Environmental Science

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COURSE OVERVIEW
Exam Name: Lecturer (10+2) Environmental Science
Conducting Authority: Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Commission (JKPSC)
Level: Competitive
Examination Type: MCQs
No. of Questions: 100 MCQs
Total Marks: 100 Marks
Duration: 2 Hours
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LIST OF UNITS (Verbatim)
Unit I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences and Basic Statistics
Unit II: Environmental Chemistry
Unit III: Environmental Biology
Unit IV: Environmental Geosciences
Unit V: Energy and Environment
Unit VI: Environmental Pollution and Management
Unit VII: Natural Resources, Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development
Unit VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation
Unit IX: Environmentalism and Environmental Education
Unit X: Emerging Environmental Issues and Challenges
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS (Verbatim)

Unit I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences and Basic Statistics

Topic 1: Definition, Principles and Scope of Environmental Science.
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Topic 2: Structure and composition of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
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Topic 3: Brief account of cryosphere and anthroposphere (built environment).
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Topic 4: Laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer processes, mass and energy transfer across various interfaces, material balance.
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Topic 5: Meteorological parameters – pressure, temperature, precipitation, humidity, mixing ratio, saturation mixing ratio, radiation and wind velocity, adiabatic lapse rate, environmental lapse rate, Wind roses.
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Topic 6: Distribution of water on Earth, Hydrological cycle, Components and Chemical composition of the Hydrosphere, Cryosphere depletion.
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Topic 7: origin of earth, Origin and evolution of life, Concept and limits of Biosphere.
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Topic 8: Remote Sensing and GIS: Principles of remote sensing and GIS.
Subtopics:
○ 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).
Topic 9: Attributes and Variables: types of variables, scales of measurement, measurement of Central tendency and Dispersion, Standard error, Moments – measure of Skewness and Kurtosis.
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Topic 10: Basic concept of probability theory, Sampling theory.
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Topic 11: Distributions – Normal, log-normal, Binomial, Poisson.
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Topic 12: Correlation, Regression, tests of hypothesis (t-test, 2test ANOVA: one-way and two-way)
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Unit II: Environmental Chemistry

Topic 1: 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.
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Topic 2: Composition of air. Particles, ions and radicals in the atmosphere. Chemical speciation.
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Topic 3: Thermochemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, Oxygen and Ozone chemistry. Photochemical smog.
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Topic 4: Water as a universal solvent. Concept of DO, BOD and COD.
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Topic 5: Sedimentation, coagulation, flocculation, filtration, pH and Redox potential (Eh).
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Topic 6: Physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.
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Topic 7: Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur).
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Topic 8: Principles of analytical methods: Tirtimetry, Gravimetry, Bomb Calorimetry, Chromatography (Paper Chromatography, TLC, GC and HPLC), Flame photometry, Spectrophotometry (UV-VIS, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS), Electrophoresis, XRF, XRD, NMR, GC-MS, SEM, TEM.
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Unit III: Environmental Biology

Topic 1: Ecology as an inter-disciplinary science.
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Topic 2: Ecosystem Structure and functions: Structures – Biotic and Abiotic components.
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Topic 3: Functions – Energy flow in ecosystems, energy flow models, food chains and food webs.
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Topic 4: Ecological succession.
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Topic 5: Species diversity, Concept of ecotone, edge effects, ecological habitats and niche.
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Topic 6: Ecosystem stability and factors affecting stability.
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Topic 7: Ecosystem services.
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Topic 8: Basis of Ecosystem classification.
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Topic 9: Types of Ecosystem: Desert (hot and cold), forest, rangeland, wetlands, lotic, lentic, estuarine (mangrove), Oceanic.
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Topic 10: Biomes: Concept, classification and distribution.
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Topic 11: Characteristics of different biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Grassland, Deciduous forest biome, Highland Icy Alpine Biome, Chapparal, Savannah, Tropical Rain forest.
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Topic 12: 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.
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Topic 13: Community ecology: Definition, community concept, types and interaction – predation, herbivory, parasitism and allelopathy. Biological invasions.
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Topic 14: Biodiversity and its conservation: Definition, types, importance of biodiversity and threats to biodiversity.
Subtopics:
○ Concepts of hotspots and cold spots in biodiversity.
○ 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.
○ Extinct, Rare, Endangered and Threatened flora and fauna of India.
○ Flora and Fauna of Jammu and Kashmir.
Topic 15: Toxicology: Definition, scope, goals and divisions.
Subtopics:
○ Factors influencing toxicity.
○ Toxicity of chemical mixtures.
○ Absorption, distribution and excretion of toxic agents, acute and chronic toxicity, concept of Bioassay and its applications in toxicology, threshold limit value, margin of safety, therapeutic index.
○ Biotransformation: Principles and types.
○ Biomagnification of pesticides, heavy metals and radioactive substances.
Topic 16: Environmental Biotechnology: Bioremediation – definition, types and factors affecting Bioremediation. Bioindicators, Biofertilizers, Biofuels and Biosensors. Genetically modified organisms and biosafety.
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Unit IV: Environmental Geosciences

