KSET Environmental Sciences Syllabus

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KARNATAKA STATE ELIGIBILITY TEST (K-SET) 
FOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR


This Syllabus Contains Ten Units: 
Unit –I : Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences
Unit – II : Environmental Chemistry
Unit – III : Environmental Biology
Unit – IV : Environmental Geosciences
Unit – V : Energy and Environment 
Unit – VI : Environmental Pollution and Control
Unit – VII : Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Unit – VIII : Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation
Unit – IX : Statistical Approaches and Modelling in Environmental  Sciences
Unit – X : Contemporary Environmental Issues


Unit –I : Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences
Definition, Principles and Scope of Environmental Sciences
Structure and Composition of Atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and 
biosphere.
Laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer processes, mass and energy transfer across 
various interfaces, material balance.
Meteorological parameters – pressure, temperature, precipitation, humidity, 
maxing ratio, saturation mixing ratio, radiation and wind velocity, adiabatic lapse 
rate, environmental lapse rate. Wind roses.
Interaction between Earth, Man and Environment. Biogeographic provinces of the 
world and agro-climatic zones of India. Concept of sustainable development.
Natural resources and their assessment. Remote Sensing and GIS: Principles of 
remote sensing and GIS. Digital image processing and ground truthing. 
Application of remote sensing and GIS in land cover/land use planning and 
management (urban sprawling, vegetation study, forestry, natural resource), waste 
management and climate change.
Environmental education and awareness. Environmental ethics.


Unit – II : Environmental Chemistry
Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry: Classification of elements, 
Stoichiometry, Gibbs’ energy, chemical potential, chemical kinetics, chemical 
equilibria, solubility of gases in water, the carbonate system, unsaturated and 
saturated hydrocarbons, radioisotopes.
Composition of air, Particles, ions and radicals in the atmosphere. Chemical 
speciation. Chemical processes in the formation of inorganic and organic 
particulate matters, thermochemical and photochemical reactions in the 
atmosphere, Oxygen and Ozone chemistry. Photochemical smog.
Hydrological cycle. Water as a universal solvent. Concept of DO, DOB and 
COD. Sedimentation, coagulation, flocculation, filtration, pH and Redox potential 
(Eh).
Inorganic and organic components of soils. Biogeochemical cycles – nitrogen, 
carbon, phosphorus and sulphur.
Toxic chemicals: Pesticides and their classification and effects. Biochemical 
aspects of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr) and metalloids (As,Se). Co. O3, PAN, 
VOC and POP. Carcinogens in the air.
Principles of analytical methods: Titrimetry, Gravimetry, Bomb Calorimetry, 
Chromatography (Paper Chromatography, TLC, GC and HPLC), Flame 
photometry, Spectrophotometry (UV-VIS, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS), 
Electrophoresis, XRF, XRD, NMR, FTIR, GC-MS, SEM, TEM.


Unit – III Environmental Biology
Ecology as an inter-disciplinary science. Origin of life and speciation. Human 
Ecology and Settlement.
Ecosystem Structure and functions: Structures – Biotic and Abiotic components. 
Functions – Energy flow in ecosystems, energy flow models, food chains and food 
webs. Biogeochemical cycles, Ecological succession. Species diversity, Concept 
of ecotone, edge effects, ecological habitats and niche. Ecosystem stability and 
factors affecting stability. Ecosystem services.
Basic of Ecosystem classification. Types of Ecosystem: Desert (hot and cold), 
forest, rangeland, wetlands, lotic, lentic, estuarine (mangrove), Oceanic.
Biomes: Concept, classification and distribution. Characteristics of different 
biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Grassland, Deciduous forest biome, Highland Icy Alphine 
Biome, Chapparal, Savanna, Tropical Rain forest.
Population ecology: Characteristics of population, concept of carrying capacity, 
population growth and regulations. Population fluctuations, dispersion and 
metapopulation. Concept of ‘r’ and ‘k’ species. Keystone species
Community ecology: Definition, community concept, types and interaction 
predation, herbivory, parasitism and allelopathy. Biological invasions.
Biodiversity and its conservation: definition, types, imporatance of biodiversity 
and threats to biodiversity. Concept and basis of identification of ‘Hotspots’, 
hotspots in India. Measures of biodiversity. Strategies for biodiversity 
conservation: in situ, ex situ and in vitro conservation. National parks, 
Sanctuaries, Protected areas and Sacred groves in India. Concepts of gene pool, 
biopiracy and bio-prospecting. Concept of restoration ecology. Extinct, Rare, 
Endangered and Threatened flora and fauna of India.
Concept of Industrial Ecology.

Taxicology and Microbiology: Absorption, distribution and excretion of toxic 
agents, acute and chronic toxicity, concept of bioassay, threshold limit value, 
margin of safety, therapeutic index, biotransformation. Major water borne diseases 
and air borne microbes.
Environment Biotechnology: Bioremediation – definition, types and role of plants 
and microbes for in situ and ex situ remediation. Bioindicators, Biofertilizers, 
Biofuels and Biosensors.


