Three men live in the same lane in Lucknow. Asif works at a printing press and is paid the same amount at the end of every month. Gopal mends fans and coolers at a small stall of his own and charges whoever calls him. Iqbal waits at the mandi gate each morning and loads trucks for whichever trader hires him that day. Their children, who study economics in college, are asked to find out how common each kind of work is in India and in richer countries.
Which of the following statements about workers in India is correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Over half work like Gopal, and about a quarter work like Asif
Option (1) Over half work like Asif, and about a quarter work like Iqbal — Incorrect. Asif draws a fixed monthly pay, which is regular salaried employment. Only about 24% of workers do such work, so the first part fails.
Option (2) Over half work like Asif, and about a quarter work like Gopal — Incorrect. Asif's regular salaried work covers only about 24% of workers. It is Gopal's kind of work, self-employment, that covers over half.
Option (3) Over half work like Iqbal, and about a quarter work like Gopal — Incorrect. Iqbal is a casual labourer, and casual labour covers about 24% of workers. Gopal's self-employment covers over half of all workers.
Option (4) Over half work like Gopal, and about a quarter work like Asif — Correct. Gopal runs his own stall, so he is self-employed, like over 52% of Indian workers. Asif's fixed monthly pay is regular salaried employment, which covers about 24%.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Specificity of Indian Industrialisation … |