Class 12 : Grography (English) – Lesson 6. Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
🔵 Introduction
🌍 Geography not only studies land and people but also the ways humans earn their livelihood. After primary and secondary activities, tertiary and quaternary activities form the backbone of the modern economy, providing services and knowledge-based functions that support production, trade, and development.
💡 Concept:
Tertiary activities = Service sector activities
Quaternary activities = Knowledge-based, information-driven services
✏️ Note: This chapter focuses on how services and knowledge drive the global economy. Highlighted boxes and tables from NCERT are excluded.
🟢 Tertiary Activities – The Service Sector
➡️ These are activities that provide services to people and industries rather than goods.
➡️ They include trade, transport, communication, banking, education, health, and tourism.
✨ Key Features:
1️⃣ Non-tangible output (services, not products)
2️⃣ Highly dependent on demand and urbanization
3️⃣ Labour intensive, requiring skilled and semi-skilled workers
4️⃣ Growing importance with globalization
💡 Examples: Transport, communication, education, tourism, and healthcare.
🟣 Types of Tertiary Activities
🔹 1. Trade and Commerce:
🧭 Buying and selling of goods. Includes local, national, and international trade.
✈️ Example: Export-import business, retail shops.
🔹 2. Transport:
🚆 Movement of goods and people through land, air, water, pipelines.
📍 Backbone of economic linkages.
🔹 3. Communication:
📱 Sharing of ideas/information through phones, internet, satellites.
⚡ Enables global connectivity.
🔹 4. Services:
🏦 Includes banking, insurance, education, medical, administration, legal services.
💰 Contributes significantly to GDP.
🔹 5. Tourism:
🌄 A growing sector providing employment, income, and cultural exchange.
🔵 Importance of Tertiary Sector
✔️ Supports primary and secondary sectors
✔️ Generates large-scale employment
✔️ Enhances efficiency of production and distribution
✔️ Improves standard of living
✔️ Drives globalization and economic growth
💡 Concept: A service-based economy indicates a high level of development.
🟢 Quaternary Activities – Knowledge Sector
➡️ These involve intellectual and knowledge-based services.
➡️ Workers here use technology and specialized knowledge rather than manual labour.
📘 Examples:
Research and development (R&D)
Information technology (IT)
Financial planning
Education and consulting
Data analysis
⚙️ Characteristics:
1️⃣ Highly skilled professionals
2️⃣ High income, global demand
3️⃣ Location often near urban tech hubs
4️⃣ Core driver of innovation and modernization
💡 Concept: Known as the “Brain of the Economy” — provides ideas, not goods.
🟡 Difference Between Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
🔹 Basis Tertiary Quaternary
📦 Output Services (transport, trade) Knowledge (IT, R&D)
💡 Nature Service-oriented Information-oriented
🧑🏭 Labour Skilled/Semi-skilled Highly skilled
📍 Location Urban centres Tech/education hubs
🎯 Role Supports production Drives innovation
🔴 Emergence of Quinary Activities
🌟 Quinary = High-level decision-making
🏛️ Includes top executives, policymakers, government officials.
💬 These people make crucial strategic and administrative decisions.
💡 Examples: CEOs, ministers, judges, senior scientists.
🟢 Factors Affecting Location of Services
✔️ Population density – more demand in urban areas
✔️ Connectivity – well-developed transport and communication
✔️ Technology – digital infrastructure
✔️ Economic development – ability to pay for services
🟣 Global Patterns of Services
🌍 Developed nations = high share of tertiary & quaternary sectors
🌍 Developing nations = growing service sector, still reliant on primary
📈 Example: India’s IT sector has become globally competitive, contributing majorly to GDP.
🔵 Role in Economic Development
⚡ Transition from agrarian → industrial → service economy
📊 Reflects high Human Development Index (HDI)
📈 Enhances productivity and living standards
💡 Concept: Service sector = indicator of modernization.
🟢 Real-life Applications
Banking & Finance: Enables business growth
Healthcare & Education: Improves human capital
IT & Research: Creates innovation
Tourism & Hospitality: Generates employment
✨ Summary
📘 Tertiary activities involve services like trade, transport, communication, banking, education, and health that support other sectors.
