Question

The rate of growth of the Indian Agriculture sector in the year 2020-21 was _______ per cent.

• A. 4.6
• B. 3.0
• C. 3.6
• D. 2.1

Hint:

Remember that the agricultural sector was the only major sector of the Indian economy to post positive growth during the peak pandemic year of 2020-21.
Memorizing this outlier figure of \( 3.6\% \) is highly useful for competitive examinations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Tracking sectoral growth rates is a core component of agricultural economics and national policy evaluation.
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), publishes these annual growth figures in the Economic Survey.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The year 2020-21 was highly unique due to the global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While most sectors of the Indian economy experienced a sharp contraction, the agriculture and allied activities sector showed remarkable resilience.
Supported by a favorable monsoon, timely government interventions, and robust sowing during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons, the agriculture sector recorded a growth rate of \( 3.6\% \) at constant prices.
This positive growth acted as a critical safety net for the national economy, absorbing surplus labor from urban areas and maintaining food security across the country.
Other sectors, such as manufacturing and services, contracted significantly during the same period, highlighting the structural importance of a robust agricultural foundation during crises.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The growth rate of the Indian Agriculture sector in 2020-21 was \( 3.6\% \).