CUET Environmental Science Syllabus 2027: Unit-Wise Topics

I. Population Dynamics

• Factors causing population change: Birth, Death, Immigration, Emigration

• Relationship between population change factors

• Age Structure and its significance

• Population Pyramids – interpretation and implications

• Rate of population change

• Survivorship Curves (Type I, Type II, Type III)

• r- and K-selection strategies and their differences

II. Human Populations (Malthusian Model & Demographic Transition)

• Definition of Carrying Capacity

• Malthusian Theory and concept of overpopulation

• Resource limitation and population growth

• Criticism and limitations of Malthusian theory

• Population Growth vs. Resource Consumption across and within nations

• Demographic Transition Model

• Stages of demographic transition

• Factors influencing demographic transition

III. Population Regulation

• Exponential Growth (J-shaped curve)

• Logistic Growth (S-shaped curve)

• Growth without regulation vs. regulated growth

• Factors regulating population size:  Space  Food and water  Territories  Predators  Weather and climate  Parasites and diseases  Natural disasters  Self-regulation mechanisms

IV. Threats to the Ecosystem

• Habitat destruction

• Genetic erosion

• Biodiversity loss

• Expanding agriculture

• Water impoundment (dams and reservoirs)

• Waste generated by human societies

• Increasing human consumption

• Causes and consequences of threats to ecosystem provisioning and regulatory functions

• Suitable real-world examples

• Definition of Pollutants, Contaminants, Sources, Sinks, and Receptors

• Impacts of Air, Water, and Soil Pollution on human health and ecosystems

• Acts and Rules related to prevention and control of Air, Water, Soil, and Noise Pollution in India

• Structure, composition, and temperature profile of the atmosphere

• Primary and Secondary Pollutants

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

• Importance of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (gaseous and particulate pollutants)

• Industrial and vehicular pollution

• Pollution control measures: emission standards, CNG programme

• Acid rain: formation and impacts

• Smog and Photochemical Smog

• Tropospheric Ozone

• Monitoring at emission sources and ambient air quality

• Criteria for monitoring stations (types, number, frequency of data collection)

• Ambient air sampling characteristics and basic sampling considerations

• Air monitoring techniques:  Manual: Passive Samplers, High Volume Samplers, Bubbler Systems  Instrumental: Photometric techniques, NDIR, Chemiluminescence (principle and applications)

• Air Quality Index (AQI)• National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Programme

• Functions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)

• National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and its objectives

• Distribution of water on Earth

• Sources of water pollution:  Quantitative and Qualitative  Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable  Point and Non-point sources

• Pollution in surface water, groundwater, lakes, ponds, and rivers

• Water Quality Indicators:  pH  Electrical Conductivity (EC)  Turbidity  Salinity  Alkalinity  Hardness  Dissolved Oxygen (DO)  Temperature  Nitrates and Sulphates  Heavy Metals and Pesticides  Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)  Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

• Lake Stratification• Eutrophication

• Sources of soil pollution:  Industries  Mining  Agricultural runoff  Sewage water  Other anthropogenic activities

• Soil Characteristics:  Physical attributes  Chemical attributes  Biological attributes

• Soil Types

• Soil Moisture

• Soil pH and Soil Acidity

• Experimental methods for assessing:  Soil Respiration  Soil pH  Soil Aggregate Stability  Infiltration Rate

• Meaning of Urbanisation

• Push and Pull Factors of migration

• Consequences on rural and urban sectors

• Future trends and urbanisation projections

• Definition of Economic Development

• Natural Resources and their role in development

• Relationship between Development and Environment

• Sustainability, Environmental Impact, and Equity

• Overuse and exploitation of natural resources

• Diversion of scarce resources

• Disparate access to resources

• Increasing waste generation and pollution

• Principles of Local Self-Governance

• Antyodaya and Sarvodaya

• Panchayati Raj System

• Local self-sufficiency and local markets

• Village as the foundation of development

• Promotion of cottage industries and intermediate technologies

• Employment-oriented development

• Gandhian perspective on environmental sustainability and Indian way of life

• Urban challenges:  Sanitation  Water management  Transport  Energy  Air quality  Housing  Economic and political constraints

• Indigenous urban management practices:  Rainwater harvesting  Garbage segregation  Composting  Energy from solid and liquid waste  Sewage management  Dry toilets  Decentralised Water Management System (DEWATS)

• Features of New Urbanism and Smart Growth

• Case Studies:  Bogotá (Traffic Management)  Cuba (Urban Organic Agriculture)  Curitiba, Brazil (Urban Planning & Traffic)  Cochabamba (Water Management & Privatisation Protests)

• Pre-colonial agriculture: subsistence farming, multi-cropping, seed diversity, soil health management

• Colonial agriculture: commercial crops, taxation, decline of traditional practices, Bengal Famine

• Comparative analysis of pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial agriculture and their impacts

• Macro vs. Micro Irrigation

• Canal irrigation and dams

• Sprinkler irrigation• Drip/Trickle irrigation• Dug wells

• Advantages and disadvantages of each method

• Traditional rainwater harvesting systems:  Tankas  Khadins  Ahar  Pynes  Zings  Johads  Eris