Topic 1: Composition and classification of Earth’s interior.
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Topic 2: Basics of seismology, Types of seismic waves and their role in the study of Earth’s interior.
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Topic 3: Geological time scale.
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Topic 4: Geomagnetism: Magnetic and gravitational fields of the Earth.
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Topic 5: Continental drift theory, evidences and contradictions.
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Topic 6: Plate tectonics and Neo tectonics.
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Topic 7: theory of isostasy and global isostatic adjustment.
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Topic 8: Major rock types and their classification, rock cycle, types of folds and faults.
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Topic 9: Concept of steady state and equilibrium, Energy budget of the earth.
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Topic 10: Earth’s thermal environment and seasons.
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Topic 11: Coriolis force, pressure gradient force, frictional force, geo-strophic wind field, gradient wind.
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Topic 12: Major climates of the world (Equatorial, Savannah, Hot desert, Mediterranean, Steppe).
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Topic 13: Climate of India, western disturbances, Indian monsoon, droughts, El Nino, La Nina.
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Topic 14: Concept of residence time and rates of natural cycles.
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Topic 15: Geophysical fields.
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Topic 16: Weathering including weathering reactions, erosion, transportation and deposition of sediments.
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Topic 17: Factors affecting landform development.
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Topic 18: Geomorphological systems (Fluvial, Karst, Aeolian, Glacial).
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Topic 19: Natural Hazards: Catastrophic geological hazards – floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanism, avalanche, tsunami and cloud bursts. Prediction of hazards and mitigation of their impacts.
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Unit V: Energy and Environment

Topic 1: Sun as source of energy; solar radiation and its spectral characteristics.
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Topic 2: Fossil fuels: classification, composition, physico-chemical characteristics and energy content of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Shale oil, Coal bed Methane, Gas hydrates.
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Topic 3: Gross-calorific value and net-calorific value.
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Topic 4: 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).
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Topic 5: Nuclear energy – fission and fusion, Nuclear fuels, Nuclear reactor – principles and types.
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Topic 6: Bioenergy: methods to produce energy from biomass.
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Topic 7: Green fuels.
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Topic 8: Waste Energy recovery.
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Topic 9: Environmental impacts of Energy production and consumption.
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Unit VI: Environmental Pollution and Management

Topic 1: Air Pollution: Sources and types of Pollutants – Natural and anthropogenic sources, primary and secondary pollutants.
Subtopics:
○ Criteria air pollutants.
○ 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.
Topic 2: Noise Pollution: Sources and effects on human health. Control of noise pollution.
Subtopics:
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Topic 3: Water Pollution: Types and sources of water pollution. Impact on humans, plants and animals.
Subtopics:
○ Drinking water treatment: Coagulation and flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration, Disinfection and Softening.
○ Wastewater Treatment: Primary, Secondary and Advanced treatment methods.
Topic 4: Soil Pollution, Soil forming minerals and process of soil formation, Inorganic and organic components of soils, Soil types.
Subtopics:
○ Analysis of soil quality.
○ Causes, impacts and control of Soil Pollution.
Topic 5: Thermal, Marine and Radioactive Pollution: Sources, impacts and control.
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Topic 6: Solid Waste – types and sources.
Subtopics:
○ Solid waste characteristics, generation rates, solid waste components, proximate and ultimate analyses of solid wastes.
○ Solid waste management. Recycling, recovery of materials for recycling and direct manufacture of solid waste products.
○ composting and vermicomposting, biomethanation of solid waste.
○ Disposal of solid wastes – sanitary land filling and its management, incineration of solid waste.
Topic 7: Hazardous waste – Types, characteristics and health impacts.
Subtopics:
○ Hazardous waste management: Treatment Methods – neutralization, oxidation reduction, precipitation, solidification, stabilization, incineration and final disposal.
Topic 8: e-waste: classification, methods of handling and disposal.
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Topic 9: Fly ash: sources, composition and utilisation.
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Topic 10: Plastic waste: sources, consequences and management. Microplastics and Nanoplastics.
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Topic 11: Air borne diseases: Tuberculosis, Influenza, bronchial asthma.
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Topic 12: Water borne diseases: Cholera, Hepatitis, Typhoid.
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Topic 13: Soil borne diseases: (Tetanus, Botulism)
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Unit VII: Natural Resources, Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development

