Environmental Science

36 global hotspots with exceptional biodiversity and high threats; India has 4 hotspots

Species are disappearing 1,000× faster than natural background rate; scientists call it a biodiversity crisis

Enhanced greenhouse effect from human GHG emissions is warming the planet by 1.1°C above pre-industrial

2015 agreement to limit global warming; NDCs; COP meetings; Net Zero targets by 2050–2070

Solar, wind, hydro, biomass — India targets 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030

India has 900+ protected areas: national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, tiger reserves

India's flagship conservation programme; tiger population tripled in 50 years

India has 75 Ramsar Wetland sites — most in Asia; wetlands filter water and support 40% of species

Major ecological zones — tropical rainforest, desert, tundra, ocean, grassland — each with distinct life

Biogeochemical cycles that recycle carbon and nitrogen through atmosphere, land, ocean and living things

How energy flows through ecosystems — producers, consumers, decomposers and trophic levels

World's worst industrial disaster; Union Carbide plant gas leak killed 15,000+; led to India's environment laws

Chipko (1973): women hugged trees to prevent logging; inspired India's forest conservation laws

India has comprehensive environmental laws: Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, WPA

Causes 7 million deaths/year globally; India has 21 of the world's 30 most polluted cities

380 million tonnes of plastic produced yearly; 8 million tonnes enter oceans; microplastics found in blood

2.2 billion people lack safe water; Ganga and Yamuna among world's most polluted rivers