PYQ Relevance:
[UPSC 2021] Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India.
Linkage: While the PYQ focuses on empowerment and women within the gig economy, it aligns with the broader theme of identity and status challenges faced by workers in non-traditional/precarious employment structures, a challenge explicitly highlighted for SBWs and then linked to gig workers in the article. |
Mentor’s Comment: The central government employs millions of regular and contract workers, including around 60 million in schemes like ICDS, NRHM, and mid-day meals. These workers—such as Anganwadi workers, helpers, ASHAs, and mid-day meal staff—support children, mothers, and nutrition. They connect communities with public health and help improve school enrollment and overall health.
Today’s editorial talks about the problems faced by Scheme-Based Workers (SBWs). This content is useful for GS Paper I (Women’s Issues) and GS Paper II (Social Justice).
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Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
The recent developments surrounding Scheme-Based Workers (SBWs)—particularly Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and MDM workers—have reignited the debate on labour identity, social security, and worker rights in India.
Who are scheme-based workers (SBWs)?
- Workers employed under various government social welfare schemes but not formally recognized as government employees. Around 60 million workers across government schemes. Eg: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Mid-Day Meal Workers (MDMWs).
- ICDS (since 1975), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), and Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
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What roles do they perform?
- Childcare and Nutrition Services: SBWs play a vital role in early childhood care by ensuring nutritional support, immunization, and preschool education. Eg: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) under the ICDS scheme provide nutrition and basic health services to children and lactating mothers.
- Public Health Outreach: They serve as a crucial link between the public health system and rural communities, improving health awareness and access. Eg: ASHAs under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) assist in maternal care, vaccination drives, and promote institutional deliveries.
- Educational and Nutritional Support in Schools: They help enhance school enrollment and retention by providing mid-day meals, which also address child malnutrition. Eg: Mid-Day Meal Workers (MDMWs) prepare and distribute meals in schools under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
What challenges do SBWs face in gaining formal recognition and benefits?
- Lack of Worker Status: SBWs are often classified as “volunteers” or “honorary workers” rather than formal employees, denying them recognition as government workers. Eg: The Supreme Court in State of Karnataka vs Ameerbi (2006) ruled that Anganwadi workers are not state employees as they don’t hold statutory posts.
- Absence of Minimum Wages: Most SBWs receive honorariums instead of wages, which are far below minimum wage standards. Eg: Anganwadi workers and helpers across states earn as low as ₹4,500–₹9,000 per month, without alignment to state minimum wage norms.
- No Social Security Benefits: SBWs are denied access to pensions, provident fund, maternity benefits, and health insurance. Eg: Despite working in public health, ASHAs are not covered under schemes like EPFO or ESI.
- Policy Delay and Avoidance: Governments often cite financial burden or the need for long-term planning to delay regularisation. Eg: In 2016, the Labour Minister told Parliament that there’s no fixed timeline to implement ILC recommendations for SBWs.
- Suppression of Collective Action: SBWs’ strikes are often met with state repression or legal barriers. Eg: Maharashtra invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in 2017 to curb Anganwadi workers’ right to strike.
Why is the government reluctant to regularise SBWs?
- Financial Burden: Regularising SBWs would significantly increase the government’s salary and welfare expenditure, making it fiscally unsustainable. Eg: The central government employs over 60 lakh SBWs, and converting them to regular employees would involve massive budgetary allocations for wages and benefits.
- Policy Ambiguity: Successive governments delay decisions by citing the need for long-term policy formulation without committing to a timeline. Eg: In 2016, the Labour Minister told the Rajya Sabha that implementing Indian Labour Conference (ILC) recommendations requires indefinite planning.
- Privatisation Push: The government aims to reduce its role in welfare delivery by promoting public-private partnerships, weakening the case for regularisation. Eg: There have been attempts to privatise the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), directly affecting the employment security of Anganwadi workers.
How have trade unions and courts supported SBWs’ demands?
- Union Mobilisation: Major trade unions have organised SBWs to demand minimum wages, worker status, and social security through strikes and negotiations. Eg: In March 2025, Anganwadi workers in Kerala ended a 13-day indefinite strike organised by unions like AITUC, BMS, and CITU demanding regularisation and fair pay.
- Judicial Recognition: Courts have gradually recognised some labour rights of SBWs, even when earlier rulings were unfavourable. Eg: In Maniben Maganbhai Bhariya vs District Development Officer (2022), the Supreme Court ruled that Anganwadi workers are eligible for gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act.
