NET SYLLABUS
Subject : ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES Code
No.: (89)
This syllabus contains
ten units:
Unit-I: Fundamentals of
Environmental Sciences
Unit-II: Environmental
Chemistry
Unit-III: Environmental
Biology
Unit-IV: Environmental
Geosciences
Unit-V: Energy and
Environment
Unit-VI: Environmental
Pollution and Control
Unit-VII: Solid and
Hazardous Waste Management
Unit-VIII:
Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation
Unit-IX: Statistical
Approaches and Modelling in Environmental Sciences
Unit-X: Contemporary
Environmental Issues
Unit-I: Fundamentals of
Environmental Sciences
Definition, Principles
and Scope of Environmental Science. Structure
and composition of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Laws of
thermodynamics, heat transfer processes, mass and energy transfer across
various interfaces, material balance. Meteorological
parameters - pressure, temperature, precipitation, humidity, mixing ratio,
saturation mixing ratio, radiation and wind velocity, adiabatic lapse rate,
environmental lapse rate. Wind roses. Interaction between Earth, Man and
Environment. Biogeographic provinces of the world and agro-climatic zones of
India. Concept of sustainable development.
Natural resources and their
assessment. Remote Sensing and GIS: Principles of remote sensing and GIS.
Digital image processing and ground truthing. Application of remote sensing and
GIS in land cover/land use planning and management (urban sprawling, vegetation
study, forestry, natural resource), waste management and climate change. Environmental
education and awareness. Environmental ethics.
Unit-II: Environmental
Chemistry
Fundamentals of
Environmental Chemistry: Classification of elements, Stoichiometry, Gibbs’
energy, chemical potential, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibria, solubility
of gases in water, the carbonate system, unsaturated and saturated
hydrocarbons, radioisotopes. Composition of air. Particles, ions and radicals
in the atmosphere. Chemical speciation. Chemical processes in the formation of
inorganic and organic particulate matters, thermochemical and photochemical
reactions in the atmosphere, Oxygen and Ozone chemistry. Photochemical smog.
Hydrological cycle. Water as a universal solvent. Concept of DO, BOD and COD.
Sedimentation, coagulation, flocculation, filtration, pH and Redox potential
(Eh). Inorganic and organic components
of soils. Biogeochemical cycles –nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus and sulphur.
Toxic chemicals: Pesticides and their classification and effects. Biochemical aspects
of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr) and metalloids (As, Se). CO, O3, PAN, VOC and
POP. Carcinogens in the air. Principles
of analytical methods: Titrimetry, Gravimetry, Bomb Calorimetry, Chromatography
(Paper Chromatography, TLC, GC and HPLC), Flamephotometry, Spectrophotometry
(UV-VIS, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS), Electrophoresis, XRF, XRD, NMR, FTIR, GC-MS,
SEM, TEM.
Unit-III: Environmental
Biology
Ecology as an
inter-disciplinary science. Origin of life and speciation. Human Ecology and
Settlement. Ecosystem Structure and functions: Structures - Biotic and Abiotic components.
