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 ?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Why the answer is (b)

• The primary sector extracts natural resources (farming, dairying, mining, quarrying, fishing); the secondary sector manufactures goods; the tertiary sector provides services.

• Pair 2 is correct: a dairy farm produces milk directly from animals — a primary activity.

• Pair 4 is correct: weaving cloth transforms yarn into a manufactured product — a secondary activity.

• Pair 1 is wrong: storage (warehousing) of agricultural produce is a service, hence tertiary, not secondary. Pair 3 is wrong: mineral exploration is part of mining, a primary activity, not tertiary.

• Hence two pairs are correctly matched, option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Only one: Two pairs (dairy and weaving) are correct, not one.
(c) Only three: Storage is tertiary and exploration is primary, so only two pairs are right.
(d) All four: Pairs 1 and 3 are wrongly classified.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.