Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (SET) - SYLLABUS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS - Environmental Sciences

Maharashtra State Eligibility Test for Lectureship

UNIVERSITY OF PUNE

Ganeshkhind, Pune-411007

SYLLABUS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS-(Environmental Sciences)

Subject Subject

Code No.

31 Environmental Sciences

SET (Environmental Science) / 3

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

[31] : ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

SYLLABUS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS

NOTE : STRUCTURE OF PAPER II AND REVISED STRUCTURE OF PAPER III PLEASE

SEE PAGE NUMBER ONE.

PAPER-II and PAPER-III (Part-A & B)

Unit—I

Definition principles and scope of Enviornmental Science.

Earth Man and Environment, Ecosystems, Pathways in Ecosystems.

Physico-chemical and Biological factors in the Environment.

Geographical classification and zones.

Structure and composition of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Mass and

Energy transfer across the various interfaces, material balance. First and Second law of

thermodynamics, heat transfer processes. Scale of Meterology, pressure, temperature,

precipitation, humidity, radiation and wind.

Atmospheric stability, inversions and mixing heights, windroses.

Natural resources, conservation and sustainable development.

Unit—II

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry :

chemical equilibria, acid base reactions. solubility product. solubility of gases in water, the carbonate

system, unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons radionuclides.

Stochiometry, Gibbs’ energy, Chemical potential,

Chemical composition of Air :

radicals in the atomosphere. Chemical processes for formation of inorganic and organic particulate

matter. Thermochemical and photochemical reactions in the atmospher. Oxygen and ozone chemistry.

Chemistry of air pollutants. Photochemical smog.

Classification of elements chemical speciation Particles irons and

Water Chemistry :

filtration Redox potential.

Chemistry of water concept of DO BOD COD. sedimentation coagulation

Soil Chemistry :

Inorganic and organic components of soil Nitrogen pathways and NPK in soils.

Toxic Chemicals in the environment-Air, Water :

Arsenic Cadmium Lead Mercury Carbon Monoxide O

carcinogens in the air.

Pesticides in water Biochemical aspects of3 and PAN Pesticides Insecticides MIC

Principles of Analytical Methods :

Chromatography Gas Chromatography Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. GLC HPLC

Electrophoresis. X-ray fluorescence X-ray diffraction Flame photometry.

Titrimetry Gravimetry Colourimetry Spectrophotometry

SET (Environmental Science) / 4

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

Unit—III

Definition Principles and scope of ecology. Human ecology and Human settlement Evolution Origin

of life and speciation.

Ecosystems :

Food web Ecological pyramids types and diversity.

Ecological Succession Population Community ecology and Parasitism Prey predator relationships.

Structure and functions Abiotic and Biotic components energy flows Food chains

Common flora and fauna in India

Aquatic :

Phytoplankton zooplankton and Macrophytes

Terrestrial :

Forests

Endangered and Threatened Species

Biodiversity and its conservation :

conservation National Parks and Sanctuaries Gene pool.

Definition ‘Hotspots’ of Biodiversity Strategies for Biodiversity

Microflora of Atmosphere :

diseases and allergies

Air Sampling techniques Identification of aeroallergens Air-borne

Environmental Biotechnology :

technology.

Fermentation Technology Vermiculture technology Biofertilizer

Unit—IV

Environmental Geosciences

—Fundamental concepts

The earth systems and Biosphere :

hydrosphere atmosphere and biosphere Energy budget of the earth. Earth’s thermal environment and

seasons. Ecosystems flow of energy and matter. Coexistence in communities-food webs.. Earth’s

major ecosystems-terrestrial and aquatic. General relationship between landscape biomes and climate.

Climates of India. Indian Monsoon El Nino Droughts Tropical cyclones and Western Disturbances.

Conservation of matter in various geospheres-lithosphere

Earth’s Processess and Geological Hazards :

rates of natural cycles. Catastrophic geological hazards Study of floods landslides earthquakes

volcanism and avalanche. Prediction and perception of the hazards and adjustments to hazardous

activities.

Earth’s processes; concept to residence time and

Mineral Reasources and Environment :

Occeans as new areas for exploration of mineral resources. Ocean ore and recycling of resources.

Environmental impact of exploitation processing and smelting of minerals.

Resources and Reserves Minerals and Population.

Water Resources and Environment :

levels. Origin and composition of seawater. Hydrological cycle Factors influencing the surface water.

Types of water Resources of oceans Ocean pollution by toxic wastes. Human use of surface and

groundwater. Groundwater pollution.

Global Water Balance Ice sheets and fluctuations of sea

Landuse Planning :

selection and evalutation.

The landuse plan Soil surveys in relation to landuse planning Methods of site

SET (Environmental Science) / 5

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

Environmental Geochemistry :

Mobility of trace elements. Geochemical cycles Biogeochemical factors in environmental health.

Human use trace elements and health. possible effects of imbalance of some trace elements. Diseases

induced by human use of land.

Principles of Remote sensing and its application of Environmental Sciences Application of GIS in

Environmental Managemnt.

Concept of major trace and REE Classification of trace elements.

Unit—V

Sun as source of energy : solar radiation and its spectral characteristics : Fossil fuels-classification.

composition physico-chemical characteristics and energy content of coal petroleum and natural gas.

