Social Science · Class 6
Economics: Livelihoods
Learn Economics: Livelihoods with notes, examples, and practice questions.
4 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
Livelihoods are ways people earn living — farming, pastoralism, crafts, services, and wage labour. Rural and urban areas offer different economic opportunities and challenges.
Rural Livelihoods
- Agriculture: small and marginal farmers, tenants
- Animal husbandry, fishing, forestry
- Seasonal migration for work
- Self-employed artisans and shopkeepers
Urban Livelihoods
- Factory workers, daily wage labourers
- Street vendors, rickshaw pullers, domestic workers
- Services: banks, IT, government jobs
- Informal sector — no job security
Issues
- Debt traps for farmers; crop failure risk
- Low wages and poor conditions in informal sector
- Education and skills improve livelihood options
- MGNREGA guarantees rural wage employment
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Farmer risk
Why do small farmers face debt?
- 1High input costs — seeds, fertiliser
- 2Crop failure or low prices
- 3Borrow from moneylenders at high interest
Answer
Low income, crop risks, and costly loans
Informal sector
What is informal sector work?
- 1No written contract or social security
- 2e.g. street vending, daily labour
Answer
Unorganised work without formal protection
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Majority still depend on agriculture
- ✓ Urban informal sector is large
- ✓ Government schemes support rural employment
- ✓ Skill training improves earnings
Exam Tips
- • Compare rural and urban livelihoods
- • What is MGNREGA?
- • Problems of daily wage workers
Practice MCQs — Economics: Livelihoods
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
MGNREGA provides: