Environment · X-Factor Notes
Environment and Sustainable Development (Chapter 1) revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
52 revision facts
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Environment Definition | Defined as the sum total of biotic and abiotic components that surrounds and influences an organism. It includes Physical, Cultural, and Biological components. | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Environmental Degradation | Refers to the overall degradation of environmental attributes, adverse changes caused by human activities, and ecological imbalance. | (UP PCS Pre 2006) |
| Anthropogenic Environment | The environment that has been modified by human activities. | (UP PCS Pre 2019) |
| Sustainable Development (SD) | Defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. | (UP PCS Pre 2019) |
| SD Focus Area | SD is a matter of inter-generational sensibility regarding the use of Natural Resources. | (UP PCS Pre 2012) |
| SD Components | Key components include conservation of biological diversity, prevention and control of pollution, and decreasing poverty. | (UP Lower Sub. Pre 2004) |
| Environmental Hazard | Eucalyptus is considered an environmental hazard/evil because it consumes too much ground water, thereby decreasing the water level. | (UP UDA/LDA Mains 2010, UP PCS Mains 2011, UP PCS Pre 2005, UPPSC Pre-2022) |
| Greenwash | The practice of making false or misleading promises about protecting the environment. | (UP PCS Mains 2017) |
| Ecological Balance | Its protection is related to Forest Policy, Environment (Protection) Act, Industrial Policy, and Educational Policy. Industrial Management is generally not related to maintaining ecological balance. | (UP PCS Spl Mains 2004, UP PCS Pre 2005) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Topic | Key Facts | UPPCS Question Year(s) |
| Environment (Protection) Act | Enacted in 1986. It is also known as the Umbrella Legislation. It was enacted after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and to implement decisions from the Stockholm Conference (1973). The Act empowers the government to set standards for pollutant emission. | (UPUDA/LDA Pre 2013, UP PCS Mains 2017, UP PCS Pre 2014, UP BEO Pre 2019, IAS Pre 2019) |
| National Green Tribunal (NGT) | Established on October 18, 2010. It was enacted in consonance with the Right to a healthy environment (construed as part of Right to Life under Article 21). | (IAS Pre 2012, UP PCS Mains 2017 |
| Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act | Enacted in 1974. | (UPPSC Prelims 2023) |
| Forest Conservation Act | Passed in 1980. | |
| NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) | Established in Nagpur in 1958. It is part of CSIR. | (UP PCS Pre 2014, 2012, Mains 2017, 2005) |
| UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) | Established in 1972. Headquarter located in Nairobi, Kenya. | (UP PCS Mains 2010, U.P.P.S.C. GIC 2010) |
| GEF (Global Environment Facility) | Serves as the financial mechanism for major international conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UNFCCC. | (IAS Pre 2014) |
| Eco-Mark Scheme | Launched in 1991 for products that are environment friendly. Drugs and Antibiotics are not notified under this scheme. | (UP PCS Pre 2013, UPPSC Pre-2022) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Event | Year/Date & Outcome | UPPCS Question Year(s) |
| Publication of 'The Limit to Growth' Report | 1972. | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Stockholm Conference (Human Environment) | 1972. Decided that June 5 would be celebrated as World Environment Day. | |
| Brundtland Report ("Our Common Future") | Published August 1987. Popularized the concept of Sustainable Development. | (UP PCS Pre 2020, UPPSC Pre-2024) |
| Enforcement of Montreal Protocol | January 1989. | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) | Held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Agenda 21 | Product of the 1992 Earth Summit, it is a non-binding global action plan for Sustainable Development. | (UP RO/ARO Pre 2014, UPPSC Prelims 2023) |
| Earth Summit +5 | Held in 1997 in New York to review progress since 1992. | (UP PCS Mains 2016) |
| Rio +20 | Held in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, where the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were proposed. | (IAS Pre 2015) |
| Chronological Order | 1972 (Limit to Growth) 1987 (Brundtland) 1989 (Montreal Enforcement) 1992 (Rio Summit). | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| SDG Component | Key Facts | UPPCS Question Year(s) |
| Target | SDGs have to be achieved by 2030. | (IAS Pre 2016) |
| Nodal Institution (India) | NITI Aayog is the Nodal Institution for coordination and implementation in India. | (UP PCS Pre 2019) |
| International Year | UN declared 2022 as the "International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development". | |
| Goal Mappings (UPPSC) | SDG 10 is related to Reduced Inequalities; SDG 13 is Climate Action; SDG 14 is Life below Water; SDG 15 is Life on Land. | (UPPSC Prelims 2023, UPPSC Pre-2022) |
| Non-SDG Target | Space Research is NOT an SDG target to be achieved by 2030. | (UPPSC Pre-2022) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Biotic Succession | The sequence of changing communities is called Sere. The correct sequence of phases is Nudation, Migration, Ecesis, Reaction, Stabilization. | (UP PCS Pre 2020, UP PCS Mains 2016, UPPSC Pre-2024) |
| Ecosystem Stability | The Oceanic/Marine ecosystem is the most stable ecosystem. | (UP PCS Pre 2018) |
| Ecosystem Type | An ecosystem is NOT a closed system; it comprises abiotic materials, producers, consumers, and decomposers. | (UP PCS Pre Re. Exam 2015) |
| Lentic vs. Lotic | Lotic ecosystem refers to moving water habitats like rivers. | (UPPSC Prelims 2023) |
| Biogeochemical Cycle | The movement of nutrient elements/cycling of elements through various components of an ecosystem is called the Bio-geo-chemical cycle. | (UP PCS Pre 2012, 2020) |
| Deep Ecology | Term coined by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess in 1972. | (UP PCS Mains 2014) |
| Ecological Niche | Concept enunciated by Joseph Grinnell in 1917. Note: It is NOT true that the number of species becomes small if resources are sufficient; rather, diversity tends to be greater when resources are sufficient and equitably distributed. | (UP PCS Pre 2005, UPPSC Pre-2024) |
| Water/Density Gradients | Pycnocline shows density gradient in an aquatic system. Halocline shows a salt gradient. Thermocline shows temperature change with depth. | (UP PCS Mains 2016, UPPSC Pre-2024) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Item/Date | UPPCS Question Year(s) |
| World Environment Day | June 5. Theme 2025 was 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. | (UP PCS Mains 2014, UP PCS Pre 2012, UP R.O./A.R.O. Pre 2017) |
| World Water Day | March 22. | (UP PCS Pre 2011) |
| World Wetlands Day | February 2. This date marks the signing of the Ramsar Convention (1971). | (UP PCS Mains 2008, UPPSC Prelims 2023) |
| World Ozone Day | September 16. | (UP PCS Pre 2014, 2015, UPPSC Pre-2022) |
| 'Silent Spring' Book | Published in 1962, written by Rachel Carson. | (UP PCS Pre 2020) |
| Limits to Growth | 1967 | |
| Stockholm Summit | 1972 | |
| 'Green Development' Book | Written by W.M. Adams. | (UP PCS Pre 2011) |
| Conservation Movement | Chipko Movement (started 1973) was primarily against deforestation. Slogan: “Ecology is permanent economy”. | (UP PCS Pre 2015, UP PCS Mains 2007) |