Principles of generation of hydroelctric power, tidal, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion wind

geothermal energy solar collectors photovoltaics solar ponds: nuclear energy-fission and fusion:

magnetrohudrodynamic power bio-energy-energy from biomass and biogas, anaerobic digestion:

energy use pattern in different parts of the world.

Environmental implication of energy use : CO

radioactive waste and radioactivity from nuclear reactors impacts of large-scale exploitation of Solar

wind Hydro and Ocean energy.

Unit—VI

2 emissions global warming: air and thermal pollution:

Air :

and diffustion of pollutants. Gas laws governing the behaviour of pollutants in the atmosphere Methods

of monitoring and control of air pollution SO

beings, plants, animals, materials and on climate. Acid Rain Air Quality Standards.

Natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution. primary and Secondary pollutants. Transport2, NOx, CO, SPM Effects of pollutants on human

Water :

sampling and analysis of water quality. Standards, sewage and waste water treatment and recyling.

Water quality standard.

Types, sources and consequences of water pollution. Physico-chemical and Bacteriological

Soil :

Industrial waste effluents and heavy metals their interactions with soil components. Soil microorganisms

and their functions degradation of different insecticides fungicides and weedicides in soil

Different kinds of synthetic fertilizers (NP & K) and their interactions with different components of

soil.

Physico-chemical as bacteriological sampling as analysis of soil quality soil Pollution Control.

Noise :

on noise propagation. Noise expooure levels and standards. Noise control and abatement measures.

Impact of noise on human health.

Sources of noise pollution measurement of noise and Indices effect of meterological parameters

Marine :

marine system-coastal management.

Radioactive and Thermal Pollution.

Sources of marine pollution and control Criteria employed for disposal of pollutants in

Unit—VII

Introduction to environmental impact analysis.

Environmental impact Statement and Environmental Management Plan.

SET (Environmental Science) / 6

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

EIA guidelines 1994, Notification of Government of India.

Impact Assessment Methodologies.

Generalized approach to impact analysis.

Procedure for reviewing Environmental impact analysis and statement.

Guidelines for Environmental audit.

Introduction to Environmental planning.

Base line information and predictions (land, water, atmosphere, energy, etc.)

Restoration and rehabilitation technologies.

Landuse policy for India.

Urban planning for India.

Rural planning and landuse pattern.

Concept and strategies of sustainable development.

Cost-Benefit analysis.

Environmental priorities in India and sustainable development.

Unit—VIII

Sources and generation of solid wastes, their characterization, chemical composition and classification.

Different methods of disposal and management of solid wastes (Hospial Wastes and Hazardous

Wastes) Recycling of waste material. Waste minimization technologies.

Hazardous Wastes Management and Handling Rules, 1989. Resource Management. Disaster

Management and Risk analysis.

Environment protection-issues and problems. International and National efforts for Environment

Protection. Provision of Constitution of India regarding Environment (Article 48A and 58A).

Environmental Policy Resolution. Legislation, public Policy Strategies in Pollution Control. Wildlife

Protection Act, 1972 amended 1991. Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Indian Forests Act (Revised)

1982. Air (Provention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as amended by Amendment Act, 1987

and Rule 1982. Motor Vechile Act, 1988. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,

1974 as amended up to 1988 and Rules 1975. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules

1986.

Scheme of labelling of environmentally friendly products (Ecomark), Public Liability Insuramce Act,

1991 and Rules 1991.

Unit—IX

Basic elements and tools of statistical analysis; Probability, sampling measurement and distribution of

attributes; Distribution-Normal.

means; moments; matrices, simultaneous linear equations; tests of hypothesis and significance.

t and c2. Poisson and Binomtal; Arithmetic. Geometric and Harmonic

SET (Environmental Science) / 7

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

Introduction to environmental system analysis; Approaches to development of models; linear simple

and multiple regression models, validation and forecasting, Models of population growth and

interactions-Lotka-Volterra model. Leslie’s matrix model, point source stream pollution model, box

model, Gaussian plume model.

Unit—X

Environmental Education and Awareness.

Environmental Ethics and Global imperatives.

Global Environmental problems-ozone depletion, global warming and climatic change.

Current Environmental issue in India.

Context : Narmada Dam. Tehri Dam, Almetti Dam, Soil Erosion, Formation and reclamation of Usar,

Alkaline and Saline Soil.

Waste lands and their reclamation.

Desertification and its control.

Vehicular pollution and urban air quality.

Depletion of Nature resources.

Biodiversity conservation and Agenda-21.

Waste disposal, recycling and power generation. Fly ash utilization.

Water Crises-Conservation of water.

Environmental Hazards.

Eutrophication and restoration of Indian lakes.

Rain water harvesting.

Wet lands conservation.

Epidemiological issues (e.g. Goitre, Fluorosis, Arsenic).

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

PAPER-II

1. What is the most abundant anion in river water ?

(A) Cl

–

(B) SO2

2–

4

(C) CO

2–

3

(D) HCO

–

3

2. Which one of the following places is likely to be affected by Chemical Weathering ?

(A) Thar Desert

(B) Tibetan Plateau

(C) Western Ghats

(D) Siwalik

SET (Environmental Science) / 8

environmt science_SET syllabus (03-09)

3. Night blindness in children is due to deficiency of

(A) Vitamin A

(B) Vitamin C

(C) Vitamin B complex

(D) Protein

————