Functions - Energy flow in ecosystems, energy flow models, food chains and food
webs. Biogeochemical cycles, Ecological succession. Species diversity, Concept
of ecotone, edge effects, ecological habitats and niche. Ecosystem stability
and factors affecting stability. Ecosystem services. Basis of Ecosystem
classification. Types of Ecosystem: Desert (hot and cold), forest, rangeland,
wetlands, lotic, lentic, estuarine (mangrove), Oceanic. Biomes: Concept, classification and
distribution. Characteristics of different biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Grassland,
Deciduous forest biome, Highland Icy Alpine Biome, Chapparal, Savanna, Tropical
Rain forest. Population ecology: Characteristics of population, concept of
carrying capacity, population growth and regulations. Population fluctuations, dispersion
and metapopulation. Concept of ‘r’ and ‘k’ species. Keystone species. Community
ecology: Definition, community concept, types and interaction - predation,
herbivory, parasitism and allelopathy. Biological invasions. Biodiversity and its conservation: Definition,
types, importance of biodiversity and threats to biodiversity. Concept and
basis of identification of ‘Hotspots’; hotspots in India. Measures of
biodiversity. Strategies for biodiversity conservation: in situ, ex situ and in
vitro conservation. National parks, Sanctuaries, Protected areas and Sacred
groves in India. Concepts of gene pool, biopiracy and bio-prospecting. Concept
of restoration ecology. Extinct, Rare, Endangered and Threatened flora and
fauna of India. Concept of Industrial
Ecology. Toxicology and Microbiology: Absorption, distribution and excretion of
toxic agents, acute and chronic toxicity, concept of bioassay, threshold limit value,
margin of safety, therapeutic index, biotransformation. Major water borne
diseases and air borne microbes. Environmental Biotechnology: Bioremediation –
definition, types and role of plants and microbes for in situ and ex situ
remediation. Bioindicators, Biofertilizers, Biofuels and Biosensors.
Unit-IV: Environmental
Geosciences
Origin of earth.
Primary geochemical differentiation and formation of core, mantle, crust,
atmosphere and hydrosphere. Concept of minerals and rocks. Formation of igneous
and metamorphic rocks. Controls on formation of landforms - tectonic including
plate tectonic and climatic. Concept of steady state and equilibrium, Energy
budget of the earth. Earth’s thermal environment and seasons. Coriolis force,
pressure gradient force, frictional force, geo-strophic wind field, gradient
wind. Climates of India, western disturbances, Indian monsoon, droughts, El
Nino, La Nina. Concept of residence time and rates of natural cycles.
Geophysical fields. Weathering including weathering reactions, erosion,
transportation and deposition of sediments. Soil forming minerals and process
of soil formation, Identification and characterization of clay minerals, Soil
physical and chemical properties, soil types and climate control on soil
formation, Cation exchange capacity and mineralogical controls. Geochemical classification of elements,
abundance of elements in bulk earth, crust, hydrosphere and biosphere.
Partitioning of elements during surficial geologic processes, Geochemical
recycling of elements. Paleoclimate. Distribution of water in earth, hydrology and
hydrogeology, major basins and groundwater provinces of India, Darcy’s law and
its validity, groundwater fluctuations, hydraulic conductivity, groundwater tracers,
land subsidence, effects of excessive use of groundwater, groundwater quality. Pollution
of groundwater resources, Ghyben-Herzberg relation between fresh-saline
water. Natural resource exploration and exploitation
and related environmental concerns. Historical perspective and conservation of
non-renewable resources. Natural
Hazards: Catastrophic geological hazards - floods, landslides, earthquakes,
volcanism, avalanche, tsunami and cloud bursts. Prediction of hazards and
mitigation of their impacts.
Unit-V: Energy and
Environment
Sun as source of
energy; solar radiation and its spectral characteristics. Fossil fuels:
classification, composition, physico-chemical characteristics and energy
content of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Shale oil, Coal bed Methane, Gas
hydrates. Gross-calorific value and net-calorific value. Principles of generation of hydro-power, tidal
energy, ocean thermal energy conversion, wind power, geothermal energy, solar
energy (solar collectors, photo-voltaic modules, solar ponds). Nuclear energy -
fission and fusion, Nuclear fuels, Nuclear reactor – principles and types.
Bioenergy: methods to
produce energy from biomass. Environmental implications of energy use; energy
use pattern in India and the world, emissions of CO2 in developed and
developing countries including India, radiative forcing and global warming.
Impacts of large scale exploitation of solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy
sources.
Unit-VI: Environmental
Pollution and Control
Air Pollution:
Sources and types of
Pollutants - Natural and anthropogenic sources, primary and secondary
pollutants. Criteria air pollutants. Sampling and monitoring of air pollutants
(gaseous and particulates); period, frequency and duration of sampling.
