NDSS Academy

Environment & Ecology

Ecology, biodiversity, climate change and environmental laws.

2 MonthsDuration 11Chapters51Topics
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Syllabus · पाठ्यक्रम

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01Ecology and Ecosystem Basics 5 topics
  1. Levels of organisation
  2. Components of an ecosystem
  3. Habitat, niche, ecotone and edge effect
  4. Ecological succession
  5. Population interactions
02Functions of an Ecosystem 5 topics
  1. Food chains and food webs
  2. Energy flow and ten per cent law
  3. Ecological pyramids
  4. Biogeochemical cycles
  5. Biomagnification
03Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems 5 topics
  1. Forests, grasslands and deserts
  2. Wetlands and Ramsar sites
  3. Mangroves and estuaries
  4. Coral reefs
  5. Lakes and eutrophication
04Biodiversity and its Conservation 4 topics
  1. Levels and values of biodiversity
  2. Biodiversity hotspots
  3. Threats to biodiversity
  4. In-situ and ex-situ conservation
05Protected Areas and Wildlife of India 4 topics
  1. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries
  2. Biosphere reserves and MAB
  3. Tiger reserves and Project Tiger / Elephant
  4. Important species and their habitats
06IUCN Red List and Species Protection 4 topics
  1. IUCN and Red List categories
  2. Wildlife Protection Act 1972 schedules
  3. CITES and CMS
  4. Invasive alien species
07Environmental Pollution 5 topics
  1. Air pollution and AQI
  2. Water pollution, BOD and diseases
  3. Soil, noise and radioactive pollution
  4. Solid, plastic and e-waste management
  5. Ozone depletion
08Climate Change 5 topics
  1. Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases
  2. Global warming impacts
  3. IPCC and UNFCCC
  4. Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
  5. Mitigation, adaptation and carbon markets
09International Environmental Conventions 5 topics
  1. Stockholm 1972 and UNEP
  2. Rio Earth Summit 1992
  3. Ramsar, CBD and its protocols
  4. Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment
  5. Desertification (UNCCD)
10Environmental Laws, Institutions and Policies in India 5 topics
  1. Constitutional provisions
  2. Water, Air and Environment Protection Acts
  3. Forest and biodiversity laws
  4. NGT, CPCB and EIA
  5. National Action Plan on Climate Change
11Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development 4 topics
  1. Renewable energy sources
  2. International Solar Alliance
  3. Sustainable development and SDGs
  4. Green economy and sustainable agriculture

About

You will be able to

  • Explain ecosystem structure, energy flow, food chains and biogeochemical cycles
  • Describe major ecosystems including wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs
  • Identify biodiversity hotspots, protected areas and key species of India
  • Explain types of pollution, their effects and control measures
  • Explain climate change science and the main international agreements
  • Recall Indian environmental laws, institutions and policies
  • Solve UPSC / UPPSC prelims environment questions

Who it is for

  • UPSC Civil Services (Prelims) aspirants
  • UPPSC PCS and other state PSC aspirants
  • Forest service and other exam aspirants

What you need

  • Graduation (pursuing or completed)
  • NCERT biology chapters on ecology (Class 12) are helpful

Questions

Why a separate environment module?

UPSC asks many environment questions every year; this module covers ecology, biodiversity, climate change and laws in depth.

Are species and protected areas in news covered?

The module covers lasting facts. The centre adds a monthly current-affairs set for new reports, COP meetings and places in news.

Which books form the base?

NCERT Class 12 biology ecology chapters and our structured notes on conventions, laws and institutions.

Is it useful for state PSCs?

Yes. UPPSC and other PSCs follow a similar environment syllabus.

Download the syllabus (PDF)

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