The correct answer is (a) Agriculture.
Agriculture was the least impacted by the pandemic (COVID-19) situation and has shown a positive growth in India. This is because agriculture is a primary sector of the economy, which means that it is based on the production of food and other natural resources. This sector is less dependent on international trade and investment than other sectors, such as manufacturing and services. As a result, it was less affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.
In addition, the Indian government took several measures to support the agricultural sector during the pandemic. These measures included providing financial assistance to farmers, waiving loans, and increasing the procurement prices of crops. These measures helped to ensure that farmers were able to continue producing food even during the difficult times of the pandemic.
As a result of these factors, the agricultural sector grew by 3.6% in 2020-21, even as the overall economy contracted by 7.3%. This growth was driven by an increase in the production of food grains, oilseeds, and fruits and vegetables. The growth in the agricultural sector helped to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the Indian economy and ensured that food security was maintained.
The other options are incorrect because they are all secondary or tertiary sectors of the economy, which are more dependent on international trade and investment. As a result, they were more affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.
(b) Services: The services sector is a secondary sector of the economy, which means that it is based on the provision of services rather than the production of goods. This sector is more dependent on international trade and investment than agriculture, and as a result, it was more affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. The services sector contracted by 8.4% in 2020-21.
(c) Industrial: The industrial sector is a secondary sector of the economy, which means that it is based on the production of goods rather than the provision of services. This sector is also more dependent on international trade and investment than agriculture, and as a result, it was more affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. The industrial sector contracted by 7.2% in 2020-21.
(d) Tertiary: The tertiary sector is a tertiary sector of the economy, which means that it is based on the provision of services rather than the production of goods or the extraction of natural resources. This sector is the most dependent on international trade and investment, and as a result, it was the most affected by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. The tertiary sector contracted by 8.7% in 2020-21.