Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows.
Prosopis juliflora (vilayati babul or vilayati kikar) is an invasive alien tree from South America. It spreads fast and pushes out native plants and the animals that depend on them, so it is in the news for removal drives.
- ✓ (b) The Wildlife Institute of India calls it one of the worst invaders affecting ecosystems and local biodiversity in Tamil Nadu. NCERT explains that alien species that turn invasive cause decline or extinction of native species.
- ✗ (a) The plant is not in the news for any cosmetics extract; in India it was introduced for fuelwood and to green degraded land.
- ✗ (c) It is not in the news as a source of pesticide raw material; it is in the news for the harm it does as an invader.
Remember · Prosopis juliflora (vilayati babul) is an invasive alien tree that displaces native species and lowers biodiversity.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Understanding Society, Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 12 Biology, Ch 13 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · Understanding Society, Chapter 3 “Its dominant tree species is Prosopis juliflora (vilayati kikar or vilayati babul) which was introduced into India from South America and which has become naturalised all over north India.”
- NCERT Class 12 · Biology, Chapter 13 “When alien species are introduced unintentionally or deliberately for whatever purpose, some of them turn invasive, and cause decline or extinction of indigenous species.”
- Study on ecological and socio-economic impact of invasive species, Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara, Tamil Nadu (Wildlife Institute of India, 2018) ↗ “The P. juliflora is believed one of the worst invaders affecting natural and man-made ecosystems and its local biodiversity in Tamil Nadu.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·