UPSC Prelims 2025Question 75Modern History

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?

Options

(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)All the three
(d)None

Correct answer: b

Decision rule

A crop native to the Americas reached India through the Portuguese; but where sources disagree on the introducer, count it out rather than in.

Explanation

Correct Answer:

(b) Only two

Explanation of the Correct Answer

Among the listed fruits — Papaya, Pineapple, and Guava — two were introduced into India by the Portuguese during the 16th and 17th centuries:

Statement-wise Analysis

I. Papaya

Introduced by the Portuguese
Native to Central America and southern Mexico
Brought to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century
It is now cultivated widely across tropical India.

II. Pineapple

Introduced by the Portuguese
Native to South America (especially Brazil and Paraguay)
The Portuguese introduced it to India via their global maritime routes.
Cultivated in northeastern India, West Bengal, and southern states today.

III. Guava

Native to tropical America
Introduced to India by Spanish or Portuguese colonizers, but likely later than papaya and pineapple.
However, some sources suggest guava may have reached India independently or through other trade routes.
Given the uncertainty around exact introduction timeline and colonial source, guava is sometimes excluded from the "Portuguese introduction" category by mainstream academic consensus.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

(a) Only one – Incorrect: At least Papaya and Pineapple were certainly introduced by the Portuguese.
(b) Only two – Correct: Papaya and Pineapple are confirmed Portuguese introductions.
(c) All three – Incorrect: Guava's introduction by the Portuguese is not definitively established.
(d) None – Incorrect: Two of the fruits were definitely introduced by the Portuguese.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Fruit Origins and Introduction in India

Fruit	Native Region	Introduced by Portuguese?	Present Status in India
Papaya	Central America	Yes	Commonly cultivated in tropical regions
Pineapple	South America (Brazil, Paraguay)	Yes	Grown in NE India, Kerala, and West Bengal
Guava	Tropical America	Uncertain / Possibly Spanish/Portuguese	Widely naturalized, not definitively Portuguese

Related Concepts or Facts

Concept	Explanation
Columbian Exchange	Global transfer of crops, animals, and culture post-Columbus; includes fruits like papaya and pineapple.
Portuguese in India	Arrived in 1498 (Vasco da Gama); introduced several crops, including tobacco, cashew, papaya, pineapple.
Other Portuguese Introductions	Chillies, maize, cashew, potato, tomato, sapota, custard apple.

Table: Related Concepts and Terms – Portuguese Introductions & Crop History

Concept / Term	Explanation / Relevance
Columbian Exchange	Widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, and technology between the Americas and the Old World post-1492.
Portuguese in India	Arrived in 1498 (Vasco da Gama); established coastal colonies and introduced new crops.
Papaya	Native to Central America; introduced to India by Portuguese; now common in tropical zones.
Pineapple	Native to South America; introduced by Portuguese; widely grown in NE and southern India.
Guava	Native to Tropical America; introduction to India uncertain—possibly by Portuguese or Spanish.
Other Portuguese Introduced Crops	Includes cashew, chillies, tobacco, maize, custard apple, sapota, tomato, potato.
Spanish Contributions	Similar introductions in other parts of Asia and Africa; overlap with Portuguese routes.
Botanical Globalization	European colonial powers moved plant species globally for cultivation and trade.
Tropical Crop Naturalization	Many non-native crops (e.g., guava, chillies) became naturalized and central to Indian diets.
Portuguese Botanical Gardens	Used to acclimatize and propagate exotic crops in Goa and coastal settlements.

Table: Plants, Foods, and Other Items Introduced by Colonial Powers in India

Item Introduced	Introduced By	Native Region	Use / Significance in India
Potato	Portuguese	South America (Andes)	Became staple in Indian diet; cultivated across India
Tomato	Portuguese	South America	Widely used in Indian cooking (curries, chutneys)
Chilli (Capsicum)	Portuguese	Central & South America	Replaced black pepper; now essential in Indian cuisine
Papaya	Portuguese	Central America	Common tropical fruit; introduced in 16th century
Pineapple	Portuguese	South America	Cultivated in NE India, Kerala, Bengal
Cashew	Portuguese	Brazil	Grown widely in coastal India; key cash crop
Tobacco	Portuguese	Americas	Became widely cultivated; associated with rural and tribal economies
Maize (Corn)	Portuguese	Americas	Grown as food and fodder crop in various Indian regions
Custard Apple (Sitaphal)	Portuguese	West Indies	Popular fruit in dry areas of central and western India
Sapota (Chikoo)	Portuguese	Mexico / Central America	Common in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and South India
Guava	Likely Portuguese/Spanish	Tropical America	Naturalized and widely cultivated
Groundnut (Peanut)	Portuguese	South America	Oilseed crop; major in Gujarat, TN, and Andhra Pradesh
Coffee	Arabs / Dutch	Ethiopia	First grown in Karnataka; expanded under British
Tea	British (commercial scale)	China (Camellia sinensis)	Commercialized in Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiris
Rubber	British (via SE Asia)	Amazon basin (Brazil)	Introduced in Kerala in the 19th century
Opium	British	Native but expanded cultivation	Grown extensively in Bengal and Bihar for export to China (Opium Wars)
Cocoa	British / Portuguese	South America	Minor crop in parts of Kerala and Karnataka
Sunflower	British	Americas	Grown for edible oil; introduced in modern period
Pumpkin	Portuguese	Americas	Integrated into Indian agriculture and cuisine

Key Notes:

The Portuguese played the most crucial role in the initial botanical globalization through the Columbian Exchange, introducing a wide variety of New World crops.
The British expanded and commercialized many of these crops for trade (e.g., tea, coffee, indigo, opium).
Some crops (e.g., coffee) were introduced earlier by Arabs or Dutch, but British commercialized their plantations.

Open this in the study app →

Consider the following fruits:I. PapayaII. PineappleIII. GuavaHow many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?