CYFC0101 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES [3 0 0 3]

Course Content

Unit I: Humans and the Environment

• Definition, scope and importance.
• Multidisciplinary Nature.
• Environmental Ethics and Emergence of Environmentalism: Anthropocentric and eco-
centric perspectives (major thinkers).

Unit II: Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

• Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water. Floods, droughts,
conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: Use and exploitation. Environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources.
• Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy sources.
• Sustainable Development: Chemistry approaches towards Environment Sustainability:
Green Chemistry and Green Engineering.

Unit III: Environmental Issues: Local, Regional and Global

• Solid waste: Municipal and hazardous waste and its management.
• Land use and Land cover change: Land degradation, deforestation, desertification and
urbanization.
• Disasters: Natural and Man-made (Anthropogenic)

Unit IV: Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• Biodiversity and its distribution: Biodiversity as a natural resource, biodiversity in India
and world, biodiversity hotspots.
• Major Ecosystem types in India and their basic characteristics: General and brief
introduction to different ecosystems (Forests, Wetlands, Grasslands, Agriculture, Coastal
and Marine).
• Major conservation policies: in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches.

Unit V: Environmental Pollution and Health

• Air pollution: Adverse health impacts of air pollutants, National Ambient Air Quality
Standards.
• Water pollution: Water quality parameters and standards, adverse health impacts of water
pollution on human and aquatic life.
• Soil pollution: Impact on human health and ecosystems.
• Noise pollution: Noise standards and adverse impacts of noise on human health.

Unit VI: Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation

• Climate change, global warming, acid rain and ozone layer depletion.
• Mitigation of climate change: Green House Gas (GHG) reduction vs. sink enhancement,
concept of carbon intensity, energy intensity and carbon neutrality, carbon capture and
storage, National climate action plan and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
(INDCs) and climate justice.
 Unit VII: Environmental Management
• Introduction to Environmental Laws and Regulation: General and brief introduction to
Constitutional provisions- Article 48A, Article 51A (g) and other derived environmental
rights.
• Environmental management system: ISO 14001.

Unit VIII: Environmental Treaties and Legislation

General and brief introduction to:
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
• Industry-specific environmental standards.
• Waste management rules.

Unit IX: Case Studies and Field Work

• Discussion on one National and one International case study related to the environment
and sustainable development.
• Participation in plantation drive and nature camps.
• Documentation of campus biodiversity.
• Campus environmental management activities such as solid waste disposal, water
management and sanitation, and sewage treatment.

Course Outcomes
CO1 – Understanding of concepts and methods: Ecological and Physical Sciences and their
application in Environmental problem solving.

CO2 – Understanding of the transnational character of Environmental problems and ways of

addressing them, including interactions across local to global scales. Applying of system
concepts and methodologies to analyze and understand interactions between social and
environmental processes.

CO3- Reflecting critically about the roles and identities as citizens, consumers and
environmental actors in a complex interconnected world.

CO4- An interdisciplinary approach to complex environmental problems using basic tools of

the natural and social sciences including ecosystems, biology, chemistry, economics, political
science and international processes.

CO5- The ability to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team on complex

problems involving multiple competing stakeholders and agenda. It will also help in
developing the ability to write effectively about complex environmental problems and do so
for both specialist and general audiences with equal facility.

References
1. Headrick, Daniel R. (2020) Humans versus Nature - A Global Environmental History,
Oxford University Press.
2. Benny Joseph (2018) Environmental Studies, 3rd Addition, McGraw Hill Education (India),
Pvt. Ltd.
3. Deeksha Dave, S.S. Katewa (2012) Environmental Studies, Cengage Learning India, Pvt.
Ltd.
4. A.K. D E (2010) Environmental Chemistry, 7th Addition, New Age International, Pvt. Ltd.
5. Anubha Kaushik, C.P. Kaushik (2011) Environmental Science, New Age International, Pvt.
Ltd.
6. Reach Bharucha (2004) Environmental Studies.
7. B. K. Sharma (2007) Environmental Chemistry.
8. V. K. Ahluwalia (2013) Green Chemistry.
9. N. E. Carpenter (2014) Chemistry of Sustainable Engery, CRC.
10. Kanchi Kohli and Manju Menon (2021) Development of Environment Laws in India,
Cambridge University Press.
11. M. K. Theodore and L. Theodore (2021) Introduction to Environmental Management, 2nd
Edition. CRC Press
12. B. Pittock (2009) Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions. 2nd Edition.
Routledge.
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Objective Test-I Time: 20 min
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: 21/02/2024 Total Marks: 5 (Each Question = 0.5 M)
Program: B. Tech. Semester: II Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group:
There may have more than one correct answers. Tick the correct answer/answers.

