Victor is able to get work only for two hours in a day. Rest of the day, he is looking for work. Is he unemployed? Why? What kind of jobs could persons like Victor be doing?
Yes, Victor is an unemployed worker. He works for two hours a day but a major portion of the day he is looking for work and is unemployed. This implies that he is an underemployed worker. The situation of underemployment refers to a situation in which a person gets work for lesser time than the time he actually can and wants to work. According to the National Sample Survey Statistics, a person who is employed for less than 28 hours in a week is called underemployed. Victor could do jobs that are part time in nature like dropping news papers, working in a restaurant, delivering couriers, bank tellers, etc.
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?
Is it necessary to generate employment in the formal sector rather than in the informal sector? Why?
An establishment with four hired workers is known as (formal/informal) sector establishment.
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?
What are the main characteristics of health of the people of our country?
Define the liberty indicator. Give some examples of liberty indicators.
‘There is a downward trend in inequality world-wide with a rise in the average education levels’. Comment.
Explain ‘growth with equity’ as a planning objective.
Is there any relationship between unemployment and poverty? Explain.
Give reasons for the slow growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan.
Critically evaluate the role of the rural banking system in the process of rural development in India.
Comment on the growth rate trends witnessed in China and India in the last two decades.
India has certain advantages which makes it a favourite outsourcing destination. What are these advantages?
Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India. India’s environmental problems pose a dichotomy — they are poverty induced and, at the same time, due to affluence in living standards — is this true?