With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a fungus. 2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. 3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• Gucchi is the Himalayan morel mushroom (Morchella species), a fungus prized for its honeycomb-like cap and sold at tens of thousands of rupees per kilogram — statement 1 is correct.
• It grows wild in the coniferous forests of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, appearing after spring rain and collected by local communities — statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is wrong: morels have resisted commercial cultivation; gucchi is not farmed, and certainly not in the north-eastern foothills — all supply comes from wild foraging.
• Hence 1 and 2, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 2 is also correct: gucchi grows in Himalayan forests.
- (b) 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: gucchi is not commercially cultivated.
- (d) 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 1 is correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.