What is an economy?
An economy is a money-based system involving the production of goods and services and enabling people to earn their incomes.
The term “economy” refers to the system that governs the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within a region or country. It encompasses various factors, including the management of resources, the creation of wealth, and the overall financial well-being of individuals and businesses.
In a broader sense, the economy represents the interactions and transactions that occur between individuals, businesses, and governments. It involves the production of goods and services, the allocation of resources, the establishment of prices, and the exchange of value through markets.
About Indian economy
“India’s GDP has reached $3.75 trillion in 2023, from around $2 trillion in 2014; moving from 10th largest to 5th largest economy in the world. The country’s diverse economic landscape encompasses various sectors, each playing a crucial role in shaping its growth trajectory.
The three key sectors of the Indian economy are the Primary sector, Secondary sector, and Tertiary sector. dominated by Agriculture. By exploring their significance, contribution to the GDP, employment generation, and major challenges, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of these sectors and their impact on India’s overall economic progress.
Primary Sector
- The primary sector involves the direct utilization of natural resources and includes activities such as agriculture, mining, fishing, forestry, dairy, and related industries.
- It serves as the foundation for all other sectors of the economy and is therefore called the primary sector.
- In India, approximately 54.6 percent of the workforce is engaged in agricultural and allied sector activities. Agriculture, along with fisheries and forestry, contributes one-third of the country’s GDP.
- India is a significant player in the agricultural sector, being the second-largest producer of groundnuts, wheat, sugar, freshwater fish, and milk globally.
- The primary sector is also known as the Agriculture and Allied Sector because it encompasses agriculture, dairy, forestry, and fishing, which provide the majority of the natural resources consumed. However, this sector faces challenges of underemployment and disguised employment.
Secondary sector
- The secondary sector is comprised of industries that take raw materials obtained from the primary sector and transform them into finished goods. This includes activities such as industrial production, manufacturing of cotton fabric, and sugar cane production.
- Unlike the primary sector, which focuses on extracting natural resources, the secondary sector is primarily concerned with the manufacturing of goods. It is commonly known as the industrial sector due to its involvement in various types of industries.
- Blue-collar employees are typically engaged in the activities of the secondary sector. However, it is worth noting that the contribution of the industrial sector has been experiencing a consistent decline since the fiscal year 2011-12.
Service sector
- The tertiary sector encompasses the services provided in the economy, focusing on intangible offerings rather than tangible goods.
- In the Indian economy, the significance of the services sector has remained stable, with the sector now accounting for more than 54 percent of the economy and nearly four-fifths of total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.
- The activities within the tertiary sector contribute to the growth and development of both the primary and secondary sectors. While they don’t produce goods themselves, they play a crucial role in supporting and facilitating production.
- The sector includes services such as the transportation of goods by trucks or trains, as well as banking, insurance, and finance, among others.
- Similar to the secondary sector, the tertiary sector adds value to products, albeit in a different manner. Jobs within this sector are commonly referred to as white-collar jobs, reflecting the nature of the work involved.
Agriculture Sector of India
The agriculture sector has long been the backbone of the Indian economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing to food security. Some key aspects of the agriculture sector:
- Contribution to GDP and Employment Generation: Agriculture contributes around 15-16% to India’s GDP. It remains the largest employer in the country, employing more than 50% of the workforce. The sector encompasses various sub-sectors, including crop production, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, and forestry.
- Technological Advancements: The agriculture sector has witnessed technological advancements aimed at increasing productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and improving the livelihoods of farmers. Initiatives like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana have promoted the adoption of modern agricultural practices, irrigation systems, and farm mechanization.
- Government Support and Reforms: The Indian government has introduced several reforms and policies to support the agriculture sector. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, crop insurance schemes, and e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) are notable initiatives aimed at enhancing farmers’ income, ensuring fair prices, and improving market access.
- Challenges: The agriculture sector faces various challenges, including fragmented landholdings, lack of access to credit and markets, unpredictable weather patterns, and low value addition. There is a need for investments in infrastructure, research and development, and farmer education to address these challenges effectively.
Manufacturing Sector
The manufacturing sector is a key driver of economic growth, employment generation, and export earnings for India. It encompasses various industries such as automobiles, textiles, chemicals, and electronics. Some noteworthy aspects of the Indian manufacturing sector:
- Contribution to GDP and Employment Generation: Manufacturing contributes around 16-17% to India’s GDP. It plays a vital role in providing employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas. According to government data, the sector employs over 100 million people, making it a significant contributor to the nation’s workforce.
- Make in India Initiative: The Indian government launched the “Make in India” initiative in 2014 to boost domestic manufacturing and attract foreign direct investment (FDI). The program aims to facilitate a favorable business environment, encourage innovation, and develop a robust infrastructure to enhance manufacturing capabilities.
