Environmental Science

Scope of Environmental Studies and its applications • Relationship of Environmental Studies with other subjects (Multidisciplinary nature of Environment) • Concept of sustainability and sustainable development. • Environmentally important dates and abbreviations • Structure and function of an ecosystem • Types of Ecosystems and their general characteristics • Producers, consumers and decomposers • Energy flow in the ecosystem • Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids • Ecological Succession

Land resources and landuse change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification. • Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations. • Water : Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts • Energy resources: Renewable and non renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies.

Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity • India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Biogeographic zones of India • Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots • Endangered and endemic species of India • Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man- wildlife conflicts, biological invasions • Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity • Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value

Types, Causes, effects and control measures of : Air pollution; Water pollution; Soil pollution; Noise pollution • Pollution case studies • Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste. • Nuclear hazards and human health risks • Global environmental issues: Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture • Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act,1986; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980 • International agreements: Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare • Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies • Disaster management : floods, earthquake, cyclones and landslides • Environmental movements : Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan • Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental conservation • Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi)