Q. With reference to the sectors of the Indian economy, consider the following pairs:
| Economic activity | Sector |
|---|
| 1. Storage of agricultural produce | Secondary |
| 2. Dairy farm | Primary |
| 3. Mineral exploration | Tertiary |
| 4. Weaving cloth | Secondary |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 2024)
Answer:
Only two
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] Only two. In the Indian economy, activities are classified into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary sectors based on the nature of the process and the output.
- Storage of agricultural produce (Pair 1 – Incorrectly Matched): Storage, along with transport, banking, and trade, falls under the Tertiary sector (Service sector). It does not produce a physical good but provides a service that supports the primary and secondary sectors.
- Dairy farm (Pair 2 – Correctly Matched): Dairy farming is a Primary sector activity. This sector includes all activities where natural resources are exploited directly, such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining/quarrying.
- Mineral exploration (Pair 3 – Incorrectly Matched): Mineral exploration and extraction are part of the Primary sector. Since it involves the direct withdrawal of resources from the earth, it is categorized as a primary activity, not tertiary.
- Weaving cloth (Pair 4 – Correctly Matched): Weaving cloth is a Secondary sector activity. This sector covers "manufacturing" or "industrial" activities where raw materials (like cotton) are transformed into finished goods (like cloth) through processing.