NCERT Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond: Chapter 14 — Economic Activities Around Us
This chapter, "Economic Activities Around Us," from NCERT's Class 6 Social Science book "Exploring Society: India and Beyond," introduces the concept of economic activities and their classification. It begins by defining economic activities as those creating monetary value, contrasting them with non-economic activities. The chapter highlights the tremendous increase in diverse economic activities over decades, from traditional agriculture to modern manufacturing and services. It explains that classifying these activities into broader groups called economic sectors helps in understanding their functioning and interconnections. The three main sectors—primary, secondary, and tertiary—are introduced, with the primary sector focusing on direct dependence on nature for goods like farming and fishing. This foundational understanding is crucial for students to grasp how societies generate wealth and function economically.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 6 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Exploring Society India and Beyond |
| Chapter | Chapter 14 — Economic Activities Around Us |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 275 |
Learning outcomes
- Define economic activities and differentiate them from non-economic activities.
- Understand the historical evolution and diversity of economic activities.
- Identify and explain the concept of economic sectors.
- Describe the primary economic sector and provide examples.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Economic activity | Activities that create monetary value. |
| Monetary value | Value of something that can be measured in terms of money. |
| Economic sectors | Broad groups that include various activities that help with the economic prosperity of a nation. |
| Primary activities | Economic activities in which people are directly dependent on nature to produce goods. |
| Primary sector | The group of activities that involves extraction of raw materials directly from nature such as farming, fishing, forestry, etc. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- What is the main difference between economic and non-economic activities? Answer: Economic activities create monetary value, while non-economic activities do not.
- Give two examples of traditional economic activities. Answer: Agriculture and weaving cloth.
- What are economic sectors? Answer: Broad groups that classify economic activities based on their characteristics.
- What defines the primary economic sector? Answer: It involves activities where goods are produced by direct dependence on nature.
Frequently asked questions
What are economic activities?
Economic activities are those activities that create monetary value, meaning their outcome can be measured in terms of money.
How have economic activities changed over time?
Over decades, the number and diversity of economic activities have increased tremendously, moving from traditional agriculture to modern manufacturing and services.
Why are economic activities classified into sectors?
Classifying economic activities into sectors helps us understand how they function and the links they have with each other.
What are the three main types of economic sectors?
The three main types are the primary, secondary, and tertiary economic sectors.
What is the primary sector?
The primary sector includes economic activities where people are directly dependent on nature to produce goods, such as farming, fishing, and forestry.
What does 'monetary value' mean in the context of economic activities?
Monetary value refers to the worth of something that can be quantified or measured using money.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 6 Social Science — Exploring Society India and Beyond — Chapter 14 — Economic Activities Around Us. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.