Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences

This particular unit is all about the fundamentals of what

Environmental Sciences is about. Most of the topics involved
include the Definitions, the Principles, and the Importance of
Environmental Sciences, the Interaction between Earth and
Man, Natural Resources, and other topics that emphasise our
basic knowledge of the environment.

Chapter Topics

The Fundamentals of
Environmental Definitions, Principles, and Scope
Sciences

Structures and Compositions of the 4 Spheres:

Spheres of the Earth Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere and
Biosphere

Laws of Mass And Energy Transfer, Heat Transfer,

Thermodynamics Material Balance,

Pressure and Temperature, Precipitation and

Meteorological
Humidity, Mixing Ratios, Radiation and Wind
Parameters
Velocity, Lapse Rates, Wind Roses

Interaction between
Biogeographic Provinces, Agroclimatic Zones
Earth, Man, and
Of India, Sustainable Development
Environment

Principles & Applications of Remote Sensing &

GIS, Digital Image Processing, Ground
Natural Resources Truthing, Cover/Land Use, Planning and
and their Assessment Management, Urban Sprawling, Vegetation
Study, Forestry, Natural Resources, Climate
Change
 Environmental Education and Awareness,
Ethics and Awareness
Environmental Ethics
Environmental Chemistry
This unit deals with the chemical sciences of environmental
studies, wherein students learn about the classification of
elements, composition of air, the characteristics of
hydrocarbons, biogeochemical cycles, pesticides, and their
effects, and many more.

Chapter Topics

Classification Of Elements, Stoichiometry, Gibbs’

The Fundamentals Energy, Chemical Potential, Chemical Kinetics,
of Environmental Chemical Equilibria, Solubility Of Gases In Water,
Chemistry The Carbonate System, Unsaturated And Saturated
Hydrocarbons, Radioisotopes

Particles, Ions And Radicals In The Atmosphere,

Chemical Speciation, Chemical Processes In The
Formation Of Inorganic And Organic Particulate
Composition of Air
Matters, Thermochemical And Photochemical
Reactions In The Atmosphere, Oxygen And Ozone
Chemistry, Photochemical Smog

Water As A Universal Solvent, Concept Of Do,

Hydrological Cycle Bod And Cod, Sedimentation, Coagulation,
Flocculation, Filtration, Ph And Redox Potential

Inorganic and
Biogeochemical Cycles — Nitrogen, Carbon,
Organic
Phosphorus, and Sulphur
Components of Soil

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

Titrimetry, Gravimetry, Bomb Calorimetry,

Chromatography (Paper Chromatography, TLC,
Principles of GC, and HPLC), Flame photometry,
analytical methods Spectrophotometry (UV-VIS, AAS, ICP-AES,
ICP-MS), Electrophoresis, XRF, XRD, NMR,
FTIR, GC-MS, SEM, TEM
Environmental Biology
This unit is similar to Environmental Chemistry; it deals with
the biological sciences surrounded environmental studies.
Students get to learn about the origin of life, ecosystems,
biotic and abiotic structures, population and the concepts
around its capacity, toxicology and microbiology, and many
other in-depth topics under their respective chapters.

Chapter Topics

Ecology as an
Origin of Life and Speciation, Human Ecology
Interdisciplinary
and Settlement
Science

Biotic And Abiotic Components, Energy Flow In

Ecosystems, Energy Flow Models, Food Chains
Ecosystem And Webs, Biogeochemical Cycles, Ecological
Structure and Succession, Species Diversity, Edge Effects,
Functions Ecological Habitats And Niche, Ecosystem
Stability and Services, Factors Affecting
Ecosystem

Types Of Ecosystem: Deserts, Forests,

Basis of Ecosystem
Rangelands, Wetlands, Lotics, Lentics, Estuarine
Classification
(Mangroves), Oceanics

Biomes Concepts, Classifications, Distributions,

 Characteristics, Types (Tundra, Taiga, Grassland,
Deciduous, Highland Icy Alpine, Chaparral,
Savanna, Tropical Rainforests)

Characteristics of Population, Carrying Capacity,

Growth And Regulations, Fluctuations, Dispersion
Population Ecology
And Metapopulation, ‘R’ And ‘K’ Species,
Keystone Species

Definition, Community Concept, Types and

Community
Interaction (Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, And
Ecology
Allelopathy), Biological Invasions

Definition, Types, Biodiversity: Importance and

Threats, ‘Hotspots’, Hotspots In India, Measures
Biodiversity and its of Biodiversity, Strategies for Biodiversity
Conservation Conservation, Gene Pool, Biopiracy and
Bioprospecting, Restoration Ecology, Flora And
Fauna of India

Concept of
—
Industrial Ecology

Absorption, Distribution And Excretion Of Toxic

Agents, Acute And Chronic Toxicity, Concept Of
Toxicology and Bioassay, Threshold Limit Value, Margin Of
Microbiology Safety, Therapeutic Index, Biotransformation,
Major Water-borne Diseases, and Air-borne
Microbes
Environmental Geosciences
This unit is the final unit in the 3-part science aspects of
environmental studies. Students explore topics that range from
simple topics such as the origins of the earth, its distribution
with water, the natural resources, and their availability to more
complex topics such as the hazards of the environment, and the
classification of elements on a geochemical level.

Chapter Topics

Primary Geochemical Differentiation, Formation of

Origin of Earth
Earth and its Components, Minerals And Rocks,
Formation Of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks,
Controls on Formation of Landforms, Steady State
and Equilibrium, Energy Budget, Thermal
Environment and Seasons, Coriolis Force, Pressure
Gradient Force, Frictional Force, Geostrophic Wind
Field, Gradient Wind, Climates of India, Western
Disturbances, Indian Monsoon, Droughts, El Nino,
La Nina, Residence Time, Natural Cycles,
Geophysical Fields

Weathering Reactions, Erosion, Transportation, and

Deposition of Sediments, Soil Formation, Clay
Weathering Minerals, Soil Physical, and Chemical Properties,
Soil Types and Climate Control On Soil Formation,
Cation Exchange Capacity, Mineralogical Controls

The abundance of Elements In Earth, Crust,

Geochemical
Hydrosphere and Biosphere, Partitioning of
Classification of
Elements, Geochemical Recycling Of Elements,
Elements
Paleoclimate

Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Major Basins and

Groundwater Provinces Of India, Darcy’s Law,
Groundwater Fluctuations, Hydraulic Conductivity,
Distribution of
Groundwater Tracers, Land Subsidence, Effects Of
Water on Earth
Excessive Use Of Groundwater, Groundwater
Quality, Pollution Of Groundwater Resources,
Ghyben-Herzberg Relation
 Exploitation and Related Environmental Concerns,
Natural Resource
Historical Perspective And Conservation Of Non-
Explanation
renewable Resources

Catastrophic Geological Hazards, Prediction Of

Natural Hazards
Hazards And Mitigation Of Their Impacts
Energy and Environment
Since the concept of environment and energies go hand in
hand, it's only necessary to have a fundamental understanding
of how the latter works. In this unit, students are exposed to
studies related to the types of energies produced by the likes of
sources such as the sun, water, air, nuclear and biological
components.

Chapter Topics

Solar Radiation and its Spectral Characteristics,

Sun as a Source of Fossil Fuels, Shale Oil, Coal Bed Methane, Gas
Energy Hydrates, Gross-calorific Value, and Net-
Calorific Value

Tidal Energy, Ocean Thermal Energy

Principles of
Conversion, Wind Power, Geothermal Energy,
Generation of
Solar Energy (Solar Collectors, Photo-Voltaic
Hydro-Power
Modules, Solar Ponds)

Fission and Fusion, Nuclear Fuels, Principles and

Nuclear Energy
Types of Nuclear Reactors

Bioenergy Methods to Produce Energy from Biomass

Energy Use Pattern, Emissions of CO2 in

Environmental
Developed And Developing Countries,
Implications of
Radioactive Forcing and Global Warming,
Energy Use
Large-Scale Exploitation Of Energy Sources
Environmental Pollution and Control
Most of this unit covers everything there is to know about
environmental pollution, and what we can do as human beings
to avert the crises causes by them. This includes air, water,
soil, noise, thermal and radioactive pollution, their sources,
types, impact on the environment, and the different ways in
which we could either control, mitigate, or eliminate them
through hypothetical, theoretical, or practical knowledge.

Chapter Topics

Sources And Types Of Pollutants, Period, Frequency

and Duration Of Sampling, Measurements of Ambient
Air Pollutants Concentration And Stack Emissions,
Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Air
Air Pollution
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

Sources, Weighting Networks, Measurement Of

Noise Indices, Noise Dose And Noise Pollution
Standards, Noise Control And Abatement Measures:
Noise Pollution
Active And Passive Methods, Vibrations And Their
Measurements, Impact Of Noise And Vibrations On
Human Health

Types, Sources, Impact on Life, Water Quality

Parameters, Indian Standards For Drinking Water
(ISO:10500, 2012), Drinking Water Treatment:
Coagulation And Flocculation, Sedimentation And
Water Pollution
Filtration, Disinfection And Softening, Wastewater
Treatment: Primary, Secondary And Advanced
Treatment Methods, Common Effluent Treatment
Plant

Soil Pollution Properties Of Soil, Analysis Of Soil Quality, Soil

 Pollution Control, Industrial Effluents And Their
Interactions With Soil Components, Soil
Microorganisms, Degradation Of Pesticides And
Synthetic Fertilizers

Thermal, Sources and Impact, Heat Islands, Abatement and

Marine, and Prevention, Coastal Management, Ionizing
Radioactive Radiations, Radiation Exposure, And Radiation
Pollution Standards, Radiation Protection
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
This unit largely covers the waste management aspects of
environmental conservation. Much of the emphasis is given to 

Chapter Topics

Types and Sources, Solid Waste Management,

Solid Waste Generation Rates, Solid Waste Components,
Proximate And Ultimate Analysis Of Solid Wastes

Solid Waste Container Systems - Hauled And Stationary,

Collection and Layout Of Collection Routes, Transfer Stations
Transportation And Transportation

Recycling, Recovery Of Materials For Recycling

And Direct Manufacturer Of Solid Waste Products,
Electrical Energy Generation From Solid Waste
Solid Waste
(Fuel Pellets, Refuse Derived Fuels), Composting
Processing and
And Vermicomposting, Biomethanation Of Solid
Recovery
Waste, Disposal Of Solid Wastes – Sanitary Land
Filling And Its Management, Incineration Of Solid
Waste

Hazardous Wastes 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

Environmental Assessment, Management, and Legislation
This unit covers everything that the student would need to
know about the management of environmental health, how
they could assess it, what legislations and policies have been
passed or are currently being discussed to ensure its
protection, what the aims and objectives of the people are as
far as the environment is concerned, what human beings could
do to further protect the environment, what the cost-benefit
analysis is like, and so on.

Chapter Topics

Environmental Impact Statement And

Environmental Management Plan, Eia
Guidelines, Impact Assessment Methodologies,
Procedure For Reviewing Eia Of Developmental
Aims and Objectives Projects, Life-cycle Analysis, Cost-Benefit
of Environmental Analysis, Guidelines For Environmental Audit,
Impact Assessment 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

Hazard Identification, Hazard Accounting,

Risk Assessment Scenarios Of Exposure, Risk Characterization
And Risk Management
 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
Overview of
Movement) Rules, 2016, The Plastic Waste
Environmental Laws
Management Rules, 2016, The Bio-medical
in India
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

Policies of the National Forest Policy 1988, National Water

Environment Policy 2002, National Environmental Policy 2006

Environmental Stockholm Conference On Human Environment

Conventions and 1972, Montreal Protocol, 1987, Conference Of
Agreements 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
Statistical Approaches and Modelling in Environmental
Sciences
This is the most technical unit so far for Environmental
Sciences. In real life, to carry out plans, sufficient data is
required to permit the practicality of the sciences involved.
This unit covers everything there is to know about collecting
data related to the environment, what sort of attributes and
variables you must pay attention to, what the different types of
statistical models and methods are, and so on.

Chapter Topics

Types Of Variables, Scales Of Measurement,

Measurement Of Central Tendency And
Dispersion, Standard Error, Measure Of
Attributes
Skewness And Kurtosis, Probability and
and
Sampling Theories, Distributions - Normal,
Variables
Log-normal, Binomial, Poisson, T, X2 and F-
Distribution, Correlation, Regression, Tests Of
Hypothesis

Linear, Simple And Multiple Regression

Attributes
Models, Validation And Forecasting, Models
and
Of Population Growth and Interactions: Lotka-
Variables
Volterra Model, Leslie’s Matrix Model
Contemporary Environmental Issues
This subject matter focuses on the current environmental
issues occurring in India. It mostly covers chapters such as
Water Conservation exploring the development of watersheds
and rainwater harvesting, National Action Plan on Climate
Change, Soil Erosion, Waste Management, Conservation
Projects, and many others. It’s quite possibly the most
essential subject matter so far due to the urgency is seen in its
contemporary setting.

Chapter Topics

Biodiversity Loss, Climate Change,

Global
Ozone Layer Depletion, Sea Level Rise,
Environmental
International Efforts For Environmental
Issues
Protection

Eight National Missions – National Solar

Mission, National Mission For Enhanced
Energy Efficiency, National Mission On
Sustainable Habitat, National Water
National Action Mission, National Mission For
Plan on Climate Sustaining The Himalayan Ecosystem,
Change National Mission For A ‘green India’,
National Mission For Sustainable
Agriculture, National Mission On
Strategic Knowledge For Climate
Change

Environmental Issues Related To Water

Resource Projects - Narmada Dam, Tehri
Current
Dam, Almatti Dam, Kaveri And
Environmental
Mahanadi, Hydro-power Projects In
Issues in India
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal And
North-eastern States

Development Of Watersheds, Rain

Water
Water Harvesting, and Ground Water
Conservation
Recharge
National River Namami Gange And Yamuna Action
Conservation Plan Plan

Eutrophication
Conservation Of Wetlands, Ramsar Sites
and Restoration of
In India
Lakes

Reclamation Of Degraded Land,

Soil Erosion
Desertification And Its Control

Adaptability, Energy Security, Food

Climate Change
Security, And Sustainability

Chipko Movement, Appiko Movement,

Forest Silent Valley Movement And
Conservation Gandhamardan Movement, People
Biodiversity Register

Wildlife Project Tiger, Project Elephant,

Conservation Crocodile Conservation, Goi-UNDP Sea
Projects Turtle Project, Indo-rhino Vision

Carbon
Sequestration and —
Carbon Credits

Waste
Swacch Bharat Abhiyan
Management

Sustainable
Green Building, Griha Rating Norms
Habitat

Vehicular
Emission Norms in —
India
 Epidemiological
Fluorosis, Arsenicosis, Goitre, Dengue
Issues

Minamata Disaster, Love Canal Disaster,

Environmental Bhopal Gas Disaster, 1984, Chernobyl
Disasters Disaster, 1986, Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Disaster, 2011

UGC NET 2021 Best Books for Environmental Science

Here are some of the best books that we believe would help
you cover most of the topics that we talked about above.

 Environmental Science — SC Santra

 Environmental Science Catalyst — Rupendra Singh
 CBSE UGC-NET Environmental Science (Paper II &
III) — BB Singh, Ravindra Pandey
 Ecology Environmental Science and Conservation —
JS Singh, SP Singh, SR Gupta
 Introduction to Environmental Engineering And
Science — Gilbert M Masters, Wendell P Ela