This study is concerned with multi-mode inelastic behaviour at macroscopically uniform deformation. The material is assumed to be time-independent; the physical origin of inelasticity may be otherwise arbitrary, including plasticity of crystals and polycrystals, micro-cracking, phase transformation, etc. A non-linear rate-problem of continuing mechanical equilibrium at finite strain is examined for a material element subject to deformation-sensitive loading under partial kinematic constraints. General conditions for uniqueness of the material response are established. As an application to predicting the onset of strain localization or failure, the condition is derived that excludes the bifurcation in a band from homogeneous deformation. In contrast to the usual requirement of ellipticity of the tangent stiffness moduli, the present condition for uniqueness takes into account any possible unloading and is directly imposed on the matrix of interaction moduli of internal mechanisms. Lower and upper bounds are established for the primary shear-band bifurcation along a smooth straining path.