Different types of economic activities

Economic activities are broadly grouped as Primary activities, Secondary activities, Tertiary activities and Quaternary activities.

1. Primary Activities: It refers to extraction/utilisation of raw materials from the earth's surface. These include hunting, gathering, pastoralism, fishing, forestry, mining and agriculture.
2. Secondary Activities: It includes industries that transform raw materials into finished foods having higher value. For example, manufacturing cotton textiles from raw cotton, and iron and steel from iron ore.
3. Tertiary Activities: It includes all kinds of services provided for the people such as education, health, trade and transport.
4. Quaternary Activities: It represents special kind of services, which is related to highly intellectual activities. For example, research and development service, information generation, information processing and transmission.