OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR:: DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY:DIBRUGARH

Ref. No: DU/DR-A/6-1/20/74 Date: 20.01.2020.

NOTIFICATION

As recommended by the Board of Studies in Life Sciences, the Hon’ble Vice

Chancellor, Dibrugarh University is pleased to approve the Syllabus of the 2 Credit
Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course on Environmental Studies (Course Code: EVS
CBCS) prescribed for all Under Graduate Degree Programmes in the Choice Based
Credit System under report to the Under Graduate Board and Academic Council,
Dibrugarh University. The Syllabus shall come into effect from the academic session
2019-2020. The Syllabus is enclosed with this Notification as Annexure A.

Issued with due approval.

Sd/- Dr. B.C. Borah

Joint Registrar (Academic)
Dibrugarh University
Copy to:

1. The Vice-Chancellor, Dibrugarh University for favour of information.

2. The Deans, Dibrugarh University.
3. The Registrar, Dibrugarh University for favour of information.
4. The Controller of Examinations, Dibrugarh University for favour of information and
the needful.
5. The Director, Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, Dibrugarh University.
6. The Director, College Development Council, Dibrugarh University for favour of
information.
7. The Principals/ Registrars/ Directors of the Colleges/ Departments/ Centres/
Institutes conducting the Under Graduate Degree Programmes in CBCS for favour of
information and the needful. They are requested to download the syllabus from the
website www.dibru.ac.in.
8. The Joint/ Deputy Controller of Examinations (A, B & C), Dibrugarh University for
favour of information and needful. A copy of the Syllabus is enclosed herewith.
9. The Programmer, Dibrugarh University for information and the needful.
10. File.

Sd/-Dr. B.C. Borah

Joint Registrar (Academic)
Dibrugarh University.

1
 Annexure: A
DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY SYLLABUS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
FOR ALL UNDER GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES
IN CBCS

(Approved under report to Under Graduate Board and Academic Council and Notified vide
Ref. No. DU/DR-A/6-1/20/74 dated 20.01.2020)

A. Vision
The importance of Environmental Studies cannot be disputed. The need for
sustainable development is a key to the future of mankind. The degradation of our
environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste
disposal, issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security.
The increasing levels of global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer and a serious loss
of biodiversity have also made everyone aware of growing environmental concerns. The
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio De Janero in
1992, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Zoharbex in 2002 have drawn
the attention of people around the globe to the developing condition of our environment. It is
clear that no citizen of the earth can afford to be ignorant of environmental issues.
Environmental management has become a part of the health care sector. Managing
environmental hazards and preventing possible disasters has become an urgent need.
Human beings have been interested in ecology since the beginning of
civilization. Even our ancient scriptures have included practices and values related with
environmental conservation. It is now even more critical than ever before for mankind as a
whole to have a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable
development practices.
India is rich in biodiversity which provides various resources for people. It is
also the basis for biotechnological development. Only about 1.8 million living organisms
have been described and named globally. Still many more remain to be identified and
described. Attempts are made to conserve them in ex-situ and in-situ situation. Intellectual
Property Rights (IPRs) have become important in a biodiversity rich country like India to
protect microbes, plants and animals that have useful genetic properties. Destruction of
habitats, over use of energy resources and environmental pollution have been found to be
responsible for the loss of a large number of life forms. It is feared that a large proportion of
life on earth may get wiped out in the near future.
In spite of the developing status of the environment, the formal study of
environment has so far not received adequate attention in our academic performances.
Recognisation thus the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed the UGC to introduce a basic course
on environment for every student. Accordingly the matter was considered by the UGC and it
was decided that a six months compulsory core module course in environmental studies may
be prepared and compulsorily implemented in all the Universities/ Colleges in India. The
Expert Committee appointed by the UGC has looked into all the pertinent questions, issues
and other relevant matters. This was followed by framing of the Core Module Syllabus for
Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses of all branches of Higher Education. The
Committee is deeply conscious that there are bound to be gaps between what is considered
ideal and the present syllabus. The Committee has attempted to minimize the gaps by
intellectual and material inputs.
The success of this course will however depend on the initiative and drive of the
teachers and their students.
-Members of the Curriculum Development Committee

2
RULES FOR CONDUCTING THE ‘ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES’ COURSE IN CBCS

1. There shall be a compulsory Course (paper) on Environmental Studies to be offered in

all Under Graduate Teaching Programmes of Dibrugarh University.