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What are the policy implications of granting SBWs formal employee status?
- Fiscal Burden: Recognising SBWs as formal employees would significantly increase the government’s expenditure on salaries, pensions, and social security. Eg: The central government is concerned about cost implications due to the growing number of SBWs (nearly 6 million), especially as population-linked schemes expand.
- Policy Reorientation: Granting formal status would require new frameworks for recruitment, training, service conditions, and grievance redressal. Eg: The Gujarat High Court in 2024 directed the State and Centre to create a joint policy to regularise Anganwadi workers as Class III and IV employees.
- Precedent for Other Informal Workers: Regularising SBWs could set a precedent for other informal or gig workers demanding similar recognition and protections. Eg: Like SBWs, gig workers (e.g., delivery partners) are also fighting for worker status and social security rights in courts and labour forums.
Way forward:
- Enact Clear Policies: Governments should promptly create and implement policies to grant SBWs formal worker status with fair wages and social security benefits.
- Strengthen Monitoring: Improve enforcement by regional bodies to ensure timely wage revisions, labour rights protection, and prevent exploitation of SBWs.
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Why in the News?
India has taken a sharp turn from its traditionally cooperative trade approach by recently imposing restrictions on Bangladeshi readymade garments and other goods.
Why did India impose trade restrictions on Bangladesh?
- Bangladesh move to China: India imposed trade restrictions to express displeasure with Bangladesh’s interim government led by Mohammed Yunus, which has moved closer to China and Pakistan, straining India-Bangladesh relations. Eg: Yunus inviting Chinese access to India’s northeast during his China visit triggered India’s concerns.
- Political statement against the North East: India blocked access to its Northeast markets for Bangladesh’s key garment exports in response to recent political comments that called Northeast India landlocked and claimed Bangladesh is its gateway to the sea.
- Signaling Disapproval of Political Moves: India seeks to signal its objection to the interim government’s ban on the Awami League and its deviation from democratic norms promised to the international community.
What did Yunus say about India’s northeast during his China visit?
- Described India’s northeast as landlocked: Yunus publicly referred to the northeastern region of India as lacking direct access to the sea, highlighting its geographical constraints. Eg: He emphasized that the region is dependent on access through neighboring countries like Bangladesh.
- Invited China to access the region via Bangladesh: He suggested that China could use Bangladesh as a transit route to reach India’s northeast, implicitly offering strategic passage. Eg: During his March 2025 China visit, he proposed trade and connectivity links that would allow China to reach the northeast.
- Undermined India’s regional security concerns: By involving China in a sensitive area, Yunus ignored India’s strategic sensitivities and long-standing opposition to Chinese presence near its borders. Eg: His comments were seen as aligning with China’s Belt and Road ambitions in South Asia, alarming Indian policymakers.
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How could the trade move affect India’s strategic interests?
- May worsen anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh: The restrictions could be seen as punitive and fuel nationalist or anti-India narratives, especially among radical groups. Eg: Elements opposing India’s influence may use the trade ban to rally public anger and portray India as interfering in domestic affairs.
- Could destabilize India’s northeast region: Heightened tensions and instability in Bangladesh may spill over, leading to cross-border security issues in India’s sensitive northeastern states. Eg: Increased radical activity or refugee influx due to unrest in Bangladesh can strain local governance and security in Assam and Tripura.
- Limits diplomatic space for constructive engagement: Economic restrictions reduce India’s leverage to influence political developments in Bangladesh through dialogue and soft diplomacy. Eg: Trade ties often help maintain dialogue even during political tensions — restricting them weakens India’s long-term strategic hold.
Which key political stakeholders in Bangladesh should India engage?
- Awami League (AL): Despite being currently banned by the interim government, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, has been India’s most trusted ally and played a key role in maintaining bilateral stability and counterterrorism cooperation. Eg: India and the Awami League worked closely on cross-border security and infrastructure projects like the Akhaura-Agartala rail link.
- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): As a major opposition party, the BNP represents a significant voter base. India should maintain open lines of communication to understand its stance on regional issues and democratic reforms.
- Civil society and democratic reform advocates: Engaging with non-party actors such as human rights groups, independent media, and student movements can strengthen India’s image as a supporter of democracy and people-to-people ties.
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Why is the delay in Bangladesh’s elections a significant concern for India?
- Regional stability and security risks: Prolonged political uncertainty in Bangladesh may lead to unrest, radicalisation, and law and order issues, which can spill over into India’s northeast, impacting border security. Eg: A destabilised Bangladesh could lead to increased cross-border infiltration or refugee inflows into Assam and Tripura.
- Strained diplomatic and strategic relations: The delay weakens India’s ability to engage with a legitimate and stable government, affecting long-term strategic cooperation, trade, and connectivity projects. Eg: Uncertainty may halt progress on initiatives like the India-Bangladesh power grid or transit routes through Bangladesh.
Way forward:
- Engage All Political Stakeholders: India should maintain dialogue with all major political actors in Bangladesh — including the Awami League, BNP, and civil society — to encourage democratic transition and ensure long-term regional stability.
- Balance Strategic Interests with Economic Diplomacy: India must ease trade restrictions while using diplomatic channels to address security concerns, preventing alienation and preserving influence in Bangladesh and the Northeast region.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2013] The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India?
Linkage: The current trade-related tensions between India and Bangladesh are a result of deteriorating political relations which have spilled over into economic ties.
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Why in the News?
Recently, the Supreme Court struck down two orders from the Environment Ministry that had allowed industries to operate even after breaking environmental rules.
What did the Supreme Court strike down as illegal?
- Notifications allowing industries to bypass prior environmental clearance: The Court struck down two Union Environment Ministry notifications that permitted industrial units to set up or expand operations without prior government approval, violating the core principle of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. Eg: Industries were allowed to operate or change manufacturing practices without the mandatory prior environmental clearance.
- Regularisation of violations through executive orders without parliamentary approval: The notifications enabled projects violating environmental laws to seek regularisation by paying fines, issued through executive orders instead of amending the Environment Protection Act (EIA), 2006 via Parliament. Eg: The 2017 “one-time” window and 2021 standard operating procedure allowed violative industries to avoid penalties by applying for clearance retrospectively.
Why did the Centre allow industries to bypass prior clearance?
- One-time window for regularisation: In 2017, the Centre provided a “one-time” six-month window for industries without proper environmental clearances to apply retroactively.
- Avoid disruption of economic activities: The Centre wanted to prevent the demolition of functioning plants that contribute to the economy and employment, as shutting them down abruptly could be disruptive.
- Legal precedent for balanced approach: The government cited court rulings supporting a “balanced” approach in cases of violations, emphasizing regularisation over punitive action when feasible.
- Heavy fines as deterrent: The 2021 standard operating procedure imposed heavy fines on violative projects applying for clearance, intending to discourage violations while still allowing formalisation.
- Procedural challenges with previous attempts: Earlier attempts by the UPA government (2012-13) to regularise such projects were struck down by courts on procedural grounds, prompting the Centre to try executive orders as a workaround. Eg: The Jharkhand High Court and National Green Tribunal nullified prior regularisation efforts due to procedural flaws.
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Who is impacted by the Court’s verdict?
- Industries regularised under 2017 and 2021 orders remain unaffected: Companies that used the one-time window or the standard operating procedure to regularise violations before the verdict will not face penalties due to the Court’s ruling.
- Future industrial projects must strictly follow prior clearance: The verdict reaffirms that all new or expanding projects must obtain mandatory prior environmental clearance, impacting industries planning to start or modify operations.
- Regional environmental boards are under scrutiny: The ruling highlights the failure of local enforcement agencies to prevent illegal operations, signaling the need for better monitoring and compliance at the regional level. Eg: State pollution control boards will face greater pressure to enforce environmental laws rigorously.
Way forward:
- Strengthen enforcement: Empower and equip regional pollution control boards to rigorously monitor and ensure strict compliance with environmental clearance norms.
- Streamline clearance process: Simplify and expedite the prior environmental clearance procedure to balance industrial growth with environmental protection, reducing incentives for violations.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2023] The most significant achievement of modern law in India in the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court. Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws.
Linkage: The “constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court,” which refers to how the judiciary, through interpretation (often linking environmental protection to fundamental rights like the Right to Life under Article 21), has played a significant role in shaping environmental law and policy in India.
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Why in the News?
The Shirui Lily Festival has commenced in Manipur after a two-year gap caused by the ongoing conflict in the state.
About Shirui Lily Festival
- Organiser: The festival is conducted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur.
- Launch: It was first held in 2017 and is now one of Manipur’s two major tourism festivals (the other being the Sangai Festival).
- Origin: Named after the Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), the State Flower of Manipur.
- Location: The event is held in Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga community.
- Purpose: It aims to raise awareness about the Shirui Lily and promote eco-tourism in the hill regions of Ukhrul.
