Give a few examples of public sector activities and explain why the government has taken them up.
The public sector undertakes various activities essential for society, such as the construction of roads, bridges, railways, harbours, generating electricity, and providing irrigation through dams. The government has taken up these activities for several key reasons.
Firstly, there are several things needed by society as a whole which the private sector will not provide at a reasonable cost. Some of these activities require spending large sums of money, which is beyond the capacity of the private sector. Even if private entities provided these facilities, they would charge a high rate for their use, making them inaccessible to many.
Secondly, collecting money from thousands of people who use these facilities is not easy. Governments raise money through taxes and other ways to meet expenses, ensuring these facilities are available for everyone.
Finally, the government steps in to support the economy where the private sector might fail. For instance, selling electricity at the cost of generation might push up production costs for industries, leading to the shutdown of small-scale units. The government produces and supplies electricity at rates industries can afford, bearing part of the cost itself to prevent economic disruption.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the provided context to list examples like roads, bridges, and electricity. It explains the 'why' by highlighting three main points found in the text: the need for heavy investment beyond private capacity, the need to keep costs reasonable for public access (avoiding high private rates), and the need to support industries (like small-scale units) by subsidizing costs. The distinction between the profit motive of the private sector and the service motive of the public sector is also emphasized.