Multiple choice

Weak monsoon will have adverse effect on GDP even though non-agricultural sector activities may continue to be the same.

Directions: A passage is given below which is followed by several possible inferences that can be drawn from the facts states in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity. 

The performance of India agriculture is largely dependent on amount of rainfall across the country. A substantive part of the cultivable land is dependent on irrigation which is directly related to monsoon. However, agriculture and allied activities account for less than even one-fourth of the total GDP. The component of the manufacturing sector that depends on agriculture for the supply of intermediates is not very high, which suggests that the structure of industrialization has changed over the years. Several components of the tertiary sector that are crucial for the growth of the rest of the economy have grown sizably, thanks to IT ad BPO. So it is less likely that aggregate economic growth will be adversely affected if rainfall is scanty. Yet, a somewhat different picture emerges if we look deeper into the matter. Still, a very significant chunk of the population and workforce depends on agriculture for its livelihood. A decline in agriculture reduces per capita food availability, which in turn, pulls down the standard of living

  1. If the inference is 'Definitely True' i.e. it properly follows from the given facts.

  2. If the inference is 'Probably True' though not 'definitely true' in the light of facts given.

  3. If the 'Data are Inadequate' i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.

  4. If the inference is 'Probably False' though not 'definitely false' in the light of the facts given.

  5. If the inference is 'Definitely False' i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While the passage suggests weak monsoon is 'less likely' to affect aggregate GDP growth, it also acknowledges that reduced agriculture impacts standard of living. However, the passage doesn't provide specific quantitative data about how weak monsoon would affect GDP if non-agricultural activities remained constant - it only says the adverse effect is 'less likely' not that it won't occur.

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