📘 Quaternary activities deal with information, research, and knowledge-based functions like IT, R&D, consulting, and financial planning.
📘 Growth of service sector indicates economic progress and modernization.
📘 Quinary activities handle top-level decision-making in administration, business, and governance.
📘 Together, these activities build a strong, innovation-driven economy.
📝 Quick Recap:
🔹 Tertiary = Service sector
🔹 Quaternary = Knowledge sector
🔹 Quinary = Decision-making sector
🔹 Developed economies = dominance of tertiary + quaternary
🔹 India’s IT and services = key to GDP growth
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QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK
🔵 Question 1(i): Which one of the following is a tertiary activity?
🔴 (a) Farming
🟢 (b) Trading
🟡 (c) Weaving
🔵 (d) Hunting
🟢 Answer: (b) Trading
🔵 Question 1(ii): Which one of the following activities is NOT a secondary sector activity?
🔴 (a) Iron Smelting
🟢 (b) Catching fish
🟡 (c) Making garments
🔵 (d) Basket Weaving
🟢 Answer: (b) Catching fish
🔵 Question 1(iii): Which one of the following sectors provides most of the employment in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata?
🔴 (a) Primary
🟢 (b) Quaternary
🟡 (c) Secondary
🔵 (d) Service
🟢 Answer: (d) Service
🔵 Question 1(iv): Jobs that involve high degrees and level of innovations are known as:
🔴 (a) Secondary activities
🟢 (b) Quaternary activities
🟡 (c) Quinary activities
🔵 (d) Primary activities
🟢 Answer: (b) Quaternary activities
🔵 Question 1(v): Which one of the following activities is related to quaternary sector?
🔴 (a) Manufacturing computers
🟢 (b) Paper and Raw pulp production
🟡 (c) University teaching
🔵 (d) Printing books
🟢 Answer: (c) University teaching
🔵 Question 1(vi): Which one out of the following statements is not true?
🔴 (a) Outsourcing reduces costs and increases efficiency.
🟢 (b) At times engineering and manufacturing jobs can also be outsourced.
🟡 (c) BPOs have better business opportunities as compared to KPOs.
🔵 (d) There may be dissatisfaction among job seekers in the countries that outsource the job.
🟢 Answer: (c) BPOs have better business opportunities as compared to KPOs.
🔵 Question 2(i): Explain retail trading service.
🟢 Answer:
🛍️ Retail trading service involves the sale of goods directly to consumers.
🏬 It includes shops, stores, and online markets that sell products in small quantities.
📦 Retailers act as a link between producers and final consumers, providing convenience and availability.
🔵 Question 2(ii): Describe quaternary services.
🟢 Answer:
💡 Quaternary services involve knowledge-based and information-oriented activities.
📚 These include research, education, consulting, IT, and financial planning.
🧠 They require highly skilled professionals and drive innovation and development.
🔵 Question 2(iii): Name the fast emerging countries of medical tourism in the world.
🟢 Answer:
✈️ India, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are the fast-emerging nations.
🏥 These countries offer high-quality healthcare at affordable costs.
🌍 They attract international patients for surgeries, therapies, and wellness programs.
🔵 Question 2(iv): What is digital divide?
🟢 Answer:
💻 Digital divide refers to the gap between people who have access to digital technologies (like internet, computers, smartphones) and those who do not.
🌍 It creates inequality in information access, education, and employment opportunities.
⚡ Bridging this divide is essential for inclusive development.
🔵 Question 3(i): Discuss the significance and growth of the service sector in modern economic development.
🟢 Answer:
🌍 The service sector plays a vital role in economic growth, employment, and globalization.
💰 It contributes a major share of GDP in both developed and developing countries.
🏦 Services like banking, transport, education, health, tourism, and IT have expanded rapidly.
📈 Globalization, urbanization, and rising incomes have led to higher demand for services.
🧠 Knowledge-based services and outsourcing industries (like BPOs and KPOs) have boosted productivity.
🎯 The growth of the service sector is an indicator of modernization and development.
🔵 Question 3(ii): Explain in detail the significance of transport and communication services.
🟢 Answer:
🚆 Transport connects producers to markets, raw materials to industries, and people across regions.
✈️ It reduces distance barriers and enhances trade and integration.
📡 Communication enables exchange of information through phones, internet, and satellites.
🌐 It supports business operations, education, healthcare, and governance.
⚙️ Together, they form the infrastructure of connectivity, essential for economic growth.
💡 Efficient transport and communication boost productivity, employment, and globalization.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS
🔷 Section A – MCQs (Q1–17) [1 Mark Each]
🔵 Question 1: Which one of the following is a tertiary activity?
🔴 1️⃣ Farming
🟢 2️⃣ Trading
🟡 3️⃣ Weaving
🔵 4️⃣ Hunting
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 2: Which one of the following activities is NOT a secondary sector activity?
🔴 1️⃣ Iron Smelting
🟢 2️⃣ Catching fish
🟡 3️⃣ Making garments
🔵 4️⃣ Basket Weaving
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 3: Which one of the following sectors provides most employment in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata?
🔴 1️⃣ Primary
🟢 2️⃣ Quaternary
🟡 3️⃣ Secondary
🔵 4️⃣ Service
🟢 Answer: 4️⃣
🔵 Question 4: Jobs that involve high degrees of innovation are known as:
🔴 1️⃣ Secondary activities
🟢 2️⃣ Quaternary activities
🟡 3️⃣ Quinary activities
🔵 4️⃣ Primary activities
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 5: Which one of the following is related to quaternary sector?
🔴 1️⃣ Manufacturing computers
🟢 2️⃣ Paper production
🟡 3️⃣ University teaching
🔵 4️⃣ Printing books
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 6: Which one of the following statements is not true?
🔴 1️⃣ Outsourcing reduces cost and increases efficiency
🟢 2️⃣ Engineering jobs can be outsourced
🟡 3️⃣ BPOs have better opportunities than KPOs
🔵 4️⃣ Outsourcing may cause dissatisfaction among local job seekers
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 7: Which is not a part of the quinary sector?
🔴 1️⃣ Decision makers
🟢 2️⃣ High-level managers
🟡 3️⃣ Manual workers
🔵 4️⃣ Policy formulators
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 8: The term outsourcing is most closely associated with which sector?
🔴 1️⃣ Primary
🟢 2️⃣ Secondary
🟡 3️⃣ Tertiary
🔵 4️⃣ Quaternary
🟢 Answer: 4️⃣
🔵 Question 9: Which of the following is an example of footloose industry?
🔴 1️⃣ Iron and steel
🟢 2️⃣ Cement
🟡 3️⃣ IT and software
🔵 4️⃣ Sugar
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 10: Which one of the following is a feature of quinary activities?
🔴 1️⃣ Routine services
🟢 2️⃣ Decision-making roles
🟡 3️⃣ Manual work
🔵 4️⃣ Agricultural activities
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 11: Call centres and IT-enabled services belong to which sector?
🔴 1️⃣ Quinary
🟢 2️⃣ Secondary
🟡 3️⃣ Quaternary
🔵 4️⃣ Primary
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 12: The gap between users and non-users of digital technology is called:
🔴 1️⃣ Digital barrier
🟢 2️⃣ Digital divide
🟡 3️⃣ Digital gap
🔵 4️⃣ Digital inequality
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 13: Which one of the following is a knowledge-based activity?
🔴 1️⃣ Retailing
🟢 2️⃣ Construction
🟡 3️⃣ Software development
🔵 4️⃣ Mining
🟢 Answer: 3️⃣
🔵 Question 14: Which one of the following is a low order service?
🔴 1️⃣ Banking
🟢 2️⃣ Retail shop
🟡 3️⃣ Education
🔵 4️⃣ Tourism
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 15: Which is an example of high order service?
🔴 1️⃣ Grocery store
🟢 2️⃣ Health care
🟡 3️⃣ Tailoring
🔵 4️⃣ Local transport
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 16: Which one of the following is not a feature of the service sector?
