Read the following passage and answer the items that follow the passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only. Passage-1 One of the dismal realities of the agricultural sector in independent India has been that it never experienced a high-growth phase, unlike the non-agricultural economy. The highest decadal growth (compound annual growth rate or CAGR) for agriculture has been just 3-5% in the 1980s. Also, after experiencing a spurt in decadal growth during the 1980s, agricultural growth suffered relative stagnation thereafter. This is in sharp contrast to non-agricultural growth, which consistently increased from the 1980s to 2000s.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the corollary to the above passage?
The benefit of economic reforms percolates down more slowly to the agriculture sector than in other sectors of the economy.
Passage Analysis on India's Agricultural vs. Non-Agricultural Growth
The passage discusses the growth trajectories of two key sectors in the Indian economy since independence: agriculture and the non-agricultural sector. It highlights a significant disparity:
- The agricultural sector never experienced a phase of consistently high growth (peaking at 3-5% CAGR in the 1980s).
- After the 1980s, agricultural growth relatively stagnated.
- In contrast, the non-agricultural sector consistently increased its growth rate from the 1980s to the 2000s.
The core point of the passage is the divergent performance of these two sectors, particularly the stagnation in agriculture after the 1980s compared to the sustained increase in non-agricultural growth during the same period (1980s to 2000s).
Analyzing the Options Based on the Passage
We need to find the statement that is a logical consequence or deduction (corollary) derived directly from the information given in the passage.
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The benefit of economic reforms percolates down more slowly to the agriculture sector than in other sectors of the economy.
The passage points out the contrast in growth from the 1980s to the 2000s. This period includes the era of significant economic reforms in India (early 1990s onwards). The non-agricultural sector showed consistent growth increase during this time, while agriculture stagnated after the 1980s. This observation strongly supports the idea that factors driving growth in the non-agricultural sector (possibly economic reforms) did not have the same positive or rapid impact on the agricultural sector. Therefore, this statement is a plausible corollary based on the described performance difference.
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For India, the green revolution was not as useful as it was expected to be.
The Green Revolution's main impact was largely felt in the late 1960s and 1970s. The passage focuses on the period from the 1980s onwards. The passage does not provide any information to evaluate the usefulness or expected outcomes of the Green Revolution. This statement cannot be inferred from the passage.
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India lagged behind other countries in adopting mechanized and modern farming.
The passage compares agricultural performance within India to non-agricultural performance within India. It does not make any comparison with other countries regarding farming practices or technology adoption. This statement is not supported by the passage.
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Rural-to-urban migration resulted in the stagnant agriculture sector.
The passage only states that the agriculture sector suffered relative stagnation after the 1980s. It does not provide any explanation or cause for this stagnation, such as migration. This statement is not supported by the passage.
Conclusion: Identifying the Best Corollary
Based on the analysis, only the first statement directly aligns with the observed divergence in growth patterns between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, especially considering the timeline which overlaps with major economic changes. The consistent growth in the non-agricultural sector contrasting with the stagnation in agriculture after the 1980s suggests that whatever factors propelled the non-agricultural sector forward (like benefits from economic reforms) either did not reach agriculture with the same force or speed, or agriculture faced other hindering factors not affecting the non-agricultural sector.
Therefore, the statement that the benefit of economic reforms percolates down more slowly to the agriculture sector than in other sectors of the economy is the best corollary to the passage.
| Sector | Growth in 1980s | Growth Post-1980s |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Highest decadal (3-5% CAGR) | Relative stagnation |
| Non-Agriculture | Increased consistently | Increased consistently (1980s to 2000s) |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Corollary | A direct consequence or conclusion that follows naturally from a proposition or problem. |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) | A measure of an investment's annual growth rate over time, with the effect of compounding taken into account. |
| Stagnation (economic context) | A period of little or no growth in an economy or sector. |
Additional Information: Economic Growth Disparities in India
The disparity in growth between agriculture and other sectors is a significant feature of India's economic development post-independence. Several factors contribute to this:
- Dependence on Monsoons: Agriculture is heavily reliant on weather patterns, making its output and growth volatile compared to industrial or service sectors.
- Land Holdings: Fragmentation of land holdings can hinder adoption of large-scale modern farming techniques.
- Infrastructure: While improving, rural infrastructure (irrigation, storage, supply chains, market access) can still lag behind what is needed for high, consistent growth.
- Access to Credit and Technology: Farmers, particularly smallholders, may face challenges in accessing affordable credit and the latest agricultural technology.
- Market Volatility: Prices for agricultural produce can be highly volatile, impacting farmer income and investment capacity.
- Policy Focus: While policies exist, the pace and effectiveness of implementing reforms targeted specifically at boosting agricultural productivity, market integration, and farmer incomes may differ from those impacting other sectors. Economic reforms in the 1990s, for instance, focused heavily on industrial deregulation, trade liberalization, and financial sector reforms, which might have provided a more immediate boost to non-agricultural sectors.
Understanding these factors helps explain why benefits from overall economic growth or reforms might 'percolate' more slowly or less effectively into the agricultural sector compared to others.
Similar Questions
Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. No country needs to depend on ecosystems to boost national income.
II. Resource-rich countries need to share their resources with those of scant resources so as to prevent the degradation of ecosystems.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. Path-dependent green investments will eventually most likely benefit growth as well as public finances in a country like India.
II. If other green technologies follow the same pattern as that of solar energy, there will most likely be an easy green transition.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Three prime numbers p, q and r, each less than 20, are such that p − q = q − r. How many distinct possible values can we get for (p + q + r)?
How many possible values of (p + q + r) are there satisfying 1/p + 1/q + 1/r = 1, where p, q and r are natural numbers (not necessarily distinct)?
What comes at X and Y respectively in the following sequence?
January, January, December, October, X, March, October, Y, SeptemberTeam X scored a total of N runs in 20 overs. Team Y tied the score in 10% less overs. Had Team Y’s average run rate (runs per over) been 50% higher, the scores would have been tied in 12 overs. How many runs were scored by Team X?
The price (p) of a commodity is first increased by k%; then decreased by k%; again increased by k%; and again decreased by k%. If the new price is q, then what is the relation between p and q?
Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and pragmatic message conveyed by the author of the passage?
Important Questions from Miscellaneous Topics
Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. No country needs to depend on ecosystems to boost national income.
II. Resource-rich countries need to share their resources with those of scant resources so as to prevent the degradation of ecosystems.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. Path-dependent green investments will eventually most likely benefit growth as well as public finances in a country like India.
II. If other green technologies follow the same pattern as that of solar energy, there will most likely be an easy green transition.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Three prime numbers p, q and r, each less than 20, are such that p − q = q − r. How many distinct possible values can we get for (p + q + r)?
