Textbook QnA
6. Do you think the classification of economic activities into primary, secondary and tertiary is useful? Explain how.
Answer: Yes, it is very useful.
- It simplifies the huge and complex economy.
- It helps us study how each part works.
- It shows us how the economy changes as a country develops.
- It helps the government make better policies for each sector.
7. For each of the sectors that we came across in this chapter why should one focus on employment and GDP? Could there be other issues which should be examined? Discuss.
Answer:
- GDP tells us how much money the sector makes for the country.
- Employment tells us how many people the sector gives jobs to.
- Other important issues are:
- Job security: Is the job permanent or temporary?
- Working conditions: Is the work safe and fair?
- Environment: Is the sector harming our nature?
8. Make a long list of all kinds of work that you find adults around you doing for a living. In what way can you classify them? Explain your choice.
Answer:
- List of work: Farmer, shopkeeper, teacher, bank manager, driver, tailor, factory worker, doctor, software engineer, police officer, construction worker, street vendor.
- Classification: We can classify them into the three sectors.
- My Choice: This is the best way because it groups jobs by what they produce.
- Primary: Farmer.
- Secondary: Factory worker, tailor.
- Tertiary: Teacher, doctor, driver, shopkeeper.
9. How is the tertiary sector different from other sectors? Illustrate with a few examples.
Answer: The tertiary sector is different because it provides services, not goods.
- Primary gives us raw materials (e.g., farming, mining).
- Secondary makes goods from raw materials (e.g., manufacturing cars).
- Tertiary gives us services (e.g., teaching by a teacher, treatment by a doctor, transport by a bus driver).
10. What do you understand by disguised unemployment? Explain with an example each from the urban and rural areas.
Answer: Disguised unemployment is when more people are working than needed. Removing them won't affect production.
- Rural Example: On a small farm, 5 people do the work that 3 people could do. The extra 2 are disguisedly unemployed.
- Urban Example: A small shop where 3 brothers sit, but only 2 customers come per hour. One brother is not needed all the time.
11. Distinguish between open unemployment and disguised unemployment.
Answer:
- Open Unemployment: A person has no job at all and is clearly looking for work.
- Disguised Unemployment: A person seems to have a job but his/her work is not needed. The person is not productive.
12. “Tertiary sector is not playing any significant role in the development of Indian economy.” Do you agree? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer: No, I do not agree.
- The tertiary sector is the largest contributor to India's GDP.
- It has created millions of jobs, especially for educated people (e.g., IT, banking).
- It supports the other two sectors with services like transport, banking, and communication.
13. Service sector in India employs two different kinds of people. Who are these?
Answer:
- Highly skilled and paid workers: Like software engineers, doctors, and bankers.
- Low skilled and poorly paid workers: Like street vendors, rickshaw pullers, and domestic helpers.
14. Workers are exploited in the unorganised sector. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer: Yes, I strongly agree.
- No rules: There are no rules for minimum wage or working hours.
- No job security: They can be fired any time.
- No benefits: They get no paid leave, no pension, no health benefits.
- Exploitation: Because they are poor and need work, owners can easily exploit them.
15. How are the activities in the economy classified on the basis of employment conditions?
Answer: They are classified into two sectors:
- Organised Sector: Jobs with job security, benefits, and government rules.
- Unorganised Sector: Jobs with no security, low pay, and no benefits.
16. Compare the employment conditions prevailing in the organised and unorganised sectors.
Answer:
- Organised Sector: Has fixed working hours, high wages, job security, and benefits like paid leave and pension.
- Unorganised Sector: Has long and irregular working hours, low wages, no job security, and no benefits.
17. Explain the objective of implementing the MGNREGA 2005.
Answer: The main objective was to provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every rural household. This:
- Reduces poverty and disguised unemployment in villages.
- Provides a right to work and a source of income.
- Creates useful assets in rural areas (like roads, ponds).
18. Using examples from your area compare and contrast that activities and functions of private and public sectors.
Answer:
- Public Sector (Government):
- Aim: Public welfare.
- Example from my area: A government hospital provides cheap treatment for all. A government school gives free education.
- Private Sector:
- Aim: To earn profit.
- Example from my area: A private hospital charges high fees for better facilities. A private school has high fees for quality education.
- Contrast: The government provides services for everyone's benefit, even if it's not profitable. The private sector provides services to make money.
Of course. Here are the answers to your questions in a simple and clear format.
20. Give a few examples of public sector activities and explain why the government has taken them up.
Answer:
The government takes up certain activities because their main goal is public welfare, not profit.
| Example of Public Sector Activity | Reason Why Government Has Taken It Up |
|---|
| Indian Railways | It is very expensive to build and run. A private company might only connect profitable routes. The government runs it to ensure everyone, even in remote areas, has access to affordable transport. |
| Public Schools & Hospitals | To provide education and healthcare to all citizens at a low cost. This is a basic right, and private services are often too expensive for the poor. |
| Electricity Supply | To provide power to villages and poor households where private companies may not find it profitable to set up lines. This ensures development for all. |
| Police & Defence | These are essential services for the security and safety of the country and its people. They cannot be left in private hands. |
21. Explain how public sector contributes to the economic development of a nation.
Answer: The public sector contributes to development in these key ways:
- Builds Infrastructure: It builds roads, bridges, dams, and power stations. This is the foundation for all other economic activities.
- Promotes Equal Development: It sets up industries in backward areas to create jobs and reduce regional inequalities.
- Provides Basic Services: It provides cheap education, health, and transportation. A healthy and educated population is essential for development.
- Creates Jobs: It provides direct employment to millions of people in various government jobs.
- Controls Key Industries: It runs important industries like coal, steel, and energy to ensure the country has a steady supply of these crucial resources at fair prices.
22. The workers in the unorganised sector need protection on the following issues : wages, safety and health. Explain with examples.
Answer: Workers in the unorganised sector are highly vulnerable and need protection.
| Issue | Problem | Example |
|---|
| Wages | They are often paid very low wages, less than the government's minimum wage. They have no power to negotiate. | A construction worker may be forced to accept a daily wage that is too low to feed their family, because they need the job. |
| Safety | There are no safety rules. They are forced to work in dangerous conditions. | A factory worker in a small workshop might have to handle dangerous chemicals without any gloves, masks, or safety training. |
| Health | They have no health benefits. If they get injured or sick, they lose their income and have to pay huge medical bills. | A street vendor who gets sick cannot work and earns nothing. They also have to pay for their own medicine, pushing them into debt. |
23. A study in Ahmedabad found that out of 15,00,000 workers in the city, 11,00,000 worked in the unorganised sector. The total income of the city in this year (1997-1998) was Rs 60,000 million. Out of this Rs 32,000 million was generated in the organised sector. Present this data as a table. What kind of ways should be thought of for generating more employment in the city?
Answer:
Data Table for Ahmedabad (1997-1998)
| Particulars | Organised Sector | Unorganised Sector | Total |
|---|
| Number of Workers | 4,00,000 | 11,00,000 | 15,00,000 |
| Income Generated (Rs million) | 32,000 | 28,000 | 60,000 |
Ways to generate more employment in the city:
- Promote Small Industries: The government can provide cheap loans and training to help people start their own small businesses (e.g., tailoring, repair shops).
- Improve Skills: Open more vocational training centers to train people in specific ski...
