets in the texts consulted; 34 sets are covered in all.
• Each set's commencement clause is printed in its own words; none is converted into a date here.
• The State's rules govern establishments for which the State is the appropriate Government; the Central rules govern Central-sphere establishments.
• Jammu and Kashmir is covered only for Industrial Relations and Sikkim only for Wages.
• For other States, final rules were not found in the texts consulted; check the State Gazette.

Read next

• Code on Wages (Gujarat) Rules, 2021: notification, commencement and minimum wage calculation
• Code on Wages (Rajasthan) Rules, 2026: notification, commencement and calculation of minimum wages
• Section 2 of the Industrial Relations Code: appropriate Government and the authorities
• 4 New Labour Codes 2020: complete guide to India's labour law reform

Disclaimer: Based on the State or Union territory rules named above, as notified under the Labour Codes and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, State notifications, fees and forms should be checked in the State Gazette and on the State labour department website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.