CBSE · NCERT · Class 10 Social Science · Chapter 19

NCERT Solutions: Class 10 Social Science Chapter 19 - Economics: Sectors of the Indian Economy

18 textbook Q&A18 verifiedFree Content

Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Economics: Sectors of the Indian Economy, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
Sections in this chapter
EXERCISES 18
Your Progress - Chapter 190% complete
1EXERCISES18 questions
Q.1Fill in the blanks using the correct option given in the bracket: (i) Employment in the service sector _________ increased to the same extent as production. (has / has not) (ii) Workers in the _________ sector do not produce goods. (tertiary / agricultural) (iii) Most of the workers in the _________ sector enjoy job security. (organised / unorganised) (iv) A _________ proportion of labourers in India are working in the unorganised sector. (large / small) (v) Cotton is a _________ product and cloth is a _________ product. [natural /manufactured] (vi) The activities in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors are_________ [independent / interdependent]v
Solution

Each completion follows the sector definitions and employment discussion.

Answer:

(i) has not; (ii) tertiary; (iii) organised; (iv) large; (v) natural, manufactured; (vi) interdependent.

Q.2Choose the most appropriate answer. (a) The sectors are classified into public and private sector on the basis of: (i) employment conditions (ii) the nature of economic activity (iii) ownership of enterprises (iv) number of workers employed in the enterprise (b) Production of a commodity, mostly through the natural process, is an activity in _________ sector. (i) primary (ii) secondary (iii) tertiary (iv) information technology (c) GDP is the total value of _________ produced during a particular year. (i) all goods and services (ii) all final goods and services (iii) all intermediate goods and services (iv) all intermediate and final goods and services (d) In terms of GVA the share of tertiary sector in 2017–18 is between _________ per cent. (i) 20 to 30 (ii) 30 to 40 (iii) 50 to 60 (iv) 60 to 70v
Solution

Grounded in the sector classifications and GVA graph.

Answer:

(a) (iii) ownership of enterprises; (b) (i) primary; (c) (ii) all final goods and services; (d) (iii) 50 to 60 per cent.

Q.4Find the odd one out and say why. (i) Tourist guide, dhobi, tailor, potter (ii) Teacher, doctor, vegetable vendor, lawyer (iii) Postman, cobbler, soldier, police constable (iv) MTNL, Indian Railways, Air India, Jet Airways, All India Radiov
Solution

Classifies by goods/services and public/private ownership.

Answer:

(i) Potter is the odd one because the potter produces a good; the others mainly provide services. (ii) Vegetable vendor is the odd one because the others provide specialised professional services. (iii) Cobbler is the odd one because the others are generally public-sector employees. (iv) Jet Airways is the odd one because the others are public-sector organisations in the chapter’s classification.

Q.6Do you think the classification of economic activities into primary, secondary and tertiary is useful? Explain how.v
Solution

Grounded in the three-sector framework and interdependence.

Answer:

Yes. It shows whether work extracts natural resources, transforms materials or provides services, making changes in production and employment easier to analyse. It also reveals interdependence: agriculture needs transport, banking and industry, while industry depends on raw materials and services. The classification helps planners identify which sectors are growing and where jobs or support are needed.

Q.7For each of the sectors that we came across in this chapter why should one focus on employment and GVA? Could there be other issues which should be examined? Discuss.v
Solution

Extends the chapter’s output-employment comparison.

Answer:

GVA shows each sector’s contribution to production, while employment shows how many livelihoods it supports. Comparing them can reveal low productivity or jobless growth—for example, many workers remain in agriculture despite its smaller output share. Other issues include wages, job security, working hours, social protection, gender equality, environmental costs and regional distribution. High output is not sufficient if work is unsafe or benefits are concentrated.

Q.9How is the tertiary sector different from other sectors? Illustrate with a few examples.v
Solution

Grounded in the definition and examples of the tertiary sector.

Answer:

The primary sector obtains products from nature, and the secondary sector transforms materials into goods. The tertiary sector mainly provides services that support production or satisfy needs directly. Transport, storage, banking and communication help farms and factories; teaching, health care, retail, administration and software serve people and organisations. Some services are essential, while others grow with income and technology.

Q.10What do you understand by disguised unemployment? Explain with an example each from the urban and rural areas.v
Solution

Applies the chapter’s agricultural example to both settings.

Answer:

Disguised unemployment exists when more people work than production requires, so removing some workers does not reduce output. In a rural example, eight family members cultivate a small field that needs only five. In an urban example, several family members crowd into a small shop where two could handle all customers; the extra workers appear employed but add little output.

