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Question

When a good is produced by exploiting natural resources, it falls in the category of:

The correct answer is

agriculture sector

Understanding Economic Sectors and Natural Resources

Economic activities are broadly categorized into different sectors based on the nature of the work and the resources used. The question asks about the category a good falls into when it is produced by exploiting natural resources. This points towards understanding the primary sector of the economy.

Economic Sectors Explained

Economies are typically divided into three main sectors:

  • Primary Sector: This sector involves activities directly exploiting natural resources. This includes farming, fishing, forestry, mining, and extraction of oil and gas. Products in this sector are often raw materials.
  • Secondary Sector (Industrial Sector): This sector processes the raw materials obtained from the primary sector. It involves manufacturing goods, construction, and utilities (like electricity and water).
  • Tertiary Sector (Service Sector): This sector provides services rather than producing tangible goods. Examples include transportation, banking, healthcare, education, and retail.

Analyzing Production by Exploiting Natural Resources

When production involves directly using or extracting natural resources like land, water, forests, minerals, or animals, it fits the definition of the primary sector. Let's look at the given options in this context:

  • Mining industry: Mining directly extracts minerals from the earth, a natural resource. This is part of the primary sector.
  • Service sector: The service sector provides services and does not involve the direct exploitation or extraction of natural resources for producing goods.
  • Agriculture sector: Agriculture involves farming, which uses land and water (natural resources) to produce crops or raise livestock (goods). This is a prime example of exploiting natural resources for production and belongs to the primary sector.
  • Industrial sector: The industrial sector (secondary sector) processes raw materials, but the initial exploitation/extraction of these resources falls under the primary sector.

The question specifically asks about a good produced by exploiting natural resources. Agriculture directly does this to produce food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, etc.

Evaluating the Options

Option Description Falls under Primary Sector?
Mining industry Extracting minerals/ores Yes (Direct exploitation)
Service sector Providing services No
Agriculture sector Farming, livestock, fisheries Yes (Direct exploitation)
Industrial sector Manufacturing, processing No (Processes primary goods)

While mining is also part of the primary sector, the option "agriculture sector" is provided as a distinct choice that squarely fits the description of producing goods by exploiting natural resources (land, water, etc., for farming and related activities). Agriculture is a major component of the primary sector.

Conclusion

Producing goods like crops, dairy products, etc., directly involves utilizing natural resources such as land, water, and sunlight. This activity is classified under the agriculture sector, which is a key part of the primary sector of the economy. Therefore, when a good is produced by exploiting natural resources, it most accurately falls into the category represented by the agriculture sector in the given options, as agriculture is a primary example of such production.

Revision Table: Key Economic Sectors

Sector Key Activities Relationship with Natural Resources
Primary Sector Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Mining, Quarrying, Oil/Gas Extraction Direct exploitation and extraction of natural resources. Provides raw materials.
Secondary Sector (Industrial) Manufacturing, Construction, Processing raw materials into finished/semi-finished goods. Processes raw materials from the primary sector. Depends on primary sector output.
Tertiary Sector (Service) Services like transport, banking, retail, healthcare, education. Provides intangible services. Supports primary and secondary sectors.

Additional Information: Importance of Primary Sector

The primary sector is fundamental to any economy because it provides the basic raw materials needed for all other economic activities. Without agriculture, mining, or forestry, there would be no materials to process in the secondary sector or goods to transport and trade in the tertiary sector. Development in the primary sector, such as improved farming techniques or more efficient resource extraction, can have significant impacts on the entire economy.

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Important Questions from Miscellaneous

  1. A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :

  2. A mass is attached to a spring that hangs vertically. The extension produced in the spring is 6 cm on Earth. The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon is one-sixth of its value on the surface of the Earth. The extension of the spring on the Moon would be:

  3. Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words (a), (b), (c), and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.

    The deluge affected the population.
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  5. Which of the following statements about the Deccan Riots Commission is/are correct?

    1. The Commission did not hold enquiries in the districts which were not affected.

    2. The Commission did record the statements of ryots, sahukars and eye-witnesses.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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