In India, cluster bean (Guar) in 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?

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Q: 40 (IAS/2014)
In India, cluster bean (Guar) in 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?

question_subject: 

Current Affairs

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,48,65,18,48,6,41

keywords: 

{'cluster bean': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'cultivation': [2, 1, 1, 0], 'seeds': [3, 0, 2, 2], 'oil': [8, 3, 14, 21], 'leaf extract': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'vegetable': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'high quality biodiesel': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'extraction': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'plant': [1, 0, 0, 2], 'shale gas': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'animal feed': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'guar': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'india': [8, 1, 7, 13], 'gum': [1, 0, 0, 0]}

The correct answer is option 2: "The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas."

Guar gum is a natural gum made from the seeds of the cluster bean plant. It is used as a thickener and stabilizer in various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. However, in recent years, its importance has increased due to its use in the hydraulic fracturing process of shale gas extraction.

During hydraulic fracturing, a fluid mixture called fracking fluid is pumped into the well at high pressure to create fractures in the rock formations, which allows the gas to flow more freely. Guar gum is used as a thickener in the fracking fluid to carry proppants (such as sand) into the fractures and prevent them from closing. Without guar gum, the fracking fluid would be too thin and the proppants would not be able to reach the fractures.

Therefore, the cultivation of guar has become significant in India as it is one of the largest producers and exporters of guar gum in the world.