Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

No, only the street vendor is an example of underemployment (disguised unemployment), not the casual painter.

Casual painter: He finds no work on many days. This is open unemployment — he is willing and able to work but gets no employment at all. He is not underemployed; he is simply unemployed.

Street vendor: He works the full day but earns barely enough to survive. This is underemployment — he appears employed but his labour is not productively or adequately utilised. His work does not generate sufficient income, reflecting disguised or underemployment.

Thus, the two situations are different: one involves absence of work, the other involves inadequate or unproductive work.

Source: Sectors of the Indian Economy, Chapter 2

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• The key distinction examiners look for is open unemployment vs. underemployment (disguised unemployment).
• Don't say both are underemployed — that will cost marks. The painter is openly unemployed.
• Street vendor working all day for very low income = classic underemployment example (like too many people on a farm — removing one wouldn't reduce output).
• 3 marks = ~3 clear points: define/identify each case + conclude the distinction.