What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples. (2025, 10 Marks)

Paper	GS Paper 1
Word Limit	150 words
Syllabus Topic	Geography – Location of primary sector activities

Model Answer

Non-farm primary activities use natural resources directly, but without crop farming. They include mining, quarrying, fishing, forestry and animal rearing. Their location depends on physiography (relief, rocks, coast and climate).

Link with Physiographic Features

• Peninsular Plateau: Old Gondwana and Dharwar rocks hold coal and iron ore. Examples: coal at Jharia (Damodar valley), iron ore at Bailadila (Chhattisgarh).
• Coast and continental shelf: Marine fishing in Kerala and Gujarat. Offshore oil at Mumbai High on the shallow shelf.
• Himalaya and hills: Forestry, minor forest produce and transhumance (seasonal movement with herds) by Gaddis and Gujjar-Bakarwals.
• Thar Desert: Camel and sheep rearing by Raikas; salt from Sambhar Lake.
• Rivers and deltas: Inland and brackish-water fishing in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.

Conclusion

Physiography decides where these activities grow. Schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (2020) and District Mineral Foundations can make them sustainable and fair to local people.

Related PYQs

• Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (2021)
• Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India. (2018)
• Describing the distribution of rubber producing countries, indicate the major environmental issues faced by them. (2022)

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