UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I
Question 31: Environment and Ecology
Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
Himalayan nettle, known locally as allo or kandali, yields a strong fibre from its stem. It is being promoted in Uttarakhand and neighbouring Himalayan states as a sustainable source of textile fibre, used for cloth, bags and shawls, giving livelihoods to hill communities. It is not valued as a source of an anti-malarial drug, biodiesel or paper pulp.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) The anti-malarial drug artemisinin comes from Artemisia, not nettle.
- (b) Biodiesel comes from oil-bearing plants such as jatropha and pongamia.
- (c) Paper pulp is not the use for which nettle is promoted.
- (d) Correct: Himalayan nettle is a sustainable source of textile fibre.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.