Topic 1: Natural resources: concept and classification, forest resources, water resources, mineral resources, Energy resources (Renewable and Non-renewable).
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Topic 2: Environmental economics: definition and scope, Natural capital and flow, Concept of intangibles and externalities, Carbon credits and carbon market, Ecosystem Services and its Typologies, Valuation and accounting of ecosystem services.
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Topic 3: Methods of environmental valuation, (empirical approaches, revealed preference methods and direct methods).
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Topic 4: Incentives for ecosystem services (IES) in the Himalayas.
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Topic 5: Concept of sustainable development.
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Topic 6: Sustainable development goals.
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Topic 7: Circular economy.
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Topic 8: Green infrastructure.
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Topic 9: Sustainable cities and globalization, green technology, 3 R’s of green technology: recycle, renew and reduce.
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Topic 10: Green buildings, history of green buildings, need and relevance of green buildings over conventional buildings.
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Topic 11: LEED certified building, Eco-mark certification, establishment of Eco-mark in India, its importance and implementation.
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Topic 12: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
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Topic 13: Life cycle assessment (LCA).
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Topic 14: Compact florescent light (CFL) and cogeneration.
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Unit VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation

Topic 1: Aims and objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
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Topic 2: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
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Topic 3: EIA Guidelines.
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Topic 4: Impact Assessment Methodologies.
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Topic 5: Procedure for reviewing EIA of developmental projects.
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Topic 6: Lifecycle analysis, cost-benefit analysis.
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Topic 7: Guidelines for Environmental Audit.
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Topic 8: Environmental Planning as a part of EIA and Environmental Audit.
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Topic 9: Environmental Management System Standards (ISO14000 series).
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Topic 10: EIA Notification, 2006 and amendments from time to time.
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Topic 11: Eco-labeling schemes.
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Topic 12: Overview of Environmental Laws in India: Constitutional provisions in India (Article 48A and 51A).
Subtopics:
○ Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 amendments 1991.
○ Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
○ Indian Forest Act, Revised 1982.
○ 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 Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and Rules 1991.
○ Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
○ National Environmental Policy, 2006.
Topic 13: Environmental Conventions and Agreements:
Subtopics:
○ 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.
○ Copenhagen Summit, 2009.
○ Paris Agreement.
○ IPCC, UNEP, IGBP.
○ Agenda 2030.
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Unit IX: Environmentalism and Environmental Education

Topic 1: Environmentalism: Concept and history.
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Topic 2: Interaction between Earth, Man and Environment.
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Topic 3: Environmental ethics.
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Topic 4: Environmental justice.
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Topic 5: The monetization frontier.
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Topic 6: Environmental politics.
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Topic 7: Environment-Development Divide.
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Topic 8: Environmental organizations (EPA, UNEP, IUCN, WHO).
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Topic 9: Environmental education: Aims, objectives and principles.
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Topic 10: Environmental protection and religious teachings.
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Topic 11: Environmental literacy and activism.
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Topic 12: Environmental policy and public attitude.
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Topic 13: Concept of Environmental Governance-Global and Indian Perspective.
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Topic 14: issues and challenges in Environmental Governance.
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Topic 15: Role of institutions in Governance and policy.
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Topic 16: The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC).
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Topic 17: Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER).
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Unit X: Emerging Environmental Issues and Challenges

Topic 1: Climate change vulnerability and risk.
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Topic 2: Biodiversity loss.
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Topic 3: Desertification and land degradation.
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Topic 4: Acidification.
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Topic 5: deforestation.
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Topic 6: pollution.
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Topic 7: Waste management.
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Topic 8: Human population growth and environment.
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Topic 9: Epidemics, Zoonotic diseases and pandemics.
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Topic 10: Water and food security linkages.
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Topic 11: Hazardous Waste, and waste.
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Topic 12: Radioactive waste.
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Topic 13: Emerging Environmental Contaminants.
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Topic 14: Environmental Disasters: Minnamata Disaster, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, 1989, Bhopal Gas Disaster, 1984, Chernobyl Disaster, 1986, Fukusima Daiichi nuclear disaster, 2011.
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Topic 15: Current Environmental Issues in India:
Subtopics:
○ Environmental issues related to water resource projects – Narmada dam, Tehri dam, Hydro-power projects in Jammu & Kashmir, Rain water harvesting.
○ Conservation of wetlands, Ramsar sites in India.
○ Soil erosion, reclamation of degraded land, desertification and its control.
○ Forest Conservation – Chipko movement, Appiko movement.
○ Wildlife conservation projects: Project Tiger, Project Elephant.
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EXAM STRUCTURE / SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
(Only if explicitly provided in the uploaded document)
[Examination structure not provided in the source document]
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY (Auto-Generated)
• Total Units: 10
• Total Topics: 113
• Exam: Lecturer (10+2) Environmental Science
• Subject: Environmental Science
• Exam Year: 2025
✓ Extracted verbatim from the official uploaded document