Which of the following country has followed the classical development pattern of gradual shift from agriculture to manufacturing and then to services?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → China
As a country develops, its people usually move first out of agriculture into industry (manufacturing), and only later into services. This normal course is the classical development pattern, and China has followed it: its industry has grown fast and today accounts for a large share of both output and employment.
India and Pakistan took a different path, moving directly from agriculture to the service sector: their industry employs only about a quarter of the workforce, while services contribute the largest share of their GDP.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 15-05 S1 24-05 S1 | – | – | – | – |
NCERT (2025-26): “8.4 Gross Domestic Product Sectors … In the normal course of development, countries first shift their employment and output from agriculture to Industry and then to services. This is what is happening in China as can be seen from Table 8.3. The proportion of workforce engaged in industry in India and Pakistan was low at 25 per cent. The contribution of industries to GDP is at 29 per cent in India and 20 per cent in Pakistan. In these countries, the shift is taking place directly to the service sector. Thus, in all the three countries the service sector is emerging as a major player of development. It contributes more to GDP and, at the same time, emerges as a prospective employer.…” |