- Key Activities: The festival includes cultural performances, music concerts, a beauty pageant, a cooking competition, and a trash collection marathon.
About the Shirui Lily Flower:
- Habitat: The Shirui Lily grows only in the upper reaches of the Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul district, at an altitude of 2,673 metres.
- Local Name: It is locally known as ‘Kashong Timrawon’, named after a mythical hill guardian.
- Discovery: British botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward identified it in 1946 and named it Lilium mackliniae after his wife Jean Macklin.
- Conservation Status: Classified as Endangered by the IUCN. (It is not listed by CITES or Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Shirui National Park is named after it.
- Threats: The flower faces threats from climate change, human encroachment, resource exploitation, and invasion by wild dwarf bamboo.
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| [UPSC 2018] Consider the following pairs:
Tradition– State
1. Chapchar Kut festival — Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur
3. Thong-To dance — Sikkim
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2* (c) 3 only (d) 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
On May 20, 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs celebrated World Metrology Day, marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in Paris on May 20, 1875.
About the Metre Convention:
- Inception: Also called the Treaty of the Metre, it was signed in Paris on May 20, 1875, to establish a global system of standardised measurements.
- 17 Founding Members: Argentina, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Ottoman Empire (Turkiye), USA, and Venezuela.
- Institutions Created: The treaty established the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), and two governing bodies—CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures) and CIPM (International Committee for Weights and Measures).
- Early Prototypes: It created international prototypes of the metre and kilogram, stored at the BIPM; member countries received national copies for comparison.
- Expansion in 1921: The Convention was extended to cover all physical quantities, forming the basis for the International System of Units (SI).
- Global Reach: As of October 2024, there are 64 member states in the Convention.
- Collaboration: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), European Space Agency (ESA) participate in the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
India and the Convention:
- Membership: India joined the Metre Convention in 1957 after passing the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956.
- Participation Benefits: India gained the ability to participate in BIPM work, align with global systems, and ensure international recognition of its standards.
- Recent Milestone: India is now the 13th country authorized to issue OIML (International Organisation of Legal Metrology) Certificates.
| [UPSC 2007] Consider the following statements:
1. The series of the International Paper Sizes is based on A0 size whose area is 0.5 m² (approximately).
2. The area of A4 size paper is 1/8th of that of the A0 size paper.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 * |
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Why in the News?
Jayant Narlikar, renowned Indian astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee, who co-developed the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory to refine Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, passed away in Pune at the age of 87.
About Jayant Narlikar and His Contributions:
- Early Life: Born in 1938 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and pursued a PhD at Cambridge University under Fred Hoyle.
- Scientific Influence: Hoyle had earlier developed the steady-state theory with Bondi and Gold and coined the term “Big Bang” sarcastically in 1948.
- Narlikar’s Belief: He argued that the universe always looks the same, as new matter fills the gaps created by expansion.
- Critique of Big Bang: He believed the Big Bang theory includes unproven assumptions, especially about the sudden origin of all matter and energy.
- Enduring Work: Despite steady-state theory’s decline, Narlikar’s contributions remain respected for their scientific depth and originality.
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What Is the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory?
Fred Hoyle and Jayant Narlikar developed a theory to answer one of the most basic questions: Why do things have mass, and how are they connected to the rest of the universe?
- Based on Mach’s Principle: They believed your mass isn’t just something you have on your own. Instead, it depends on your connection to everything else in the universe. That means even faraway stars and galaxies play a role in what you weigh.
- Inertia Explained: In simple terms, when you feel resistance while trying to move (inertia), it’s because of the gravitational pull of all the matter in the universe acting on you at once.
- Mass is Relative: Earth, the Sun, or even you don’t have a fixed mass. That mass is influenced by everything else that exists out there, no matter how far away it is.
- C-field and Steady-State Model
- New Idea – C-Field: They introduced the “creation field”, which creates new matter in space.
- Universe Without a Start: Their steady-state theory says the universe has no beginning or end, is always expanding, and keeps its density constant.
- Against the Big Bang: They believed the Big Bang couldn’t explain everything we see today.
- Hydrogen Creation: They said hydrogen atoms form in space to fill in the gaps as the universe grows.
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- CMB Discovery (1965): Scientists found cosmic microwave background radiation, strong proof of the Big Bang.
- Other Evidence: Later discoveries like young, chaotic galaxies and studies by Hawking and Penrose supported the Big Bang.
