Store-bought mosquito repellents lean on synthetic chemicals. One common garden grass does a similar job, naturally.
🏛️ Must Know
Which Grass Actually Repels Mosquitoes
- Lemongrass Lemongrass is used in preparing natural mosquito repellents. Its oil contains citronellal and citral, compounds mosquitoes avoid.
- Not the Other Three Congress grass, elephant grass, and nut grass are not used for this purpose. Each serves a different role in agriculture or ecology.
- Botanical Name Lemongrass is scientifically known as Cymbopogon citratus, a tropical grass grown widely across South and Southeast Asia.
Good to Know
📘 Good to Know
Where Lemongrass Oil Actually Gets Used
- Citronella Oil Family Lemongrass oil is closely related to citronella oil, both widely marketed in insect-repellent candles and sprays.
- Also a Culinary and Medicinal Plant Beyond repelling mosquitoes, lemongrass is used in cooking, herbal teas, and traditional medicine across many cultures.
- Grown Commercially in India India commercially cultivates lemongrass, mainly for its essential oil, used in perfumery, soaps, and repellents.
📝 Previous Year Questions
UPSC CSP 2021 — Which Grass Makes a Natural Mosquito Repellent
- UPSC 2021 Lemongrass is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent. Congress grass, elephant grass, and nut grass are not. See UPSC CSP 2021 GS Paper I, Q21. View this question.
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Great to Know
🌟 Great to Know
Why Natural Repellents Matter for UPSC’s Broader Syllabus
- A Safer Alternative Plant-based repellents like lemongrass oil avoid some of the skin and respiratory concerns linked to synthetic repellent chemicals.
- Supports Rural Livelihoods Commercial lemongrass cultivation gives farmers an alternative cash crop, alongside its use in essential-oil industries.
- Connects to Other PYQ Facts This question sits in UPSC’s recurring “which plant is used for X purpose” pattern, similar to other named-plant identification questions.
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