Read the passage and answer the following question:
Pastoral nomadism is associated with three important regions. The core region extends from the Atlantic shores of North Africa eastwards across the Arabian Peninsula into Mongolia and Central China. The second region extends over the tundra region of Eurasia. In the southern hemisphere there are small areas in South-West Africa and on the island of Madagascar.
A wide variety of animals is kept in different regions. In tropical Africa, cattle are the most important livestock, while in Sahara and Asiatic deserts, sheep, goats and camel are reared. In the mountainous areas of Tibet and Andes, yak and llamas and in the Arctic and sub Arctic areas, reindeer are the most important animals.
Movement in search of pastures is undertaken either over vast horizontal distances or vertically from one elevation to another in the mountainous regions. The process of migration from plain areas to pastures on mountains during summers and again from mountain pastures to plain areas during winters is known as transhumance. In mountain regions, such as Himalayas, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis and Bhotiyas migrate from plains to the mountains in summers and to the plains from the high altitude pastures in winters. Similarly, in the tundra regions, the nomadic herders move from south to north in summers and from north to south in winters.
The number of pastoral nomads has been decreasing and the areas operated by them shrinking. This is due to (a) imposition of political boundaries; (b) new settlement plans by different countries.
Pastoral nomadism is a ________ .
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Primary activity
Primary activities depend directly on the environment. They use the earth’s resources such as land, water and vegetation, and they include pastoral activities. Pastoral nomads rear animals on natural pastures and move with them in search of grass and water.
Option (1) Primary activity — Correct. Nomadic herding is a primitive subsistence activity. The herders live directly on their animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools and transport.
Option (2) Secondary activity — Incorrect. Secondary activities process raw materials into more valuable products, as in manufacturing and construction. A nomad herding animals does not process anything.
Option (3) Quinary activity — Incorrect. Quinary activities are done by the highest level of decision makers and policy makers.
Option (4) Tertiary activity — Incorrect. Tertiary activities provide services, such as trade, transport and the work of teachers and doctors.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 05-06-2023 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2026-27): “Human activities which generate income are known as economic activities. Economic activities are broadly grouped into primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities. Primary activities are directly dependent on environment as these refer to utilisation of earth’s resources such as land, water, vegetation, building materials and minerals. It, thus includes, hunting and gathering, pastoral activities, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and mining and quarrying.” “Nomadic Herding … Nomadic herding or pastoral nomadism is a primitive subsistence activity, in which the herders rely on animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools and transport. They move from one place to another along with their livestock, depending on the amount and quality of pastures and water.” |