The Factory Act of 1891 in India was enacted to

The correct answer is Option 3. While the Factory Act of 1891 ostensibly addressed labour welfare, its primary catalyst was the pressure from British textile magnates in Lancashire and Manchester. They feared that the availability of cheap labour and unregulated working hours in India gave Indian mills an unfair competitive advantage.

By compelling the colonial government to implement labour regulations—such as limiting hours for women and children—English manufacturers aimed to increase the cost of production for Indian industries, thereby providing a level playing field for British goods.

• Option 1 is partially true but was the stated pretext rather than the underlying economic motive.
• Options 2 and 4 are incorrect as the Act was an economic instrument driven by commercial lobbying in Britain rather than a strategy for direct political or administrative dominance over industrial infrastructure.