Official Question UPSC 2025
Consider the following fruits: I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
According to botanical history documented in K.T. Achaya's 'A Historical Dictionary of Indian Food', the Portuguese arrival triggered a massive agricultural exchange, bringing New World (Americas) flora to the Indian subcontinent.
•I. Papaya (Correct): Native to Central America, it was completely unknown in India until Portuguese traders cultivated it along the Malabar coast in the 16th century.
•II. Pineapple (Correct): Originating from the South American regions (modern-day Brazil/Paraguay), the Portuguese quickly spread pineapple cultivation to their colonies, reaching India by the mid-16th century.
•III. Guava (Correct): Also native to Central America and Mexico, guava was brought over by the Portuguese in the early 17th century and rapidly adapted to the Indian climate.
Thus, all three fruits are non-native imports introduced entirely by the Portuguese.