Unit – IV : Environmental Geosciences 
Origin of earth, Primary geochemical differentiation and formation of core, mantle, 
crust, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Concept of minerals and rocks. Formation of 
igneous and metamorphic rocks. Controls on formation of landforms – tectonic 
including plate tectonic and climatic. Concept of steady state and equilibrium, 
Energy budget of the earth. Earth’s thermal environment and seasons. Coriolis 
force, pressure gradient force, frictional force, geo-strophic wind field, gradient 
wind. Climates of India, western disturbances, Indian monsoon, droughts, El Nino, 
La Nina. Concept of residence time and rates of natural cycles. Geophysical 
fields.

Weathering including weathering reactions, erosion, transportation and deposition 
of sediment. Soil forming minerals and process of soil formation, Identification 
and characterization of clay minerals, Soil physical and chemical properties, soil 
types and climate control on soil formation, Cation exchange capacity and 
mineralogical controls.
Geochemical classification of elements, abundance of elements in bulk earth, crust, 
hydrosphere and biosphere. Partitioning of elements during surficial geologic 
processes, Geochemical recycling of elements. Paleoclimate.
Distribution of water in earth, hydrology and hydrogeology, major basins and 
groundwater fluctuations, hydraulic conductivity, groundwater tracers, land 
subsidence, effects of excessive use of ground water, groundwater quality. 
Pollution of groundwater resources, Ghyben-Herzberg relation between freshsaline water.
Natural resource exploration and exploitation and related environmental concerns. 
Historical perspective and conservation of non-renewable resources.
Natural Hazards: Catastrophic geological hazards – floods, landlides, earthquakes, 
volcanism, avalanche, tsunami and cloud bursts. Prediction of hazards and 
mitigation of their impacts.


Unit- V : Energy and Environment 
Sun as source of energy; solar radiation and its spectral characteristics. Fossil 
fuels: classification, composition, physic-chemical characteristics and energy 
content of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Shale oil, Coal bed Methane, Gas 
hydrates. Gross- calorific value and net-calorific value.
Principles of generation of hydro-power, tidal energy, ocean thermal energy 
conversion, wind power, geothermal energy, solar energy (solar collectors, photovoltaic modules, solar ponds).
Nuclear energy – fission and fusion, Nuclear fuels, Nuclear reactor – principles 
and types.
Bioenergy: methods to produce energy from biomass.
Environment implications of energy use; energy use pattern in India and the world, 
emissions of CO2 in development and developing countries including India, 
radiative forcing and global warming. Impacts of large scale exploitation of solar, 
wind, hydro and nuclear energy sources.


Unit – VI : Environmental Pollution and Control
Air Pollution:
Sources and types of Pollutants – Natural and anthropogenic sources, primary and 
secondary pollutants. Criteria air pollutants. Sampling and monitoring of air 
pollutants (gaseous and particulates); period, frequency and duration of sampling.
Principles and instruments for measurements of (i) ambient air pollutants 
concentration and (ii) stack emissions. Indian National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards. Impact of air pollutants on human health, plants and materials. Acid 
rain. Dispersion of air pollutants. Mixing height/depth, lapse rates, Gaussian 
plume model, line source model and area source model. Control devices for 
particulate matter: Principle and working of: settling chamber, centrifugal 
collectors, wet collectors, fabric filters and electrostatic precipitator. Control of gaseous pollutant through adsorption, absorption, condensation and combustion 
including catalytic combustion. Indoor air pollution, Vehicular emissions and 
Urban air quality.
Noise Pollution:
Sources, weighting networks, measurement of noise indices ( Leq, L10, L90, L50, 
LDN, TNI). Noise does and Noise Pollution standards. Noise control and 
abatement measures: Active and Passive methods. Vibrations and their 
measurements. Impact of noise and vibrations on human health.
Water Pollution:
Types and sources of water pollution. Impact on humans, plants and animals. 
Measurement of water quality parameters: sampling and analysis for pH, EC. 
Turbidity, TDS, hardness, chlorides, salinity, DO, BOD, COD, nitrates, 
phosphates, sulphates, heavy metals and organic contaminants. Microbiological 
analysis – MPN. Indian standards for drinking water (IS:10500,2012). Drinking 
water treatment: Coagulation and flocculation, Sedimentation and Filtration, 
Disinfection and Softening. Wastewater Treatment: Primary, Secondary and 
Advanced treatment methods. Common effluent treatment plant.
Soil pollution:
Physico – chemical and biological properties of soil (texture, structure, inorganic 
and organic components). Analysis of soil quality. Soil Pollution control. 
Industrial effluents and their interactions with soil components. Soil microorganisms and their functions – degradation of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Thermal, Marine Pollution and Radioactive:
Sources of Thermal Pollution, Heat Islands, causes and consequences. Sources and impact of Marine Pollution. Methods of Abatement of Marine Pollution. 
Coastal management. Radioactive pollution –sources, biological effects of ionizing radiations, radiation exposure and radiation standards, radiation protection.