Q-1. World environment day is celebrated on?

(a) 4th June (b) 5th June (c) 6th June (d) 7th June

Q-2. World forest day is celebrated on?

(a) 21st March (b) 21st April (c) 21st May (d) 21st June

Q-3. Earth day is celebrated on?

(a) 22nd April (b) 22nd May (c) 22nd June (d) 22nd July

Q-4. Environmental science is a?

(a) Single nature (b) Interdisciplinary (c) Multidisciplinary (d) Integrative
disciplinary

Q-5. Which of the following are natural resources?

(a) Water resources (b) Mineral resources (c) Jute resources (d) Energy resources

Q-6. What % of earth surface is covered by water?

(a) 70% (b) 71% (c) 78% (d) 75%

Q-7. Environmental education is a deliberate effort to accomplish the noble task of?
 (a) Conserving the (b) Safeguarding the (c) Awareness among (d) None
environment environment people on natural
resources
Q-8. Which of the following three R’s regarded as environment friendly?
(a) Reduce, Rebuild, (b) Reduce, Reuse, (c) Read. Register, (d) Random, Reduce,
Restrict Recycle Recall Recall

Q-9. A non-renewable source of energy is?

(a) Wild life (b) Fossil fuels (c) Water (d) Coal

Q-10. Reason for lowering the ground water table is/are?

(a) Irrigation (b) Water transfer (c) Domestic (d) None
purposes

Q-11. What is an aquifer?

(a) Underground river (b) Underground (c) Underground lake (d) Underground
body of rock that’s sediment that’s
saturated saturated

Q-12. Water poor countries are ?

(a) India (b) Singapore (c) Canada (d) Jordan

Q-12. Water rich countries are ?

(a) Norway (b) Singapore (c) Canada (d) Jordan

Q-14. Positive ecological impacts of a dam is/are?

(a) Flash floods (b) Prevention of (c) Change in water (d) Siltation
floods flow

Q-15. What is the full form of CIS?

(a) Carbon, indium, (b) Common (c) Common (d) Computer
sulfur independent states interdependent states information systems
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Quiz-I Time: 30 min
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: 01/03/2024 Total Marks: 5 (1+2+2 M)
Program: B. Tech. Semester: I Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group:
All questions are compulsory.
Q-1. Which week celebrated as “Ozone Week”?
Q-2. Which week celebrated as “Wildlife Week”?
Q-3. What is the solubility of oxygen in water
Q-4. What is the full form of PCB and write its chemical structure?
Q-5. What do you mean by aquifer?
Q-6. Write down the four major natural resources.
Q-7. Why do “Environmental Science” consider as a multidisciplinary study?
Q-8. Write down the guiding principles of anthropocentric view for an environmental ethics.
Q-9. Write down at least four ethical guidelines on environmental protection.
Q-10. What are the approximate times to degrade paper and wood?
Q-11. Write a short note on vermicomposting for solid wastes management with a clear pictorial
presentation (pencil draw).
Q-12. Write down the advantages and disadvantages of incineration solid wastes management.
Q-13. Why “Nuclear Disaster” consider as an anthropogenic disaster?
Q-14. Write a brief note on hydrological cycle with a clear pictorial presentation (pencil draw).
Q-15. Discuss about the “Indus Water Treaty”.
Q-16. Discuss about the “Cauvery Water Dispute”.
Q-17. Discuss about the “Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal Dispute”.
Q-18. Discuss about the “Tidal Energy”
Q-19. Write down the difference between compressed natural gas and synthetic natural gas.
Q-20. What do you mean by nuclear fission and write down the necessary reaction by taking an
example.
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Objective Test-II Time: 30 min
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: 24/04/2024 Total Marks: 5 (Each Question = 0.5 M)
Program: B. Tech. Semester: II Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group:
There may have more than one correct answer. Tick the correct answer/answers.

Q-1. What is an important reason for natural resource conservation?

