economics
### **NIOS Economics (318) TMA Solved Questions**
#### **1. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40-60 words.**
**(a) "In spite of achieving remarkable progress in the economic growth of the country, India is still a developing economy". List out any four reasons.**
**Answer:** Despite significant economic growth, India is still considered a developing economy due to the following four reasons:
1. **Low Per Capita Income:** The average income per person remains significantly lower compared to developed nations.
2. **High Population Pressure:** Rapid population growth increases dependency and burdens existing resources.
3. **Widespread Poverty:** A considerable percentage of the population still lives below the poverty line without basic amenities.
4. **Dependence on Agriculture:** A large section of the workforce is still dependent on low-productivity agriculture for employment.
#### **2. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40 to 60 words.**
**(a) Your teacher has given instruction to use primary data in the project work for internal assessment as per guidelines provided by CBSE Board Examination. Following the instruction, list out various methods of collecting primary data.**
**Answer:** Primary data is original data collected for the first time by the investigator. The various methods of collecting primary data are:
1. **Direct Personal Investigation:** The investigator collects data by interviewing informants personally.
2. **Indirect Oral Investigation:** Information is gathered from third parties (witnesses) who possess the relevant data.
3. **Information from Local Sources:** Appointing local agents or correspondents to collect and send regular updates.
4. **Mailed Questionnaires:** Sending a list of questions to informants via email or post to fill out.
5. **Schedules Filled by Enumerators:** Trained enumerators assist informants in filling out the questionnaires.
#### **3. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40 to 60 words.**
**(a) "Agricultural sector is responsible to increase the extent of disguised unemployment in our economy." Explain the statement with example.**
**Answer:** Disguised unemployment is a situation where more workers are engaged in a job than actually required. In India, due to a lack of industrial jobs, entire families work on small agricultural landholdings.
**Example:** If a small piece of land requires only 4 workers for optimal production, but 7 family members are working on it, the 3 additional workers are disguisedly unemployed. Their marginal productivity is zero, meaning their removal will not affect total output.
#### **4. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100 to 150 words.**
**(b) "Statistics plays a very important role in the field of economics. There is need of statistical data in every walk of life..." Taking the concept into your consideration, explain need and scope of statistics.**
**Answer:** **Need for Statistics in Economics:**
Statistics is the backbone of economic analysis. It is needed to formulate government policies, understand core economic problems (like inflation, poverty, and unemployment), and test economic theories. Quantitative information helps in making accurate comparisons and accurate future predictions.
**Scope of Statistics:**
The scope of statistics is vast and can be understood in terms of:
1. **Nature of Statistics:** Statistics is both a science (as it uses systematic, logical methods) and an art (as it applies these methods to solve real-world problems).
2. **Subject Matter:** It includes **Descriptive Statistics** (collection, presentation, and summarization of data) and **Inferential Statistics** (drawing conclusions about a large group based on a small sample).
3. **Applications:** Statistics is heavily used in Economic Planning, Business Administration, Quality Control, and Policy formulation by governments across the world.
#### **5. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100 to 150 words.**
**(a) Positive economics relates to the phenomenon of 'what is' which is based on facts whereas Normative economics deals with the issue of 'what ought to be' and is based on value judgment. Elaborate the statement with suitable example.**
**Answer:** **Positive Economics:**
Positive economics describes economic facts and relationships exactly as they are ("what is"). It avoids any moral judgment, deals with objective analysis, and its statements can be verified using real-world data.
* **Example:** "The current unemployment rate in India has reached 6.5%." This statement can be proven true or false by checking statistical data.
**Normative Economics:**
Normative economics deals with opinions, ethics, and value judgments regarding what the economy should look like ("what ought to be"). It offers recommendations, and its statements cannot be tested for factual correctness.
* **Example:** "The government should provide free healthcare and education to all citizens to reduce inequality." This is an opinion or value judgment on what policy should be implemented.
#### **6. Prepare project any one of the topics given below-**
**(a) Prepare a Project work on 'The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)' introduced by the Govt. under the structure of following headings-**
**Answer:** * **Introduction:**
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), passed in 2005, is a historic labor law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work' in rural parts of India.
* **Meaning and Present Situation of Employment in Recent Years:**
MGNREGS guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. In recent years, post-pandemic, the demand for MGNREGS work has risen significantly, serving as a vital economic safety net for migrant workers returning to villages.
* **Brief Description of MGNREGS:**
The scheme is managed by Gram Panchayats. It mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries must be women. Wages are paid directly into bank accounts to prevent corruption, and work must be provided within 15 days of application, failing which an unemployment allowance is given.
* **Objectives and Relevance of the Scheme in the Context of Indian Economy:**
1. **Livelihood Security:** It provides immediate purchasing power to the rural poor.
2. **Asset Creation:** It focuses on sustainable works like water conservation, afforestation, and building rural roads.
3. **Stopping Distress Migration:** It helps reduce the forced migration of rural workers into overcrowded cities.
* **Conclusion and Suggestions:**
MGNREGS has successfully empowered rural women and improved rural infrastructure. However, challenges like delayed wage payments and corruption still exist. To improve it, the government should increase the guaranteed days to 150 and link wages with inflation rates.