Q.11Distinguish between open unemployment and disguised unemployment.v
Solution

Defines the two concepts through visibility and marginal contribution.

Answer:

In open unemployment a person willing and able to work has no job and is visibly unemployed. In disguised unemployment a person appears to work, but there are surplus workers and removing some would not lower total output. The latter is common in small family farms and informal family enterprises.

Q.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.v
Solution

Grounded in the chapter’s reasons for tertiary-sector growth.

Answer:

No. The tertiary sector has become the largest contributor to GVA and supports agriculture and industry through transport, trade, banking, storage and communication. Education, health and administration are essential services, while IT, tourism and professional services create income and exports. Employment has not risen as fast as output and many service jobs are insecure, but that does not make the sector insignificant.

Q.13Service sector in India employs two different kinds of people. Who are these?v
Solution

Grounded in the contrast within the service sector.

Answer:

One group consists of highly skilled, educated workers in services such as teaching, medicine, banking, administration and information technology. The other consists of workers in low-paid, insecure services such as small retail, repair, transport, domestic work and casual labour, often because no better job is available.

Q.14Workers are exploited in the unorganised sector. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.v
Solution

Grounded in the organised–unorganised comparison.

Answer:

Yes. Unorganised enterprises often evade labour rules, pay low or irregular wages, demand long hours and provide no paid leave, pension, medical benefit or job security. Workers can be dismissed without notice and may face unsafe conditions or discrimination. Their weak bargaining power and lack of written contracts make enforcement difficult.

Q.15How are the activities in the economy classified on the basis of employment conditions?v
Solution

Grounded in the employment-condition classification.

Answer:

They are classified into the organised sector, where registered enterprises follow government rules and provide formal conditions, and the unorganised sector, consisting of small, scattered or unregistered units with limited worker protection.

Q.16Compare the employment conditions prevailing in the organised and unorganised sectors.v
Solution

Grounded in the direct comparison in the chapter.

Answer:

Organised-sector jobs generally follow fixed hours, minimum-wage and safety rules, offer written terms, paid leave, provident fund, medical benefits and greater job security. Unorganised-sector work commonly has uncertain hours, low wages, no paid leave or social security, unsafe conditions and easy dismissal. Actual compliance can vary, but legal protection and enforceable records are much stronger in the organised sector.

Q.17Explain the objective of implementing the MGNREGA 2005 or Viksit Bharat-G RAM G 2025.v
Solution

Grounded in the chapter’s description of the employment guarantee law.

Answer:

MGNREGA aims to guarantee up to 100 days of wage employment to rural households whose adults volunteer for unskilled manual work. If work is not provided within the specified period, an unemployment allowance is due. The programme creates rural assets such as water-conservation works while providing income, reducing distress migration and strengthening the right to work.

Q.18Using examples from your area compare and contrast that activities and functions of private and public sectors.v
Solution

Sample local response applying the ownership distinction.

Answer:

A model comparison is a municipal water service and a private bottled-water company. The public body supplies an essential service across neighbourhoods, including places where full cost recovery is difficult, and is accountable to elected government. The private company sells to paying customers, chooses products and locations by profitability and competes on price and quality. Both employ workers and use infrastructure, but their primary objectives differ: public welfare and universal access versus private return.

Q.20Give a few examples of public sector activities and explain why the government has taken them up.v
Solution

Grounded in the reasons for public-sector provision.

Answer:

Public-sector activities include railways, roads, irrigation, electricity networks, schools, hospitals, sanitation and food distribution. They require large investment, create broad social benefits or must reach people who cannot pay commercial prices. Government undertakes them because private firms may underprovide essential or long-term infrastructure when profits are uncertain.

Q.21Explain how public sector contributes to the economic development of a nation.v
Solution

Grounded in the chapter’s public-sector examples and rationale.

Answer:

The public sector builds infrastructure, provides education and health, supports agriculture and industry, and supplies essential goods or services at affordable prices. It can invest where returns are slow, regulate natural monopolies, reduce regional inequality and protect vulnerable groups. These functions raise productivity and human capability beyond the direct income of public enterprises.

Q.22The workers in the unorganised sector need protection on the following issues : wages, safety and health. Explain with examples.v
Solution

Applies the chapter’s protection needs to typical unorganised work.

Answer:

Minimum-wage enforcement is needed because farm, construction and domestic workers may be paid below legal rates or irregularly. Safety rules and equipment are vital for construction workers, miners and workshop labourers exposed to falls, dust or machinery. Health protection requires clean workplaces, reasonable hours, maternity support, medical care and compensation for injury. Written records and inspections make these rights enforceable.