🔴 1️⃣ Intangible output
🟢 2️⃣ Directly linked to production
🟡 3️⃣ Labour-intensive
🔵 4️⃣ Consumer-oriented
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔵 Question 17: Quaternary activities are mainly found in which regions?
🔴 1️⃣ Rural regions
🟢 2️⃣ Urban regions of developed countries
🟡 3️⃣ Forested areas
🔵 4️⃣ Coastal plains
🟢 Answer: 2️⃣
🔷 Section B – Source-Based Questions (Q18–19) [3 Marks Each]
🔵 Question 18:
Study the given passage and answer the following:
Outsourcing has become an important economic activity. It refers to transferring certain tasks to outside agencies, usually located in different countries. This allows companies to reduce cost and focus on core functions.
🟢 (a) Define outsourcing.
🟢 (b) Mention one benefit of outsourcing.
🟢 (c) Identify two sectors where outsourcing is widely used.
🟢 Answer:
✳️ (a) Outsourcing is the process of contracting specific business functions to external agencies.
✳️ (b) It helps reduce operational costs and increases efficiency.
✳️ (c) Common in IT services and customer support (BPO/KPO).
🔵 Question 19:
Read the given table and answer:
Country Service Sector (% GDP) Employment (%)
USA 80% 75%
India 55% 32%
🟢 (a) Which country has a more dominant service sector?
🟢 (b) What does this indicate about its level of development?
🟢 (c) Why is India’s service sector share lower in employment?
🟢 Answer:
✳️ (a) USA has a more dominant service sector.
✳️ (b) It indicates higher economic development and modernization.
✳️ (c) India still has a large workforce in agriculture and informal sectors.
🔷 Section C – Short Answer Questions (Q20–23) [3 Marks Each]
🔵 Question 20: Explain the features of tertiary activities.
🟢 Answer:
➤ Tertiary activities involve providing services rather than goods.
➤ They include transport, communication, trade, banking, education, etc.
➤ These activities support primary and secondary sectors and improve quality of life.
🔵 Question 21: What do you mean by high-order and low-order services?
🟢 Answer:
✳️ High-order services: Specialized and expensive (e.g. hospitals, universities).
✳️ Low-order services: Common and inexpensive (e.g. grocery shops, salons).
📘 High-order services are used less frequently, low-order more frequently.
🔵 Question 22: Mention any three characteristics of quaternary activities.
🟢 Answer:
💡 Knowledge-based and information-oriented.
🧠 Require highly skilled professionals.
⚡ Include research, education, IT, financial planning.
🔵 Question 23: Differentiate between tertiary and quaternary activities.
🟢 Answer:
Feature Tertiary Quaternary
Nature Service-based Knowledge-based
Example Transport, trade Research, IT
Skill Level Moderate High
🔷 Section D – Long Answer Questions (Q24–28) [5 Marks Each]
🔵 Question 24: Discuss the significance and growth of the service sector in modern economic development.
🟢 Answer:
✳️ The service sector is a driving force of the modern economy, contributing a major share to national income.
💡 Significance:
➤ Provides employment to a large section of the population.
➤ Supports other sectors through transport, banking, communication, trade.
➤ Enhances living standards through education, health, and entertainment services.
➤ Attracts foreign investment and contributes to GDP.
📈 Growth Factors:
⚡ Rapid urbanization and industrialization.
⚡ Rising incomes and demand for services.
⚡ Expansion of information technology and outsourcing.
⚡ Growth of global trade and tourism.
🧠 The service sector shows high productivity, plays a role in globalization, and reflects economic maturity.
✔️ Conclusion: The sector is the backbone of modern economies, especially in developed nations.
🔵 Question 25: Explain in detail the role and significance of transport and communication in economic development.
🟢 Answer:
✳️ Transport and communication form the infrastructure of connectivity in any country.
🚆 Transport:
➤ Facilitates movement of people, goods, and resources.
➤ Connects production centers to markets.
