2024 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · GS Paper I

Question 30: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following :

  1. 1.Cashew
  2. 2.Papaya
  3. 3.Red sanders

How many of the above trees are actually native to India ?

aOnly one
bOnly two
cAll three
dNone

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Only red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is native to India: it is endemic to the Eastern Ghats region of southern Andhra Pradesh. Cashew came from north-eastern Brazil and was brought to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Papaya is native to tropical America (southern Mexico and Central America) and reached India with European traders.

  • 1. Cashew is native to Brazil and was introduced to India by the Portuguese.
  • 2. Papaya is native to tropical America.
  • 3. Red sanders is endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: only red sanders is native to India.
  • (b) Wrong: cashew and papaya are both introduced from tropical America.
  • (c) Wrong: cashew and papaya are not native to India.
  • (d) Wrong: red sanders is native to India.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.