• Origin and objectives of the Green Revolution

• High Yielding Varieties (HYVs)

• Fertilisers and pesticides

• Mono-cropping

• Environmental, economic, and social impacts

• Advantages and disadvantages:  Agro-biodiversity  Soil health  Ecological impact of pesticides  Energy use  Input costs  Impact on small and medium farmers  Food security

• Mixed farming

• Mixed cropping

• Intercropping

• Crop rotation

• Sustainable water, soil, and pest management

• Organic fertilisers

• Bio-fertilisers

• Green manure (with examples)

• Bio-pesticides

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Eating locally produced food

• Traditional farming

• Natural farming• Organic farming

• Modern agriculture (HYVs, hybrid seeds, chemical inputs)

• Gene Revolution (Genetically Modified Seeds)

• Sustainable agriculture practices

• Storage of agricultural produce

• Food preservation methods:  Low temperature  High temperature  Drying  Canning  Salt preservation  Sugar preservation• Packaging

• Grading

• Transportation of food

• Food adulteration: definition, types, and harmful effects

• Food additives

• Quality certification marks:  ISI (Indian Standards Institute)  AGMARK  FPO (Fruit Products Order)

• Meaning and importance of Food Security

• Issues related to food production, storage, and accessibility

• Sustainable approaches to food security in developing cou

Natural Resources and Their Classification

• Classification of Natural Resources:  Abiotic and Biotic resources  Renewable and Non-renewable resources – Stock, Potential, and Actual resources – Ubiquitous and Localized resources

• Resource scarcity and economic growth

• Natural Resource Accounting

Physical Accounting

• Definition of Physical Accounting

• Basic principles

• Advantages and disadvantages

National Income and Economic Growth Indicators

• Definitions of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and GNP (Gross National Product)

• Comparison of GDP and GNP• Other measures of national income

• Advantages and limitations of GDP and GNP as indicators of economic growth

Environmental Economics

• Purpose and scope of Environmental Economics

• Defensive Expenditure: definition and classification

• Natural (Ecological) Capital

• Carbon Footprint• Carbon Credit

Externalities

• Definition of Externalities

• Types of Externalities:  Positive Externalities  Negative Externalities

• Examples and impacts of externalities

Cost-Benefit Analysis & Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

• Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA):  Definition – Process – Advantages – Disadvantages

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):  Definition – Examples – Advantages

Natural Capital Regeneration

• Concept of Natural Capital

• Ecosystem Services and their types (with examples)

• Causes of Environmental Degradation:  Forest loss Biodiversity loss

• Ecological Footprint

• Human overuse of natural

• Ozone Depletion:  Chapman's Cycle  Causes and effects of ozone depletion  Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS): CFCs, HCFCs, Halons, Carbon Tetrachloride, Methyl Chloroform, Methyl Bromide  Ozone thinning over Antarctica and the Arctic  Measures to control ozone depletion• Waste dumping• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)• Global Warming• Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

• Carbon Footprint

• Climate Change: indicators and causes

• International Environmental Agreements:  Montreal Protocol  Kyoto Protocol  Paris Agreement  Bamako Convention  Conference of Parties (COP)  Carbon Credit System

Amazon Rainforest (Amazonia)

:• Causes of forest exploitation

• Reasons for increasing deforestation

• Effects of government policies

• Ecological importance of tropical rainforests

• Possible conservation solutionsIvory Trade in Africa

:• Reasons for the historical ivory trade

• Measures taken to curb illegal trade

• Consequences of the ivory trade ban

• Theoretical perspective of International Trade

• Free Trade vs. Protectionism

• Import Barriers (Tariff and Non-Tariff)

• Domestic Industry vs. Free Trade

• Transnational Companies (TNCs): definition and historical perspective

• Characteristics of India's International Trade

• Terms of Trade

• Major Imports and Exports of India• Foreign Exchange Crisis

• Export-led growth and its environmental impact

• Case Study: Aquaculture in India• Diversion of resources from subsistence farming to commercial production

• Toxic Waste Trade: Definition – Extent and impacts

• Globalisation:  Definition  Advantages  Disadvantages

• Free Trade and Protectionism• Environmental conflicts involving Transnational Companies (TNCs)

• GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade)

• Evolution of GATT into WTO

• Principles and Functions of the World Trade Organization (WTO):  Most Favoured Nation (MFN) – Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers – Comparative Advantage

• WTO's impact on developing countries

• Definition of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)• Types of IPR:  Copyrights – Patents  Trademarks  Industrial Design Rights  Geographical Indications (GI)  Trade Secrets• Trade Agreements:  TRIPS  TRIMS

• Impact of IPR and trade agreements on India’s trade, food security, economy, and environmental sustainability

• Toxic Waste Trade:  Definition and origin  Factors sustaining the trade  Health and environmental impacts on developing countries

• Basel Convention

• Bamako Convention

• International Aid Agencies

• Types of Aid:  Tied Aid  Untied Aid

• Advantages and disadvantages of each type of aid