Economy : Basic Economic Concepts

Q 4 / 14

UPSC CSE Prelims 2022

Which of the following activities constitute real sector in the economy ?

  1. Farmers harvesting their crops
  2. Textile mills converting raw cotton into fabrics
  3. A commercial bank lending money to a trading company
  4. A corporate body issuing Rupee Denominated Bonds overseas
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

The real sector of an economy encompasses activities related to the production and consumption of goods and services. It includes primary activities like agriculture, secondary activities like manufacturing, and tertiary activities like services that directly contribute to the output of tangible goods or services.

  • Statement 1: Farmers harvesting their crops constitutes an agricultural activity, which is a primary sector activity and a fundamental component of the real sector.
  • Statement 2: Textile mills converting raw cotton into fabrics is a manufacturing process, belonging to the secondary sector, and is therefore a real sector activity.

Incorrect Options

  • Statement 3: A commercial bank lending money to a trading company is an activity of the financial sector. The financial sector facilitates economic transactions by providing credit, investment, and other financial services, but it does not directly produce goods or non-financial services.
  • Statement 4: A corporate body issuing Rupee Denominated Bonds overseas is a financial market activity. It involves raising capital through financial instruments, which is a function of the financial sector, not the direct production of goods or services in the real economy.

Therefore, only activities 1 and 2 represent the real sector. Options (2), (3), and (4) are incorrect as they include financial sector activities (3 and 4) or exclude real sector activities (2).

SOURCEIndian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Chapter 1: Introduction to Economics