Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Employment did not shift out of the primary sector because not enough jobs were created in the secondary and tertiary sectors to absorb the surplus labour. Although industrial output rose by over nine times, industrial employment rose only about three times. Similarly, service sector production rose 14 times, but employment in it rose only about five times.

As a result, surplus labour remained trapped in agriculture, leading to disguised unemployment (underemployment) — where more people work on the land than are actually needed. They appear employed but contribute less than their potential, so moving them out would not reduce agricultural output.

Source: Chapter 2 — Sectors of the Indian Economy, "Where are most of the people employed?"

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• The examiner expects two linked points: (1) insufficient job creation in secondary/tertiary sectors, with specific data (9×/3× and 14×/5×), and (2) the consequence — disguised/hidden unemployment in agriculture.
• Always use the textbook terms disguised unemployment or underemployment; these fetch marks.
• The data figures (9 times, 3 times, 14 times, 5 times) are mentioned in the passage and add precision — use them.
• Do not write about MGNREGA or solutions; the question asks only why employment didn't shift.