- Focus on Advanced Manufacturing: India is progressively transitioning towards advanced manufacturing, embracing automation, robotics, and digital technologies. This shift aims to improve productivity, product quality, and competitiveness in the global market. Initiatives such as Industry 4.0 and the National Policy for Advanced Manufacturing are driving this transformation.
- Challenges: The manufacturing sector faces various challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, complex regulations, high logistics costs, and skill gaps. Addressing these challenges is crucial to unleash the full potential of the sector and achieve sustainable growth.
Information Technology (IT) Sector
The Information Technology sector has emerged as a powerhouse of the Indian economy, driving growth, innovation, and job creation. India’s IT industry has evolved from a mere outsourcing hub to a global IT services provider, offering cutting-edge solutions and software development expertise. Some key facts and figures regarding the IT sector in India:
- Contribution to GDP and Employment Generation: The IT sector contributes significantly to India’s GDP, accounting for approximately 8% of the country’s total GDP. In the fiscal year 2020-2021, the IT and business process management industry generated revenue of USD 194 billion. It also employs around 4.5 million professionals directly and indirectly, making it one of the largest employment generators in the country.
- Global Leadership: India’s IT sector has garnered global recognition for its expertise, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Indian IT companies have a strong presence in international markets, with clients from various sectors across the globe. Companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro have established themselves as global leaders in the IT domain.
- Digital Transformation and Innovation: The IT sector in India has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation across industries. It has facilitated the adoption of new technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, among others. Indian IT firms have been instrumental in developing innovative solutions that have transformed businesses and improved operational efficiency globally.
- Challenges: Despite its remarkable growth, the IT sector faces several challenges. These include the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling of professionals to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies, address data security concerns, and stay competitive in a dynamic global market.
Why did India shift from the primary sector to the services sector and not the secondary sector?
- Demographic Advantage: India has a large and growing population, which serves as a significant advantage in the services sector. The availability of a vast labor force with diverse skill sets has enabled the country to tap into the growing demand for services, both domestically and globally.
- Knowledge and Information Technology: India possesses a strong base of skilled professionals in fields such as information technology, software development, engineering, research, and other knowledge-based services. This expertise has allowed India to become a global hub for outsourcing and offshoring services, including IT services, business process outsourcing, call centers, and more.
- Low-Cost Service Provider: India’s relatively lower labor costs compared to developed countries have attracted international companies seeking cost-effective solutions. This cost advantage, coupled with the availability of skilled manpower, has made India an attractive destination for outsourced services.
- Slow growth in the secondary sector: The “License Raj,” which imposed excessive regulations and bureaucratic hurdles, hindered the growth of industries. Restrictions on foreign investment and a lack of measures to promote private industry also constrained growth in the secondary sector. Power deficit, stringent labor laws, scarcity of skilled labor, delays in land acquisition and environmental clearances, as well as the import of cheap manufactured goods, have further contributed to the challenges faced by the secondary sector.
- Economic Reforms: The economic reforms initiated in the early 1990s played a significant role in promoting the services sector. Liberalization policies, deregulation, and opening up of the Indian economy led to increased foreign investment, technological advancements, and market-oriented reforms, all of which stimulated the growth of the services sector.
- Changing Consumer Demand: As India underwent rapid urbanization and witnessed a rise in disposable incomes, there was a surge in demand for services such as banking, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, entertainment, and hospitality. The services sector was better suited to cater to these evolving consumer needs.
Other Sectors in India’s Economy
Based on Work Conditions:
- Organized Sector: In the organized sector, employment terms are well-defined and consistent, providing workers with job security and social security benefits. This sector operates under government registration and is subject to various laws. It includes institutions such as schools and hospitals. Employees in the organized sector have set working hours, and any additional hours worked must be compensated with overtime pay.
- Unorganized Sector: Workers in the unorganized sector include home-based workers, self-employed individuals, wage workers not covered by welfare schemes listed in Schedule-II of the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008, and those in the organized sector who are not covered by such schemes. Employment in the unorganized sector is often transient and seasonal, with businesses scattered across different locations. These workers typically lack union representation, face low wages, irregular employment, and limited protection from legislation. The unorganized sector relies on labor-intensive and locally developed technologies. Due to the dispersed nature of this sector, the implementation and enforcement of labor laws are often inadequate, and there is a lack of union presence.
However, despite the challenges, the unorganized sector makes a significant contribution to national income, accounting for more than 60% of it, while the organized sector contributes about half of that, depending on the industry.
Based on Assets Ownership:
- Public Sector: The public sector is characterized by the majority ownership of assets by the government. It is responsible for providing various governmental services and is funded through taxes and other means. The primary objective of the public sector is not profit-making but rather serving the public interest.
- Private Sector: In the private sector, asset ownership and service delivery are in the hands of private individuals or organizations. Also known as the citizen sector, it is usually driven by profit motives and regulated by the government. Private individuals and companies offer services in exchange for payment, reflecting the market-oriented nature of this sector.