➤ Reduces regional imbalances and promotes trade.
📡 Communication:
➤ Helps in the exchange of ideas and information.
➤ Supports business operations, governance, and education.
➤ Includes telecommunication, internet, satellites, postal services.
💡 Economic Role:
⚡ Increases efficiency and competitiveness of industries.
⚡ Boosts employment and service growth.
⚡ Enables integration into global economy.
✔️ Conclusion: Together, they are lifelines of economic development and globalization.
🔵 Question 26: Describe the concept of outsourcing and explain its advantages and disadvantages.
🟢 Answer:
💡 Concept:
Outsourcing means contracting business processes to external agencies, often located abroad, to reduce cost and increase efficiency.
🌍 Advantages:
➤ Reduces operational costs.
➤ Increases efficiency and specialization.
➤ Allows companies to focus on core activities.
➤ Creates global employment opportunities.
⚠️ Disadvantages:
➤ Leads to job losses in home countries.
➤ May cause exploitation and low wages.
➤ Issues with data security and quality control.
✔️ Conclusion: Outsourcing is a modern economic tool that supports globalization but requires ethical regulation.
🔵 Question 27: Write a note on quinary activities and their importance in the global economy.
🟢 Answer:
💡 Definition:
Quinary activities involve high-level decision-making roles by executives, policymakers, and top officials.
📘 Examples:
➤ CEOs, government ministers, top managers, scientists, and policy advisors.
⚙️ Features:
➤ Involve strategic planning and innovation.
➤ Require advanced education and leadership skills.
➤ Found mainly in developed nations and global cities.
🌍 Importance:
➤ Shape economic policies and corporate strategies.
➤ Influence international relations and development agendas.
➤ Reflect the highest level of economic activities.
✔️ Conclusion: Quinary services are knowledge-driven and decision-oriented, crucial for sustainable global progress.
🔵 Question 28: Explain the concept of digital divide and suggest measures to reduce it.
🟢 Answer:
💡 Definition:
Digital divide refers to the gap between individuals or regions with and without access to modern digital technologies.
📉 Causes:
➤ Unequal access to internet and devices.
➤ Differences in income, education, and infrastructure.
➤ Rural-urban imbalance.
📈 Impacts:
⚠️ Restricts access to information, education, and job opportunities.
⚠️ Creates economic and social inequality.
✔️ Measures:
➤ Expand internet connectivity and digital infrastructure.
➤ Promote digital literacy through education.
➤ Provide affordable devices and public access points.
🧠 Conclusion: Bridging the digital divide ensures inclusive growth and participation in the knowledge economy.
🔷 Section E – Map-Based Questions (Q29–30) [5 Marks Each]
🔵 Question 29: On the outline world map, identify and label any five of the following:
🟢 (a) Major seaport in Germany
🟢 (b) Terminal of Trans-Siberian Railway
🟢 (c) International airport
🟢 (d) Important waterway
🟢 (e) Area of commercial grain farming
🟢 (f) Area of subsistence gathering
🟢 (g) Area of nomadic herding
🟢 Answer:
✳️ (a) Hamburg (Germany)
✳️ (b) Vladivostok (Russia)
✳️ (c) Johannesburg (South Africa)
✳️ (d) Suez Canal (Egypt)
✳️ (e) Prairies (Canada/USA)
📘 Students must mark these correctly with appropriate symbols and names on the world map.
🔵 Question 30: On the outline map of India, identify and label any five of the following:
🟢 (a) Important iron ore mine in Odisha
🟢 (b) Major sea port in Kerala
🟢 (c) Copper mine in Rajasthan
🟢 (d) Oil refinery in Bihar
🟢 (e) International airport in Punjab
🟢 (f) State with highest density of population
🟢 (g) Leading state in production of jute
🟢 Answer:
✳️ (a) Keonjhar (Odisha)
✳️ (b) Kochi (Kerala)
✳️ (c) Khetri (Rajasthan)
✳️ (d) Barauni (Bihar)
✳️ (e) Amritsar (Punjab)
📘 Mark with neat symbols and correct labels on the map of India.
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