Preparing for the Environment and Ecology Important Topics for UPSC Prelims is a crucial aspect for aspirants aiming to qualify for the Civil Services Examination. With an increasing focus on environmental issues, this section carries significant weightage. This guide will summarise the most relevant environment and ecology topics for UPSC 2025, offer strategic preparation tips, and highlight how to approach these areas efficiently.

1. Biodiversity and Conservation

• Biodiversity Hotspots in India

• National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves

• Conservation Projects: Project Tiger, Project Elephant, etc.

• Endangered Species in India: Flora and Fauna

• Protected Areas under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

• International Organizations: IUCN, WWF, CITES, Ramsar Convention

2. Climate Change and Global Warming

• Basics of Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Mitigation

• Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, and COP Summits

• India’s Climate Action Plan: NDCs under Paris Agreement

• Renewable Energy Initiatives in India (e.g., National Solar Mission)

• IPCC Reports and Global Carbon Budget

3. Environmental Pollution

• Types of Pollution: Air, Water, Soil, and Noise

• Key Acts: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water Act, 1974

• E-Waste Management and Solid Waste Management Rules

• Role of CPCB and SPCBs in Pollution Control

4. Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• National Green Tribunal (NGT) and its role

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process

• Green Energy Initiatives: Hydrogen, Wind, and Solar

5. Ecological Concepts and Principles

• Food Chains, Food Webs, and Trophic Levels

• Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, etc.)

• Ecosystem Services: Types and Importance

• Ecological Succession and Adaptation

6. Forests and Wildlife

• Forest Types in India and Afforestation Schemes

• Forest Rights Act, 2006

• Role of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)

• Key Issues: Deforestation and Human-Wildlife Conflicts

7. Important Environmental Conventions and Treaties

• Stockholm Conference, Rio Summit, and Agenda 21

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Montreal Protocol and Ozone Layer Protection

• UNFCCC and COP Meetings

8. Disaster Management and Environment

• Role of NDMA and NDRF in Natural Disaster Management

• Environmental Hazards: Cyclones, Floods, and Droughts

• Mitigation Strategies for Climate-Related Disasters

9. Current Affairs Related to the Environment

• Government Policies: CAMPA, National Biodiversity Mission

• New Initiatives: Namami Gange, Jal Shakti Abhiyan

• Recent Developments in Renewable Energy