How will you know whether a worker is working in the informal sector?
The following features help to recognise a worker working in the informal sector:
i. A worker working in an enterprise (other than the public sector establishments and the private sector establishments) hiring 10 or less than 10 workers.
ii. This sector includes millions of farmers, agricultural labourers, owners of small enterprises and self employed. These sections of people are not hired worker.
iii. A worker working in informal sector does not enjoy social security benefits such as provident fund, gratuity, pension, etc.
iv. The economic interest of the workers working in the informal sector is not protected by any Labour Laws other than Minimum Wages Act. Therefore, workers in the informal sector are highly exposed to the uncertainties of the market and have low bargaining power.
Find the odd man out (i) owner of a saloon (ii) a cobbler (iii) a cashier in Mother Dairy (iv) a tuition master (v) transport operator (vi) construction worker.
Why are regular salaried employees more in urban areas than in rural areas?
Why are less women found in regular salaried employment?
Compared to urban women, more rural women are found working. Why?
Analyse the recent trends in sectoral distribution of workforce in India.
Define worker-population ratio.
The following table shows distribution of workforce in India for the year 1972-73. Analyse it and give reasons for the nature of workforce distribution. You will notice that the data is pertaining to the situation in India 30 years ago!
Place of Residence | Workforce (in millions) | ||
Male | Female | Total | |
Rural Urban |
125 32 |
69 7 |
195 39 |
Do you think that in the last 50 years, employment generated in the country is commensurate with the growth of GDP in India? How?
Who is a casual wage labourer?
Is it necessary to generate employment in the formal sector rather than in the informal sector? Why?
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
How has the consumption pattern of energy changed over the years?
What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
Though the public sector is very essential for industries, many public sector undertakings incur huge losses and are a drain on the economy’s resources. Discuss the usefulness of public sector undertakings in the light of this fact.
Discuss the reforms which have been initiated recently to meet the energy crisis in India.
What is meant by environment?
Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Mention some obstacles that hinder the mechanism of agricultural marketing.
What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.