Social Science Notes Class 6 English Medium 2026-27

Social Science Chapter 14. Economic Activities Around Us

CBSE Notes New Syllabus: Class 6

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Chapter 14. Economic Activities Around Us

These notes explain the interdependence of the three economic sectors through examples such as AMUL and the making of a textbook.

Interdependence Among Economic Sectors

The three economic sectors are interconnected and interdependent. They work together to convert natural raw materials into finished products for final consumption.

• Primary Sector provides raw materials.
• Secondary Sector processes raw materials into finished products.
• Tertiary Sector provides services such as transportation, trade and retail.

Dairy Cooperative – From Farm to Plate

The chapter uses the example of Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) to explain how the three sectors work together.

Milk Production – Primary Sector

Farmers rear cows and buffaloes and obtain milk from them. Since milk comes directly from livestock, this is a primary sector economic activity.

Milk Processing – Secondary Sector

Milk is processed and converted into different products such as:

• Milk powder
• Ghee
• Cheese
• Butter

Processing milk into these products is a secondary sector activity.

Transportation and Selling – Tertiary Sector

AMUL uses lorries, trucks, railways, air and shipping services to transport its products. The products are then supplied to retail shops and sold to consumers.

Transportation, trading and retail are tertiary sector activities.

Cooperative

A cooperative is a group of people who voluntarily come together to meet their economic and social needs. The members collectively own the cooperative and take decisions together.

Middlemen

Middlemen are persons who buy goods from producers and sell them to consumers. They charge a fee for this service.

Problems Faced by Milk Farmers

• Farmers had to travel to nearby villages to sell milk.
• Milk could spoil quickly in hot weather.
• Farmers had to sell milk quickly.
• They received very little money for their milk.
• They depended on middlemen.
• Farmers sometimes felt cheated and harassed by middlemen.

Formation of AMUL

The farmers approached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with their problems. He advised them to form a cooperative so that they could become independent of middlemen.

AMUL was set up in 1946 under the leadership of Tribhuvandas Patel and Dr. Varghese Kurien.

Benefits of the AMUL Cooperative

• Farmers worked together.
• They collectively controlled the production and sale of milk.
• They made decisions together.
• Tasks were shared among members.
• Their income gradually increased.
• They no longer needed to depend on middlemen.
• Milk was processed into various products.
• Products were transported and sold across India and exported to other countries.

Pasteurisation

Pasteurisation is a process in which milk is heated to a specific temperature to kill harmful bacteria and preserve the milk.

Factory

A factory is a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or different components are put together to make a final product.

Retail

Retail means selling goods in small quantities to the final consumer rather than for resale.

Export

Export means goods and services produced in one country and sold to buyers or consumers in another country.

Other Milk Cooperatives

The chapter mentions several other milk cooperative brands:

• Nandini – Karnataka
• Mother Dairy – Delhi-NCR
• Aavin – Tamil Nadu
• Vijaya – Andhra Pradesh
• Kevi – Nagaland
• Sudha – Bihar
• Verka – Punjab

Making of a Textbook

The process of making a textbook also shows the interdependence of all three sectors.

Why Are the Three Sectors Interdependent?

• The primary sector supplies raw materials to the secondary sector.
• The secondary sector converts raw materials into useful products.
• The tertiary sector transports, distributes and sells products.
• Primary and secondary sectors also depend on services such as banking, transportation and communication.
• Therefore, all three sectors support one another.

Paper Recycling

Used paper can be recycled to make new paper. The chapter states that recycling one tonne of paper saves 17 trees and 2.5 cubic metres of landfill space. It also uses 70 per cent less energy and water than making paper from wood pulp.

Judicious Use of Paper

• Use both sides of paper whenever possible.
• Avoid unnecessary printing.
• Reuse one-sided paper for rough work.
• Recycle used paper.
• Avoid wasting paper in classrooms and offices.

Important Definitions

• Cooperative – A group of people who voluntarily come together to meet their economic and social needs.
• Middlemen – Persons who buy goods from producers and sell them to consumers.
• Pasteurisation – Heating milk to a specific temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
• Factory – A place where goods are manufactured or components are assembled.
• Retail – Sale of goods in small quantities to the final consumer.
• Export – Selling goods or services produced in one country to buyers in another country.
• Dairy – A place where milk is collected and stored.

Important Facts

• AMUL stands for Anand Milk Union Limited.
• AMUL was set up in 1946.
• Tribhuvandas Patel and Dr. Varghese Kurien played important roles in setting up AMUL.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel advised farmers to form a cooperative.
• Milk production is a primary sector activity.
• Milk processing is a secondary sector activity.
• Transportation, trading and retail are tertiary sector activities.
• The AMUL example demonstrates the interdependence of all three sectors.

Quick Revision

• Primary → Obtains raw materials from nature.
• Secondary → Processes raw materials into products.
• Tertiary → Provides services, transportation, trade and retail.
• AMUL → Example of interdependence among all three sectors.
• Cooperative → Collective ownership and decision-making.
• Middlemen → Buy from producers and sell to consumers.

Chapter at a Glance

Primary Sector → Raw Material → Secondary Sector → Processing → Finished Product → Tertiary Sector → Transportation / Trade / Retail → Consumer