Which of the following is the richest source of Vitamin C?

The correct answer is D) Amla (Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica). Amla carries roughly 600 mg or more of ascorbic acid per 100 g of fruit, which makes it one of the richest natural sources known. It is also one of the reasons traditional Indian food and Ayurveda gave it such importance.

Why the others fail:

• A) Orange: A good citrus source, but only about 50 mg per 100 g. Aspirants often pick it because citrus is the textbook example of vitamin C.
• B) Apple: Contains only a few milligrams per 100 g, so it is a poor source of this vitamin.
• C) Carrot: Famous for beta-carotene, a provitamin A, not for vitamin C. Its vitamin C content is low.

The core concept is that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is water-soluble, cannot be stored in the body for long, and its deficiency causes scurvy. For Mains, this links to GS-II and GS-III on malnutrition and hidden hunger, where the question is whether low-cost local foods like amla can address micronutrient gaps better than imported or processed options.

Trap: Choosing orange because it is the most commonly cited example. Remember that the question asks for the richest source, not the most familiar one.