Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on Miscellaneous (Environment and Ecology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–1 of 1 question
UPSC 2019Environment and Ecology · Miscellaneous
Q1. 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:
Explanation
The Himalayan nettle has gained attention as a sustainable source of textile fibre. The fibres extracted from the stems of this plant are strong, durable, and eco-friendly, making them suitable for producing textiles. This has significant potential for promoting sustainable livelihoods in rural and mountainous regions, especially in the Himalayas. Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) is not known for its use as an anti-malarial drug. Anti-malarial drugs are derived from plants like Artemisia annua (source of artemisinin) or Cinchona officinalis (source of quinine). Himalayan nettle is not recognized as a source of biodiesel. Biodiesel is usually derived from oil-rich plants like Jatropha, Pongamia, or algae. While Himalayan nettle is a fibrous plant but it is not widely used as a source of pulp for the paper industry. The paper industry primarily relies on wood pulp from trees like Eucalyptus, Bamboo, or agricultural residues like wheat straw and bagasse.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2019
(d) textile fibre
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Miscellaneous (Environment and Ecology), asked from 2008 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Miscellaneous?
Questions on Miscellaneous (Environment and Ecology) are available for 8 years, from 2008 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
