In the Indian context, most employment in agriculture is generally classified under which of the following types of sector?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: The unorganised sector with informal work arrangements

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
In India, the labour force is often divided into organised and unorganised sectors. The organised sector includes large firms, government departments, and institutions that follow formal labour laws and provide job security and social benefits. The unorganised sector consists of small and informal units where employment arrangements are often casual and unregulated. Agriculture is a major source of employment in India, and this question asks under which sector it usually falls.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Agriculture in India is dominated by small and marginal farms rather than large corporate farms.
  • Many agricultural workers are seasonal or casual labourers hired for sowing, weeding, and harvesting.
  • Formal written employment contracts, provident fund benefits, and social security schemes are generally absent for most farm workers.
  • Organised sector employment is more common in factories, large service firms, and government offices.
  • We are focusing on typical agricultural employment, not a few exceptional corporate farms.


Concept / Approach:
The unorganised sector refers to all economic activities that are not covered by comprehensive labour regulations and where workers usually do not receive standard employment benefits. In agriculture, most workers are either self employed farmers or hired labourers who work without written contracts, fixed hours, or formal social security. Their employment is often vulnerable to weather, price fluctuations, and seasonal demand. Because of these characteristics, agriculture in India is generally classified under the unorganised sector rather than the organised sector or the modern service sector.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the definition of organised sector as enterprises registered and regulated by government labour laws with systematic record keeping and worker benefits.Step 2: Recall the definition of unorganised sector as small and informal activities with little or no formal regulation and limited worker protection.Step 3: Examine typical agricultural employment, where small farmers and casual labourers dominate, written contracts are rare, and benefits such as provident fund and paid leave are uncommon.Step 4: Observe that these features match the unorganised sector characteristics.Step 5: Note that agriculture is not part of the modern service sector and that semi organised is not a standard classification in basic textbooks.Step 6: Conclude that most agricultural employment in India belongs to the unorganised sector.


Verification / Alternative check:
Reports on employment and labour in India from official agencies and textbooks stress that a large majority of the workforce is in the unorganised sector, especially in agriculture and small scale enterprises. They highlight issues such as lack of job security, low wages, and absence of social security in farming and allied activities. Organised agricultural employment is limited to a small number of plantations and corporate farms, which are exceptions rather than the rule. This supports the conclusion that agriculture is predominantly unorganised.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a refers to the organised sector with formal contracts and full social security; this does not describe most farm employment in India. The modern service sector, option b, includes information technology, finance, and other services rather than primary agriculture. Semi organised sector in option d is not a standard category in basic economic classification. Option e refers to state owned public enterprises, which are more common in industries like power, steel, and transport, not in typical farming operations.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse sector classifications based on activity such as primary, secondary, and tertiary with classifications based on organisation such as organised and unorganised. Agriculture is a primary sector activity but is also largely part of the unorganised sector in terms of employment conditions. To avoid confusion, it is important to distinguish between what is produced and how employment is organised.


Final Answer:
In India, most employment in agriculture comes under the unorganised sector with informal work arrangements.

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