Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer to this item should be based on the passages only. In India, over the last decade or so, labour has been departing agriculture, but is only going to construction and unregistered manufacturing which are not markedly better jobs. Services, where labour tends to be most productive, are not generating the additional jobs the country needs. India will need 24 million or so jobs over the next decade. The new sector, e-commerce, can at best close only half the jobs gap. Only those sectors that drive domestic demand such as health and education can comfortably fill the other half. Which one of the following isbest impliedin the passage?
Increased social sector spending is imperative for large - scale job creation.
Understanding the Passage and the Question
The question asks for the best implication from the provided passage about the labour market in India. The passage discusses where labour is moving, where jobs are needed, and which sectors might fill the job gap. We need to read the passage carefully and see what conclusion or suggestion is most strongly hinted at by the text.
Analyzing the Passage
Let's break down the key points from the passage:
- Labour is moving away from agriculture in India.
- This labour is mainly going to construction and unregistered manufacturing.
- Construction and unregistered manufacturing jobs are described as "not markedly better jobs," suggesting they might have poor conditions or low pay.
- The service sector, usually productive, is not creating enough jobs.
- India needs about 24 million new jobs in the next ten years.
- E-commerce can provide about half of these jobs.
- The other half of the jobs must come from sectors that increase demand within the country.
- Specific examples of these demand-driving sectors are given: health and education.
The passage highlights a significant job gap and points to health and education as key sectors capable of filling a large part of this gap.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option based on what the passage tells us:
-
Strong measures need to be taken to reduce the rural to urban migration of labour.
The passage mentions labour departing agriculture but doesn't say this migration itself is the problem or that it needs to be reduced. It focuses on the quality of jobs they are going to and the need for new jobs in other sectors. So, this option is not directly supported as the *best* implication.
-
The working condition in construction and unregistered manufacturing needs to be improved.
The passage says these jobs are "not markedly better," which *implies* poor conditions. However, the main focus of the passage is on *creating new jobs* in other sectors (services, health, education) to meet the overall job requirement, not on improving the existing poor jobs in construction and manufacturing. While improving conditions might be desirable, it's not the primary implication regarding the job gap solution presented here.
-
Service sector has been reducing the problem of unemployment.
The passage explicitly states the opposite: "Services... are not generating the additional jobs the country needs." This means the service sector is *not* currently reducing unemployment by creating enough jobs. This option is contradicted by the passage.
-
Increased social sector spending is imperative for large - scale job creation.
The passage states that health and education sectors are needed to fill the remaining half of the job gap (about 12 million jobs). Health and education are typically considered part of the social sector. For these sectors to create a large number of jobs, significant investment or spending is usually required from either the government or private entities, often referred to as social sector spending. The passage saying these sectors "can comfortably fill the other half" implies that they are crucial and necessary ("imperative") for achieving the needed "large-scale job creation." This option aligns well with the passage's conclusion about where the needed jobs must come from.
Conclusion: The Best Implication
Based on the analysis, the passage most strongly implies that focusing on and investing in the health and education sectors (social sectors) is necessary to create a large number of jobs and address India's job gap. Therefore, increased social sector spending is the best implied conclusion.
Revision Table: Key Passage Points and Implications
| Passage Point | Potential Implication | Relevance to Options |
|---|---|---|
| Labour leaving agriculture for construction/unregistered manufacturing | Shift in labour force, potentially poor job quality | Connects to Option 1 (migration) and Option 2 (job quality) |
| Construction/unregistered manufacturing jobs not markedly better | Jobs available are not high quality | Stronger connection to Option 2 |
| Service sector not creating needed additional jobs | Service sector is not solving unemployment problem | Directly contradicts Option 3 |
| Need 24 million jobs; E-commerce provides half | Significant job gap remains | Sets the stage for identifying where the other jobs come from |
| Other half from domestic demand sectors like health and education | Health and education are crucial for job creation | Strong connection to Option 4 (social sector spending) |
Additional Information: Social Sector and Job Creation
The term 'social sector' typically includes areas like health, education, social services, and sometimes housing and social security. These sectors often require significant human resources, from doctors, nurses, teachers, and administrators to support staff. Investment in these areas, whether by the government or private players, directly leads to the creation of jobs. When a country needs a large number of jobs, focusing on expanding access and quality in health and education is a common strategy because these sectors have high potential for absorbing labour across various skill levels. The passage highlights this potential specifically for India's current job challenge.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