Principles and instruments for measurements of (i) ambient air pollutants
concentration and (ii) stack emissions. Indian National Ambient Air Quality
Standards. Impact of air pollutants on human health, plants and materials. Acid
rain. Dispersion of air pollutants. Mixing height/depth, lapse rates, Gaussian
plume model, line source model and area source model. Control devices for
particulate matter: Principle and working of: settling chamber, centrifugal
collectors, wet collectors, fabric filters and electrostatic precipitator.
Control of gaseous pollutants through adsorption, absorption, condensation and
combustion including catalytic combustion. Indoor air pollution, Vehicular
emissions and Urban air quality.
Noise Pollution:
Sources, weighting
networks, measurement of noise indices (Leq, L10, L90, L50, LDN, TNI). Noise
dose and Noise Pollution standards. Noise control and abatement measures:
Active and Passive methods. Vibrations and their measurements. Impact of noise
and vibrations on human health.
Water Pollution:
Types and sources of
water pollution. Impact on humans, plants and animals. Measurement of water
quality parameters: sampling and analysis for pH, EC, turbidity, TDS, hardness,
chlorides, salinity, DO, BOD, COD, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, heavy
metals and organic contaminants. Microbiological analysis – MPN. Indian
standards for drinking water (IS:10500, 2012). Drinking water treatment:
Coagulation and flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration, Disinfection and
Softening. Wastewater Treatment: Primary, Secondary and Advanced treatment
methods. Common effluent treatment plant.
Soil Pollution:
Physico-chemical and
biological properties of soil (texture, structure, inorganic and organic
components). Analysis of soil quality. Soil Pollution control. Industrial
effluents and their interactions with soil components. Soil micro-organisms and
their functions - degradation of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Thermal, Marine
Pollution and Radioactive:
Sources of Thermal
Pollution, Heat Islands, causes and consequences. Sources and impact of Marine
Pollution. Methods of Abatement of Marine Pollution. Coastal management.
Radioactive pollution – sources, biological effects of ionizing radiations,
radiation exposure and radiation standards, radiation protection.
Unit-VII: Solid and
Hazardous Waste Management
Solid Waste - types and
sources. Solid waste characteristics, generation rates, solid waste components,
proximate and ultimate analyses of solid wastes. Solid waste collection and transportation:
container systems - hauled and stationary, layout of collection routes,
transfer stations and transportation. Solid
waste processing and recovery – Recycling, recovery of materials for recycling
and direct manufacture of solid waste products. Electrical energy generation
from solid waste (Fuel pellets, Refuse derived fuels), composting and
vermicomposting, biomethanation of solid waste. Disposal of solid wastes –
sanitary land filling and its management, incineration of solid waste.
Hazardous waste –
Types, characteristics and health impacts. Hazardous waste management:
Treatment Methods – neutralization, oxidation reduction, precipitation,
solidification, stabilization, incineration and final disposal. e-waste: classification, methods of handling
and disposal. Fly ash: sources, composition and utilisation. Plastic waste:
sources, consequences and management.
Unit-VIII:
Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation
Aims and objectives of
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and
Environmental Managemen Plan (EMP). EIA Guidelines. Impact Assessment
Methodologies. Procedure for reviewing EIA of developmental projects.
Life-cycle analysis, costbenefit analysis. Guidelines for Environmental Audit.
Environmental Planning as a part of EIA and Environmental Audit. Environmental Management
System Standards (ISO14000 series). EIA Notification, 2006 and amendments from
time to time. Eco-labeling schemes. Risk
Assessment - Hazard identification, Hazard accounting, Scenarios of exposure,
Risk characterization and Risk management.
