UPSC CSE Mains 2025

Possible Introductions 

Definition-based intro

Primary activities are those directly dependent on natural resources. While farming dominates, non-farm primary activities include fishing, forestry, mining, quarrying, and animal rearing, which are equally crucial for rural livelihoods.

Current relevance intro

The Economic Survey 2023-24 notes that Indian economy needs to generate an average of nearly 78.5 lakh jobs annually until 2030 in the non-farm sector to cater to the rising workforce.

Philosophical intro

India’s physiographic diversity — from Himalayas to coastal plains — creates a natural base for diverse non-farm livelihoods, reflecting how geography shapes economy.

Directive Analysis

“What are” → definition + scope of non-farm primary activities.
“How related to physiographic features” → show spatial linkages.
“Discuss with examples” → illustrate with case studies.

Main Body

1. What are Non-Farm Primary Activities?

Economic activities extracting or directly using natural resources but not cultivation-based.

• Examples: forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, animal husbandry, pastoralism, hunting, gathering minor forest produce.

2. Relation with Physiographic Features of India

(a) Mountains & Forested Regions

• • Provide timber, fuelwood, medicinal plants, resin, bamboo.
  • Example: Himalayan forests → apple orchards + timber in Himachal, pine resin in Uttarakhand.
  • Tribal livelihoods in Central India depend on tendu leaves, lac, mahua.

(b) Plateaus & Mineral-Rich Regions

• • Mining & quarrying linked with Deccan plateau and Chotanagpur plateau.
  • Example: Iron ore in Odisha-Jharkhand belt, bauxite in Koraput, limestone in Chhattisgarh.
  • Stone quarrying in Rajasthan → marble and sandstone industry.

(c) Coastal Plains & Islands

• • Rich in fishing and aquaculture.
  • Example: Kerala backwaters → shrimp farming; Gujarat & Andhra → major marine fish producers.
  • Lakshadweep & Andaman islands → tuna, prawns, coconut-based activities.

(d) Arid & Semi-Arid Regions

• • Suit pastoralism, animal husbandry.
  • Example: Rajasthan → camel rearing, goat rearing; Gujarat’s Kutch → sheep rearing for wool.
  • Dairy belt in Gujarat-Maharashtra (Amul model).

(e) River Valleys & Floodplains

• • Fishing, sand quarrying from Ganga, Brahmaputra.
  • Example: Bihar → inland fisheries; Assam → riverine fishing.

3. Significance of Non-Farm Primary Activities

• • Provide supplementary income to farmers.
  • Reduce seasonal unemployment in agriculture.
  • Strengthen regional economies (e.g., mining royalties, fishing exports).

Flowchart (Text Form)

Physiographic Region → Non-Farm Activity → Example

• • Himalayas → Forestry, orchard farming → Himachal apple economy
  • Plateau → Mining, quarrying → Odisha iron ore
  • Coast → Fishing, aquaculture → Kerala shrimp, Gujarat fish
  • Desert → Pastoralism → Rajasthan camels
  • River plains → Inland fishing, sand quarrying → Bihar, Assam

Possible Conclusions

Balanced

Non-farm primary activities, shaped by India’s physiography, are vital in diversifying rural livelihoods and reducing pressure on land.

Policy-based

Schemes like Blue Revolution, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, and National Mineral Policy seek to optimize these physiography-linked activities sustainably.

Philosophical

As geography dictates economy, India’s physiographic variety ensures livelihood resilience beyond farming, embodying a symbiosis of nature and society.

Forward-looking

Integrating non-farm activities with value chains, cooperatives, and eco-friendly policies can transform them into engines of sustainable rural development.