The
Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
Definition,
Scope and Importance; Indicators for Sustainable Development;
Natural
Resources: Forest, Land, Mineral, Food, Water and Energy Resources; Uses,
Benefits, Safety, Security and over-exploitation; Role of an individual in
conservation of natural resources.
Sustainability
Theory and Practice; Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles;
Ecosystem: Concepts, Types, Characteristic Features, Structure and
Functions
Biodiversity
and Its Conservation
Introduction,
Definition, Types and Levels of Biodiversity; Genetic, Species and Ecosystem
diversity; Species Richness; Indigeneous Knowledge, Magnitude and Distribution
of Biodiversity;
Medicinal
and Economic Value of biodiversity; Consumptive and Productive use;
Biodiversity at Global, National and Local levels.
Biogeographical
Classification of India - India as a mega-diversity nation and Hot spots;
Threats to biodiversity; Endangered and endemic species of India;
Conservation
of biodiversity: In-situ conservation of biodiversity.
Relevance
of Biotechnology and Nanotechnology in Sustainable Development, Production and
Environment Protection
Environmental
Pollution and Its Problems
Local
and Global Issues - Definition, causes, effects and control measures of:
a)
Air pollution, b) Water pollution, c) Soil pollution, d) Marine pollution, e)
Noise pollution, f) Thermal pollution and g) Nuclear hazards
Role of an individual in pollution prevention and case
studies of pollution.
Solid
and Hazardous Waste Management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban
and industrial wastes; Development of Value added products from Solid
Wastes;
Waste
Minimization in Manufacturing Industry: Alternative Methods and Routes for
Process Development; Reduce, Recycle and Reuse; Cost Beneft analysis of a
Process or Method and Importance of Mass Balance; Case studies with refernce to
Pharma Industry;
Green
House Gas Effects: Climate change, global warming, acid rain and forest, ozone
layer and ground water depletion.
Environmental
Problems in India: Drinking Water, Sanitation and Public Health;
Social
Issues and the Environment
Human
Population and Environment: Population Growth and Population Explosion;
Social
Problems related to poverty, energy, water, shelter, infrastructure, food,
health, sanitation, hygiene, land scape, livelihood, information, environment
and value education. Effects of Human Activities on the quality of Environment:
Urbanization; Communication, Transportation, Industrialization and Green
revolution;
Water
conservation, Rain Water harvesting, Watershed Management;
Resettlement
and Rehabilitation of People, its problems and concerns. Case Studies.
Environmental ethics; Civic Sense, Issues and Possible Solutions.
Disaster
management plan: Natural and Man Made disasters, floods, earthquake, cyclone,
tsunami, landslides, nuclear accidents, fire and bioterrorism;
Case
studies related to social issues: Wasteland reclamation. Consumerism and waste
products.
Institutional
Setup and Legislation
Government
Regulatory Bodies in Monitoring and Enforcement of Environmental Regulations;
Environment Protection Acts: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
Act, EIA Notification, Hazardous Waste Rules and Municipal Solid Waste
Rules;
Right
to Information Act, Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation Act,
International
Conventions on Environment: Stockholm, Rio, Basel, Arhus, Ramsur and
Kyoto.
Environment
Impact Assesment (EIA) Studies: Definition, Classification, Direct, Indirect
and Cumulative Assessment of Impacts; Reversible, Irreversible, Negative and
Positive Impacts;
Eco
Audit and Eco Labelling (ISO: 14000); Environmental Management Plan (EMP);
Design for Environment; Relavance of Command Control Paradigm in Environmental
Governance; Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation. Public
awareness.
Case
Studies.