Unit – VII: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 
Solid Waste –types and sources. Solid waste characteristics, generation rates, solid 
waste components, proximate and ultimate analyses of solid wastes.
Solid waste collection and transportation: container systems – hauled and 
stationary, layout of collection routes, transfer stations and transportation.
Solid waste processing and recovery – Recycling, recovery of materials for 
recycling and direct manufacture of solid waste products. Electrical energy 
generation from solid waste (Fuel pellets, Refuse derived fuels), composting and 
vermicomposting, biomethanation of solid waste. Disposal of solid wastes –
sanitary land filling and its management, incineration of solid waste.
Hazardous waste – Types, Characteristics and health impacts. Hazardous waste 
management: Treatment Methods – neutralization, oxidation reduction, 
precipitation, solidification, stabilization, incineration and final disposal.
e-waste: classification, methods of handling and disposal.
Fly ash: sources, composition and utilization.
Plastic waster: sources, consequences and management.


Unit – VIII : Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation
Aims and objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP). EIA 
Guidelines. Impact Assessment Methodologies. Procedure for reviewing EIA of 
developmental projects. Life-cycle analysis, cost-benefit analysis. Guidelines for 
Environmental Audit. Environmental Planning as a part of EIA and 
Environmental Audit. Environmental Management System Standards (ISO 14000 
series). EIA Notification, 2006 and amendments from time to time. Eco-labeling 
schemes.
Risk Assessment – Hazard identification, Hazard accounting, Scenarios of 
exposure, Risk characterization and Risk management.
Overview of Environmental Laws in India: Constitutional provisions in India 
(Article 48A and 51A). Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 amendments 1991, Forest 
Conservation Act, 1980, Indian Forest Act, Revised 1982, Biological Diverstiy 
Act, 2002, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 amended 1988 
and Rules 1975, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 amended 
1987 and Rules 1982, Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules 1986, 
Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, The Hazardous and Other Waster (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 
2016, The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, the Solid Waste 
Management Rules, 2016, The e-waste (Management) Rules 2016, The 
Construction and Demolition Waster Management Rules, 2016, The Manufacture, 
Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical (Amendment) Rules, 2000, The 
Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010 with Amendments, The Public 
Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and Rules 1991, Noise Pollution (Regulation and 
Control) Rules, 2000, Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) 1991 amended from time 
to time.
National Forest Policy, 1988, National Water Policy, 2002, National 
Environmental Policy, 2006.
Environmental Conventions and Agreements: Stockholm Conference on Human 
Environment 1972, Montreal Protocol, 1987, Conference of Parties (COPs), Basel 
Convention (1989, 1992), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), Earth Summit 
at Rio do Janeiro, 1992, Agenda – 21, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), 
Convention on Biodiversity (1992), UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, 1997, clean 
Development Mechanism (CDM), Earth Summit at Johnnesburg, 2002, RIO+20, 
UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals, 2000, Copenhagen Summit, 
2009. IPCC, UNEP, IGBP.


Unit – IX : Statistical Approaches and Modelling in Environmental Sciences
Attributes and Variables: types of variables, scales of measurement, measurement 
of Central tendency and Dispersion, Standard error, Moments – measures of 
Skewness of Kurtosis, Basic concept of probability theory, sampling theory, 
Distributions – Normal, log-normal, Binomial, Poisson, t, x2 and F-distribution. 
Correlation, Regression, tests of hypotheses (t-test, x
2 test ANOVA: one-way and 
two-way); significance and confidence limits.
Approaches to development of environmental models; linear, simple and multiple 
regression models, validation and forecasting. Models of population growth and 
interactions; Lotka- Voltera model, Leslie’s matrix model.


Unit – X: Contemporary Environmental Issues
Global Environmental Issues – Biodiversity loss, Climate change, Ozone layer 
depletion. Sea level rise. International efforts for environmental protection.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (Eight National missions- National solar 
Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on 
sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the 
Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a ‘Green India’, National Mission for 
Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate 
Change).
Current Environmental Issues in India: Environmental issues related to water 
resource projects – Narmada dam, Tehri dam, Almatti dam, Cauvery and 
Mahanadi, Hydro-power projects in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal and North –
Eastern States.
Water conservation-development of watersheds, Rain water harvesting and ground 
water recharge.
National river conservation plan – Namami Gange and Yamuna Action Plan.
Eutrophication and restoration of lakes. Conservation of wetlands, Ramsar sites in 
India.
Soil erosion, reclamation of degraded land, desertification and its control.
Climate change – adaptability, energy security, food security and sustainability.
Forest Conservation – Chipko movement, Appiko movement, Silent Valley 
movement and Gandhamardhan movement, People Biodiversity register.
Wild life conservation projects: Project tiger, Project Elephant, Crocodile 
Conservation, GOI-UNDP Sea Turtle project, Indo-Rhino vision.
Carbon sequestration and carbon credits.
Waste Management – Swachha Bharat Abhiyan.
Sustainable Habitat: Green Building, GRIHA Rating Norms.
Vehicular emission norms in India.
Epidemiological Disasters: Minnamata Disaster, Love Canal Disasster, Bhopal Gas 
Sidaster, 1984, Chernobyl Disaster, 1986, Fukusima Daiichi nuclear disaster, 2011.
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