(a) Disturb the (b) Preserve the (c) Disturb the (d) Preserve the
ecological balance ecological balance biological diversity biological diversity

Q-2. What is the name of the species whose population has been reduced to a critical level?
(a) Indeterminate (b) Rare (c) Vulnerabale (d) Endangered

Q-3. What is the full form of IUCN?

(a) International (b) International (c) International (d) International
Union for Union for Union for Union for
Conservation of Conservation of Conservation of Conservation of
Natural Nature Natural habitat Natural Resources

Q-4. The following are the characteristics of tropical rain forests-

(a) Moderate (b) Warm climate and (c) High temperature (d) High temperature,
temperature and long rain only during and high humidity high humidity and
summer monsoon heavy rainfall

Q-5. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is known for-

(a) Ecosystem (b) Man-managed (c) Birds’ resources (d) Man-made
wetland wetland

Q-6. Following are the example of decomposers?

(a) Hawks (b) Fungi (c) Bacteria (d) Insects
Q-7. Which of the following is considered as a “Hotspot of biodiversity in India”?
(a) Western ghats (b) Eastern ghats (c) Western (d) Eastern Himalayas
Himalayas
Q-8. Which of the following states of India became the first carbon free state?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Chhattisgarh (c) Himachal Pradesh (d) Gujrat

Q-9. Which gas is depleted due to air pollution?

(a) O2 (b) O3 (c) N2 (d) CO2

Q-10. Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?

(a) CO (b) CO2 (c) Smog (d) Fly ash

Q-11. Which pollution causes the Itai-Itai disease in human beings

(a) Mercury pollution (b) Arsenic pollution (c) Nitrite pollution in (d) Cadmium
in water in water water pollution in water

Q-12. A decibel value greater than ___decibels cause noise pollution.

(a) 30 (b) 60 (c) 80 (d) 140

Q-13. Which of the following are adverse impacts of noise on human health?
(a) Hypertension and (b) Digestive (c) Blood pressure (d) Behavioural
insomnia disorders and peptic changes and changes and
ulcers behavioural changes emotional changes

Q-14. What is the optimum pH for agricultural activities?

(a) 5.0-7.0 (b) 5.5-7.0 (c) 4.5-7.5 (d) 5.5-8.5

Q-15. Which of the following is/are not methods used to control air pollution?
(a) Scrubbers (b) Adsorption (c) Condensation (d) Catalyst
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Group Assignment-I
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: 24/04/2024 Total Marks: 5 (1+1+1+1+1 M)
Program: B. Tech. Semester: II Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group:
Q-1. Define ecology and ecosystems.
Q-2. Discuss the models of energy flow in an ecosystem.
Q-3. Explain the concept of an ecosystem with their structure and function.
Q-4. Draw an energy flow in the ecosystem.
Q-5. Write the definition of pollution in your own words and also explain the causes of pollution.
Q-6. Explain the types of pollution. Write the precautions to minimize the pollutions (air, water,
social, marine, noise).
Q-7. What is social water management? Explain.
Q-8. Explain the role of an individual in prevention of pollution and how it is possible?
Q-9. How we can conduct the pollution case study in a particular area and also explain the
disaster management?
Q-10. Write the value of Biodiversity in the concept of Global.
Q-11. Write short notes on Conservation of Biodiversity in India.
Q-12. Enumerate with examples the major sources of surface water pollution and ground water
pollution.
Q-13. Briefly describe the sources, effects and control of noise pollution.
Q-14. Enumerate various methods for control of air pollution.
Q-15. Give an account of the adverse effects of air pollution.
Q-16. Discuss adverse effects and control of water pollution.
Q-17. What are the major sources of soil pollution? How does soil pollution affect soil
productivity? What measures can be taken to prevent soil pollution.
Q-18. How can you, as an individual, prevent environmental pollution? Why such an effort at
individual level is important?
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Report Writing- (Group Assignment)
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: Total Marks: 5
Program: B. Tech. Semester: II Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group:

Aims and objectives:

Methodology:
Results:
Discussion:
Conclusions:

*********The End*********
 Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
Department of Chemistry
Planation Drive
Subject Code: CYFC0101 Subject Title: Environmental Sciences
Date: Total Marks: 5
Program: B. Tech. Semester: II Branch:
Name: #Roll: Sub-group: