IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENT TOPIC WITH EXPLANATION | UPPSC ENVIRONMENT NOTES
Below is a high-yield topic list frequently asked in UPPSC Prelims and Mains from subject Environment. I have grouped them as per syllabus relevance UPPSC Environment Notes.
1.Ecology & Ecosystem Basics
- Levels of ecological organization
- Food chain, food web, ecological pyramids
- Energy flow in ecosystem (Lindeman’s 10% Law)
- Biogeochemical cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Water)
- Ecological succession
2.Biodiversity & Conservation
- Types of biodiversity (Genetic, Species, Ecosystem)
- Biodiversity hotspots in India
- Endangered, endemic, keystone species
- In-situ and Ex-situ conservation
- Sacred groves in India
3.Protected Areas in India
- National Parks
- Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Biosphere Reserves
- Ramsar Wetlands
- Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger
4.Environmental Pollution
- Air pollution (AQI, greenhouse gases, smog)
- Water pollution (BOD, COD, eutrophication)
- Soil pollution
- Noise pollution
- Solid waste and e-waste management
5.Climate Change & Global Warming
- Greenhouse effect
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports
- Carbon footprint
- Climate agreements (Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement)
- India’s climate commitments (NDCs – Nationally Determined Contributions)
6.Environmental Laws & Policies
- Environment Protection Act 1986
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972
- Forest Conservation Act 1980
- National Green Tribunal (NGT – National Green Tribunal)
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
7.Forest & Wildlife in India
- Types of forests in India
- Forest cover reports
- Social forestry & Joint Forest Management
- Human-wildlife conflict
8.Sustainable Development
- Concept of sustainable development
- SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
- Circular economy
- Renewable vs non-renewable resources
9.Disaster & Environmental Hazards
- Natural disasters and ecological impact
- Deforestation, desertification
- Ozone depletion
10.Uttar Pradesh Specific Environment Topics
- Forest cover of Uttar Pradesh
- Important wildlife sanctuaries in UP
- River pollution issues (Ganga, Yamuna)
- Wetlands of UP
11.Important International Conventions
- Ramsar Convention (Wetlands)
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
- UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
- CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
- Exam Tip
- UPPSC frequently asks definitions, Acts, reports, protected areas, and current climate initiatives. Static + current affairs linkage is essential.