Under Section 2(y) of the Code on Wages, 2019, which of the following is excluded from the definition of "wages"?

Section 2(y) of the Code on Wages, 2019 defines "wages" as all remuneration, whether by way of salary, allowances, or otherwise, expressed in terms of money. However, the section expressly excludes several items from the definition: (i) any bonus payable under any law; (ii) the value of any house accommodation or supply of light, water, or medical attendance; (iii) any contribution paid by the employer to a pension or provident fund; (iv) travelling allowance or travelling concession; (v) any sum paid to the employed person to defray special expenses; (vi) gratuity payable on termination; and (vii) retrenchment compensation. This is a critical distinction items included in wages form the basis for calculating minimum wages, bonus, and other entitlements, while excluded items are computed separately. Basic pay and DA are included in wages, making option (C) the only correct answer identifying genuinely excluded items.