Overview of
Environmental Laws in India: Constitutional provisions in India (Article 48A
and 51A). Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 amendments 1991, Forest Conservation
Act, 1980, Indian Forest Act, Revised 1982, Biological Diversity Act, 2002,
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 amended 1988 and Rules
1975, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 amended 1987 and
Rules 1982, Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules 1986, Motor Vehicle
Act, 1988, The Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary
Movement) Rules, 2016, The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, The
Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, The Solid Waste Management Rules,
2016, The e-waste (Management) Rules 2016, The Construction and Demolition Waste
Management Rules, 2016, The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous
Chemical (Amendment) Rules, 2000, The Batteries (Management and Handling)
Rules, 2010 with Amendments, The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and Rules
1991, Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, Coastal Regulation
Zones (CRZ) 1991 amended from time to time.
National Forest Policy, 1988,
National Water Policy, 2002, National Environmental Policy, 2006. Environmental Conventions and Agreements:
Stockholm Conference on Human Environment 1972, Montreal Protocol, 1987,
Conference of Parties (COPs), Basel Convention (1989, 1992), Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands (1971), Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, 1992, Agenda-21, Global Environmental
Facility (GEF), Convention on Biodiversity (1992), UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol,
1997, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Earth Summit at Johannesburg, 2002,
RIO+20, UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals, 2000, Copenhagen Summit,
2009. IPCC, UNEP, IGBP.
Unit-IX: Statistical
Approaches and Modelling in Environmental Sciences
Attributes and
Variables: types of variables, scales of measurement, measurement of Central
tendency and Dispersion, Standard error,
Moments – measure of Skewness and Kurtosis, Basic concept of probability
theory, Sampling theory, Distributions - Normal, log-normal, Binomial, Poisson,
t, 2test ANOVA: one-way and two-way); significance and confidence limits. and
F-distribution. Correlation, Regression, tests of hypothesis (t-test, X2 Approaches
to development of environmental models; linear, simple and multiple regression
models, validation and forecasting. Models of population growth and
interactions: Lotka-Voltera model, Leslie’s matrix model.
Unit-X: Contemporary
Environmental Issues Global Environmental Issues –
Biodiversity loss, Climate change, Ozone layer depletion. Sea level rise.
International efforts for environmental protection. National Action Plan on Climate Change (Eight National
missions – National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy
Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission,
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a
‘Green India’, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission
on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change). Current Environmental Issues in India:
Environmental issues related to water resource projects - Narmada dam, Tehri
dam, Almatti dam, Cauvery and Mahanadi, Hydro-power projects in Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal and North-Eastern States.
Water conservation-development of
watersheds, Rain water harvesting and ground water recharge. National
river conservation plan – Namami Gange and Yamuna Action Plan. Eutrophication
and restoration of lakes. Conservation of wetlands, Ramsar sites in India. Soil erosion, reclamation of degraded land,
desertification and its control. Climate
change - adaptability, energy security, food security and sustainability. Forest Conservation – Chipko movement, Appiko
movement, Silent Valley movement and Gandhamardhan movement. People
Biodiversity register. Wild life
conservation projects: Project tiger, Project Elephant, Crocodile Conservation,
GOI-UNDP Sea Turtle project, Indo-Rhino vision. Carbon sequestration and carbon
credits. Waste Management – Swachha
Bharat Abhiyan. Sustainable Habitat: Green Building, GRIHA Rating Norms. Vehicular
emission norms in India. Epidemiological Issues: Fluorosis, Arsenocosis,
Goitre, Dengue. Environmental Disasters:
Minnamata Disaster, Love Canal Disaster, Bhopal Gas Disaster, 1984, Chernobyl
Disaster, 1986, Fukusima Daiichi nuclear disaster, 2011.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Previous year question paper | Free download
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2012 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2012 Dec
Paper I | Paper-II | Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2013 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2013 Dec
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2014 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2014 Dec
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2015 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2015 Dec
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2016 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2016 Dec
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2017 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2017 Nov
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
Paper III | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2018 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2018 Jan
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2019 Jun
Paper I | Click Here
Paper-II | Click Here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | 2019 Jan
No comments:
Post a Comment