1. Ecology & Ecosystem Fundamentals
- Concepts: Hierarchy of ecology (organism to biosphere), ecosystem structure (biotic/abiotic), and homeostasis.
- Dynamics: Energy flow (food chains/webs), ecological pyramids, and productivity.
- Biogeochemical Cycles: Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur cycles.
- Population Ecology: Growth models, carrying capacity, and species interactions (keystone, indicator, invasive).
2. Biodiversity and Conservation
- Levels: Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity; Alpha, Beta, and Gamma diversity.
- Status in India: 10 Biogeographic zones, biodiversity hotspots (Western Ghats, Himalayas), and endemic species.
- Conservation Methods:
- In-situ: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves (MAB program), and Sacred Groves.
- Ex-situ: Seed banks, botanical gardens, and zoological parks.
- Species Programs: Projects for Tiger, Elephant, Snow Leopard, Dolphin, and Great Indian Bustard.
3. Climate Change & Global Warming
- Basics: Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming Potential (GWP), and ocean acidification.
- Mitigation: Carbon sequestration, carbon credits, carbon markets, and geo-engineering.
- Global Frameworks: UNFCCC (COP27/COP28 updates), Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, and IPCC Reports.
- Indian Initiatives: National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), Green Hydrogen Policy, and ISA.
4. Environmental Pollution & Waste Management
- Pollution Types: Air (AQI, NCAP, GRAP), Water (eutrophication, algal blooms), Soil, Noise, and Plastic.
- Waste Management: Rules (2016) for Solid Waste, E-waste, Plastic Waste, and Bio-medical Waste.
- New Concerns: Light pollution, microplastics, and groundwater contamination (Arsenic/Uranium).
5. Environmental Governance & Laws
- Acts: Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Forest Conservation Act 1980, Environment Protection Act 1986, and Biodiversity Act 2002.
- Institutions: National Green Tribunal (NGT), CPCB, and Central Zoo Authority.
- International Conventions: Ramsar (Wetlands), CITES, CBD (Nagoya/Cartagena), Montreal Protocol (Kigali Amendment), and UNCCD.
6. Latest 2025–2026 Current Affairs
- Climate Risk Index 2026: Recent rankings and vulnerability assessments for India.
- Environmental (Protection) Fund Rules: New 2026 rules for utilizing funds on pollution mitigation and restoration.
- Schemes: MISHTI (mangroves) and Amrit Darohar (wetlands).
- Recent Reports: Living Planet Report 2024/2025, IPCC updates, and State of Forest Report.
- Species in News (2025-26): Lion-Tailed Macaque, Himalayan Brown Bear, Chinese Pangolin, and Indian Skimmer.
- Renewable Energy: India’s progress toward Net Zero 2070, Green Hydrogen Mission, and E20 petrol targets.
Share this: