APPSC Group 2 · Study notes
Environment and ecology notes for APPSC Group 2
90 notes in 13 chapters. Open a chapter, or go straight to a note.
4.1 Ecology and ecosystems 8
- 4.1.1Ecology: levels of organisation, habitat and nicheRead here
- 4.1.2Ecosystem structure: biotic and abiotic componentsRead here
- 4.1.3Energy flow and productivity: food chains, food webs, trophic levels and decompositionRead here
- 4.1.4Ecological pyramids and the ten per cent lawRead here
- 4.1.5Ecological succession: primary, secondary and climaxRead here
- 4.1.6Population and community ecology: growth, interactions and keystone speciesRead here
- 4.1.7Terrestrial biomes: ecology and adaptationsRead here
- 4.1.8Aquatic ecosystems: freshwater, estuarine, mangrove and marineRead here
4.2 Biogeochemical cycles 4
4.3 Biodiversity and species 10
- 4.3.1Biodiversity: genetic, species and ecosystem levels; alpha, beta and gamma diversity
- 4.3.2Biodiversity hotspots: world and India
- 4.3.3India as a megadiverse country: biogeographic zones
- 4.3.4Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, invasive alien species and extinction
- 4.3.5IUCN Red List: categories and criteria
- 4.3.6Threatened mammals of India
- 4.3.7Threatened birds of India
- 4.3.8Reptiles, amphibians, fish and marine species in news
- 4.3.9Threatened and endemic plants of India
- 4.3.10Conservation: in situ and ex situ methods, gene banks and seed vaults
4.4 Protected areas and wetlands 8
- 4.4.1Protected area network: national parks, sanctuaries, conservation and community reserves
- 4.4.2Biosphere reserves and UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme
- 4.4.3Project Tiger, tiger reserves and the NTCA
- 4.4.4Project Elephant and other species recovery programmes: rhino, crocodile, snow leopard, bustard and cheetah
- 4.4.5Wetlands: types, functions and the Wetlands Rules 2017
- 4.4.6Ramsar sites of India
- 4.4.7Natural World Heritage sites and eco-sensitive zones
- 4.4.8Human–wildlife conflict and community participation in conservation
4.5 Pollution and control 10
- 4.5.1Air pollution: pollutants, sources and health effects
- 4.5.2Air quality management: NAAQS, AQI and the National Clean Air Programme
- 4.5.3Smog, stubble burning, vehicular emissions and BS norms
- 4.5.4Acid rain and indoor air pollution
- 4.5.5Water pollution: sources, BOD, COD and eutrophication
- 4.5.6Groundwater contamination: arsenic, fluoride, nitrate and uranium
- 4.5.7River conservation: Namami Gange and the National River Conservation Plan
- 4.5.8Soil pollution, pesticides and biomagnification
- 4.5.9Noise pollution: standards and the Noise Rules 2000
- 4.5.10Marine, thermal and radioactive pollution: oil spills, dead zones and microplastics
4.6 Solid and hazardous waste management 7
- 4.6.1Solid waste: types, collection and treatment by composting, incineration and landfill
- 4.6.2Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
- 4.6.3Plastic pollution and the Plastic Waste Management Rules: single-use plastic ban
- 4.6.4E-waste: hazards and the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
- 4.6.5Biomedical, hazardous, battery and construction and demolition waste rules
- 4.6.6Wastewater: sewage treatment, faecal sludge and reuse
- 4.6.7Circular economy and extended producer responsibility
4.7 Climate change science 6
- 4.7.1Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases: sources and global warming potential
- 4.7.2Global warming: evidence and IPCC assessment findings
- 4.7.3Impacts of climate change on India: monsoon, glaciers, coasts and agriculture
- 4.7.4Ozone layer depletion: ozone hole and ozone-depleting substances
- 4.7.5Mitigation: carbon sequestration, carbon markets and India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
- 4.7.6Adaptation, black carbon and geoengineering
4.8 Climate and environmental treaties 12
- 4.8.1Stockholm 1972 to Rio 1992: evolution of global environmental governance
- 4.8.2UNFCCC: principles, CBDR and the COP process
- 4.8.3Kyoto Protocol: targets and CDM, joint implementation and emissions trading
- 4.8.4Paris Agreement: NDCs, Article 6 and India's updated NDC
- 4.8.5Recent COPs: key outcomes from COP26 onwards
- 4.8.6Climate finance and loss and damage: GCF, adaptation fund and REDD+
- 4.8.7Convention on Biological Diversity: Cartagena, Nagoya and the Kunming–Montreal framework
- 4.8.8CITES and wildlife trade
- 4.8.9Ramsar, CMS and UNCCD
- 4.8.10Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment
- 4.8.11Chemical conventions: Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata
- 4.8.12Environmental organisations: UNEP, IPCC, GEF, IUCN, WWF and IPBES
4.9 India's climate policy 2
4.10 Environment laws and institutions 11
- 4.10.1Constitution and the courts: Articles 48A, 51A(g), 21 and landmark judgments
- 4.10.2Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 and its 2022 amendment
- 4.10.3Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, its 2023 amendment and CAMPA
- 4.10.4Forest Rights Act 2006
- 4.10.5Environment (Protection) Act 1986
- 4.10.6Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981
- 4.10.7Biological Diversity Act 2002 and its 2023 amendment
- 4.10.8Environmental Impact Assessment: EIA Notification 2006 and the clearance process
- 4.10.9Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019
- 4.10.10National Green Tribunal
- 4.10.11Environmental institutions: MoEFCC, CPCB, SPCBs, NBWL, WCCB and AWBI
4.11 Sustainable development 3
4.12 Bioremediation and green technologies 5
- 4.12.1Bioremediation: in situ and ex situ methods and phytoremediation
- 4.12.2Biofuels: generations and the ethanol blending programme
- 4.12.3Renewable energy and the environment: solar, wind and hydro trade-offs
- 4.12.4Green hydrogen, electric mobility and clean transport
- 4.12.5Green buildings and energy efficiency: GRIHA, LEED, ECBC and BEE star labelling
4.13 Agriculture and environment 4
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