All economic activities namely primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, revolve around obtaining and utilising resources necessary for survival. Secondary activities add value to natural resources by transforming raw materials into valuable products. Cotton in the boll has limited use but after it is transformed into yarn, becomes more valuable and can be used for making clothes. Iron ore, cannot be used; directly from the mines, but after being converted into steel it gets its value and can be used for making many valuable machines, tools, etc. The same is true of most of the materials from the farm, forest, mine and the sea. Secondary activities, therefore, are concerned with manufacturing, processing and construction (infrastructure) industries.

Which of the following is NOT an example of secondary activity ?

Education industry

The correct answer is Option 2: Education industry

Option 1: Infrastructure industry. This is related to construction and industrial development, which comes under secondary activities.

Option 2: Manufacturing industry. Manufacturing is a major secondary activity because it converts raw materials into finished goods.

Option 3: Education industry. Education belongs to the tertiary or service sector, not the secondary sector.

Option 4: Iron and steel industry. This is a manufacturing industry and therefore a secondary activity.