Read the table on the worker-population ratio in India, 2023-24:
| Sex | Total | Rural | Urban |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 56.4 | 56.3 | 56.4 |
| Women | 30.7 | 34.8 | 20.7 |
Which of the following statements is correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Rural women have a higher worker-population ratio than urban women.
The table gives 34.8 for rural women and 20.7 for urban women. So rural women have the higher ratio: about 35 of every 100 rural women work, but only about 21 of every 100 urban women.
Option (1) Rural women have a higher worker-population ratio than urban women. — Correct. 34.8 is more than 20.7.
Option (2) Urban men have a lower worker-population ratio than rural men. — Incorrect. Urban men have 56.4, a little more than rural men’s 56.3.
Option (3) In rural areas, the ratio for women is less than half of that for men. — Incorrect. Half of 56.3 is about 28. Rural women’s 34.8 is more than half.
Option (4) The ratio for urban women is higher than the total ratio for women. — Incorrect. Urban women have 20.7, below the total of 30.7.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.3 Participation of People in Employment … Compared to females, more males are found to be working. The difference in participation rates is very large in urban areas: for every 100 urban females, only about 21 are engaged in some economic activities. In rural areas, for every 100 rural women about 35 participate in the employment market. …” |