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
- (a) anti-malarial drug
- (b) biodiesel
- (c) pulp for paper industry
- (d) textile fibre ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia), called 'allo' in Nepal and Uttarakhand, is a tall wild perennial whose stem bark yields one of the longest and strongest natural bast fibres.
• Mountain communities spin it into textiles, bags and mats; it is being promoted as a sustainable, wild-harvested fibre for eco-fashion — option (d).
• It has no role as an anti-malarial (a), biodiesel source (b) or paper pulp (c).
• Hence option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) anti-malarial drug
- It is not an anti-malarial source.
- (b) biodiesel
- It is not used for biodiesel.
- (c) pulp for paper industry
- It is valued for fibre, not paper pulp.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.