Environmental Studies

The environment and the multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; ecosystem structure (abiotic and biotic components — producers, consumers, decomposers) and function; unidirectional energy flow and the 10% law; food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids; gross and net primary productivity; ecological succession (primary, secondary, climax); and the forest, grassland, desert and aquatic ecosystem types.

Renewable versus non-renewable resources — and why renewables are renewable only within their regeneration rate; land resources, land-use change, soil erosion and desertification; forest resources and the causes and impacts of deforestation (mining, dams, tribal displacement); water resources, groundwater over-draft, floods, droughts and India's inter-state water disputes; energy needs and alternative sources; the role of the individual and equitable, sustainable use.

The three levels of biological diversity (genetic, species, ecosystem); ecosystem and biodiversity services and their values; India's biogeographic zones and its four biodiversity hotspots; India as a mega-diversity nation; endangered and endemic species; threats — habitat loss, poaching, man-wildlife conflict; and in-situ (parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves) versus ex-situ (zoos, gardens, gene banks) conservation.

The definition, causes, effects and control of air, water, soil, noise and nuclear pollution; the CPCB ambient noise standards and NAAQS; solid-waste management and the 3Rs; the role of the individual — and, for interiors, indoor air quality: VOCs from paints/adhesives, formaldehyde from composite wood, sick-building syndrome, and the design controls that prevent them.

Sustainability and sustainable development (the Brundtland definition, the three pillars); water conservation, rain-water harvesting and watershed management; climate change and the greenhouse effect; ozone depletion (a different problem — Montreal Protocol 1987); acid rain; India's environmental laws with correct years (Wildlife 1972, Water 1974, Forest 1980, Air 1981, Environment 1986) and the EIA; and, for interiors, embodied energy and green-building rating (GRIHA, IGBC, ECBC).