- Current View: The Big Bang theory became more accepted, but Hoyle and Narlikar’s ideas are still respected for their scientific value.
| [UPSC 2018] Consider the following phenomena:
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3* |
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Why in the News?
The RBI has released revised draft guidelines for investments made by Regulated Entities (REs) in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to ensure better regulatory oversight, prevent misuse of funds, and align with the rules already set by SEBI.
What are Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)?
- Definition: They are unique investment vehicles that are privately pooled and invested in alternative asset classes such as venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, commodities, real estate, and derivatives.
- Regulation: They are governed by SEBI under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
- Working: It can be formed as a trust, company, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or any other SEBI-permitted structure.
- Legal Structure: They can be set up as trusts, companies, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or other legally permitted forms.
- Investor Base:
- AIFs are meant for High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) and institutional investors, NOT small retail investors.
- Resident Indians, NRIs, and foreign nationals can invest.
- Minimum Investment Requirement:
- The minimum investment size is ₹1 crore (SEBI, May 2024), except for accredited investors as defined by SEBI.
- For employees or directors of the AIF or its manager, the minimum investment is ₹25 lakh.
- An AIF must have a minimum corpus of ₹20 crore (₹10 crore for Angel Funds).
Types of AIFs:
- Category I: These funds invest in early-stage unlisted companies in the form of equity or debt (venture capital). These alternative asset funds can also invest in infrastructure-based projects or social ventures.
- Category II: These types of funds invest in equity or debt of unlisted companies that are in the mid or late stage of growth and are known as private equity or pre-IPO, respectively.
- Category III: This category of funds invests in the shares of listed companies. These alternative strategy funds can be for any period, long only or a combination of long and short.
| [UPSC 2014] What does Venture Capital mean?
Options: (a) A short-term capital provided to industries. (b) A long-term start-up capital provided to new entrepreneurs* (c) Funds provided to industries at times of incurring losses. (d) Funds provided for replacement and renovation of industries. |
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Why in the News?
India is likely to become the world’s largest potato producer, overtaking China, by 2050, according to experts from the International Potato Center (CIP) based in Peru.
Back2Basics: International Potato Center (CIP)
- The CIP is a research-for-development organisation founded in 1971, focused on improving potato, sweet potato, and Andean root and tuber crops.
- Headquartered in Lima, Peru, CIP operates in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- It maintains the world’s largest Potato Gene Bank, safeguarding biodiversity for future use in research and breeding.
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Potato Cultivation in India:
- About: Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is known as the “King of Vegetables” and is India’s fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize.
- Origin: Introduced to India by Portuguese traders in the 17th century.
- Geographic Spread: Grown in 23 states, but 85% of production comes from the Indo-Gangetic plains in North India.
- Top Producing States:
- Uttar Pradesh: ~30% of total output
- West Bengal: ~23.5%
- Bihar: ~17%
- Other contributors: Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
- Climate Needs: Potato is a cool-season crop.
- Ideal growth temp: 24°C
- Ideal tuber formation temp: 20°C
- Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, fertile soils with moisture retention.
- Planting Seasons:
- Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand: Spring (Jan–Feb), Summer (May)
- Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Bengal: Main crop in October
- MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka: Both kharif and rabi seasons
- Seed Management: Use disease-free, sprouted seeds (30–50g);
- Popular varieties: Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Pukhraj, and Kufri Chandramukhi.
- Fertilization & Irrigation: Apply balanced nutrients, especially phosphorus and potassium; drip irrigation is recommended.
- Harvesting: Ready in 90–120 days, harvested manually or mechanically.
Global Comparison and Future Outlook:
- Global Rank: India is the second-largest producer after China.
- Production Volume: Over 50 million tonnes/year currently; projected to reach 100 million tonnes by 2050 (CIP experts).
- Growth Drivers: Expansion is due to large cultivation area, strong domestic demand, and government support.
- Tuber Crop Potential: Promoting crops like sweet potato can improve nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Policy measure for Potato Farmers: Operation Greens
- It is a scheme launched by the GoI in 2018, modelled after Operation Flood, with the aim to stabilize the supply and prices of Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops.
- The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and was initially allocated a budget of ₹500 crore.
- Objectives:
- Stabilize the supply and prices of potatoes (along with tomato and onion) to protect both farmers and consumers from extreme price fluctuations.
- Reduce post-harvest losses of potatoes by improving storage, processing, and logistics infrastructure
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| [UPSC 2014] In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significance.
Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?
Options: (a) The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics. (b) The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas.* (c) The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of antihistamines. (d) It is a source of high quality biodiesel. |
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