how to study environment for ias exam_ - clear ias

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5/30/2016 How To Study Environment For IAS Exam? - Clear IAS

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How To Study Environment For IAS Exam?

Environment is a term which is widely discussed all over the world, and UPSC question papers year after

year are proving that Environment and related areas are a must-know for every Civil Services aspirant.

Questions from Environment touch areas of basic understanding as well as hot topics of current importance

like Global warming, Urban Heat Islands, Endangered species, Genetic pollution, recent climate summits etc

Topics of Importance : Environment for UPSC Civil Services

Prioritizing sub-topics in environment is important to crack IAS prelims/mains. The topics of priority are as

below.

Ecology related aspects : Be familiar with concepts like Ecosystem, Keystone species, Niche, Food

chain, Food web etc.

Biodiversity related aspects : Be familiar with question-heavy areas like flora and fauna, endangered

species, wild life parks, sanctuaries, bio-diversity hot-spots, biosphere reserves, IUCN, summits etc.

Climate change/Environment degradation related aspects : Be familiar topics like with global warming,

ozone hole depletion, acid rain etc. Also note down important points, when you hear news related to

conventions or protocols like Ramsar Convention, Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol etc.

Useful Books for Environment

1. CSAT: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change (Paper – 1)

2. CSAT Environmental Ecology Biodiversity & Climate Change – Pratiyogita Darpan

3. Environmental Studies from Crisis to Cure 2nd Edition – R.Rajagoplan (Helpful for Mains)

4. UGC NET/SET Environmental Sciences Guide – R. Gupta

5. Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses – Erach Bharucha

6. UGC-NET: Environmental Sciences (Paper I, II & III) – R.Gupta

7. Objective Environmental Sciences – B. B. Singh (Objective – For Prelims)

8. Environmental Studies – Benny Joseph

PS : Use online resources like IUCN website, Website of Ministry of Environment and Forests etc.extensively. You should also check websites of national and international organisations related to ecology

and biodiversity (A few suggestions include Wetlands International, WWF etc.) At this online age, no

preparation is complete without using online resources. Also, check latest reports and statistics related to

environment or wildlife too.

Also read: UPSC Mains 2014 GS1 Question Paper Analysis

Terms related with Environment (Quick Check List of Topics)

PS : List of basic topics to be referred in relation with Environment is listed below. (Reference : Wikipedia)

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Climate change —

Global warming

Global dimming

Fossil fuels

Sea level rise

Greenhouse gasOcean acidification

Shutdown of thermohaline circulation

Environmental impact of the coal industry

Urban Heat Islands

Conservation —

Species extinction

Pollinator decline

Coral bleaching

Holocene extinction

Invasive species

Poaching

Endangered species

Energy —

Energy conservation

Renewable energy

Efficient energy use

Renewable energy commercialization


Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Environmental degradation —

Eutrophication

Habitat destruction

Invasive species

Environmental health —

Air quality

Asthma


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Electromagnetic fields

Electromagnetic radiation and health

Indoor air quality

Lead poisoning

Sick Building Syndrome


Genetic engineering —

Genetic Pollution.

Genetically modified food controversies.

Intensive farming —

Overgrazing

Irrigation

Mono-culture

Environmental effects of meat production

Slash and burn

Pesticide drift

Plasticulture

Land degradation —

Land pollution

Desertification

Soil —

Soil conservation

Soil erosion

Soil contamination

Soil salination

Land use —

Urban sprawl • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat destruction

Nanotechnology — Nanotoxicology • Nanopollution

Nuclear issues —


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Nuclear fallout • Nuclear meltdown • Nuclear power • Nuclear weapons • Nuclear and radiation

accidents • Nuclear safety • High-level radioactive waste management

Overpopulation —

Burial • Water crisis • Overpopulation in companion animals • Tragedy of the commons • Gender

Imbalance in Developing Countries • Sub-replacement fertility levels in developed countries

Ozone depletion —

CFC • Biological effects of UV exposure

Also read: UPSC Prelims 2015 Answer Key: Solved Questions of GS Paper 1

Pollution —

Environmental impact of the coal industry • Nonpoint source pollution • Point source pollution • Light

pollution • Noise pollution • Visual pollution

Water pollution —

Environmental impact of the coal industry • Acid rain • Eutrophication • Marine pollution • Ocean

dumping • Oil spills • Thermal pollution • Urban runoff • Water crisis • Marine debris • Microplastics •

Ocean acidification • Ship pollution • Wastewater • Fish kill • Algal bloom • Mercury in fish •


Air pollution —

Environmental impact of the coal industry • Smog • Tropospheric ozone • Indoor air quality • Volatile

organic compound • Atmospheric particulate matter• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Reservoirs —

Environmental impacts of reservoirs

Resource depletion —

Exploitation of natural resources • Overdrafting

Consumerism —

Consumer capitalism • Planned obsolescence • Over-consumption

Fishing —

Blast fishing • Bottom trawling • Cyanide fishing • Ghost nets • Illegal, unreported and unregulated

fishing • Overfishing • Shark finning • Whaling

Logging —

http://www.clearias.com/upsc-prelims-2015-answer-key-solved-questions-of-gs-paper-1/


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Clearcutting • Deforestation • Illegal logging

Mining —

Acid mine drainage • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing • Mountaintop removal mining •

Slurry impoundments

Toxins —

Chlorofluorocarbons • DDT • Endocrine disruptors • Dioxin • Toxic heavy metals • Environmental

impact of the coal industry • Herbicides • Pesticides • Toxic waste • PCB • Bioaccumulation •

Biomagnification• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Waste —

Electronic waste

Litter

Waste disposal incidents

Marine debris

Medical waste

Landfill

Leachate


Incineration

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Exporting of hazardous waste


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