The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The primary sector, which includes agriculture and allied activities, is the largest employer in the Indian economy. Its employment structure is distinct from the secondary and tertiary sectors, characterized largely by informal work arrangements, reliance on household resources, and specific forms of labor surplus.Statement 1 is Correct: The employment structure of the primary sector is fundamentally characterized by self-employment. The majority of individuals engaged in agriculture are farmers who cultivate their own land. They operate as their own bosses rather than working as salaried employees for a specific employer.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Agricultural work is not strictly performed by hired laborers. In India, it is heavily dependent on family labor. All members of a farmer's family often assist in field operations such as sowing, weeding, and harvesting. While hired labor is used, especially by large landowners or during peak seasons, the contribution of unpaid family labor is a dominant feature.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: There is a significant presence, not an absence, of disguised unemployment in the agricultural sector. This occurs when more individuals are engaged in a task than are actually necessary (e.g., eight family members working on a plot that can be managed by five). In this scenario, the marginal productivity of the additional workers is zero.
Key Takeaway: The primary sector in India is structurally defined by the dominance of self-employment, the extensive use of unpaid family labor, and the prevalence of disguised unemployment.