2. The End Semester/Term Examination on the Environmental Studies Course shall be held
for 100 marks covering all units of the syllabus approved by the University.

3. The question pattern of the Environmental Studies Course shall be Multiple Choice
Objective Type comprising of 50 questions carrying 2 marks each. The candidates shall
have to with the answers in the response sheet provided by the University.

4. There shall be no internal assessment and the students need not to prepare Field Study
report on the course.

5. The End Semester/Term Examination of the Environmental Studies Course for all Under
Graduate Teaching Programmes of Dibrugarh University shall be held on the same date
as per schedule to be modified.

6. The duration of the examination of the Environmental Studies Course shall be of 90

minutes.

7. A candidate must secure at least 40 marks in order to pass in the Environmental Studies
Course. The marks secured in the Course by a candidate shall be awarded in grades and
that shall be shown in the Mark sheet / Grade sheet as below:

Letter Grade with meaning Grade Point *

O Outstanding 10 (Marks securing above 90%)
A+ Excellent 9 (Marks securing 80%-90%)
A Very Good 8 (Marks securing 70% -80%)
B+ Good 7 (Marks securing 60% -70%)
B Above Average 6 (Marks securing 50% -60%)
P Pass 5 (Marks securing 40% -50%)
F Fail 0 (Marks securing below 40%)
Abs Absent/ Incomplete 0

* Exclusive Class Interval Technique shall be followed in calculation of Grade Point.

8. A candidate who fails in the Environmental Studies Course shall be entitled to two
additional consecutive chances to clear the Course.

9. A candidate who does not pass in the Environmental Studies Course shall not be
qualified for the relevant degree.

10. The marks/grades secured by the candidates in the Environmental Studies Course shall
be reflected in the overall performance of the students.

***

3
 DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY SYLLABUS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
FOR ALL UNDER GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES
IN CBCS

Type of the Course: Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC)

Course Code: EVS CBCS

Total Marks: 100

Total Classes: 64
Total Credit: 2
Unit 1 : The Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies
Classes : 4
Marks : 5
Definition, scope and importance
Need for public awareness.

Unit 2 : Natural Resources :

Classes : 10
Marks : 20
Renewable and non-renewable resources:
 Natural resources and associated problems.
a) Forest Resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation. Timber extraction, mining,
dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.
b) Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought,
conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems.
c) Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources, case studies.
d) Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing,
effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, and salinity.
e) Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy
sources, use of alternate energy sources.
f) Lance resources: Land as a resources, land degradation, man-induced landslides, soil
erosion and desertification.
 Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources.
 Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

Unit 3: Ecosystems
Classes : 10
Marks : 17
 Concept of an ecosystem.
 Structure and function of an ecosystem.
 Producers, consumers and decomposers.
 Energy flow in the ecosystem.
 Ecological succession.

4
  Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids.
 Introduction, types, characteristics features, structure and function of the following
ecosystem:
a. Forest ecosystem
b. Grassland ecosystem
c. Desert ecosystem
d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Unit 4: Biodiversity and its conservation

Classes : 10
Marks : 16

 Introduction – Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

 Biogeographically classification of India
 Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and
option values
 Hot-spots of biodiversity – India.
 Threats to biodiversity: habits loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts.
 Endangered and endemic species.
 Conservation of biodiversity: in-situ Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

Unit 5: Environmental Pollution

Classes : 10
Marks : 17
 Definition, Causes, effects and control measures of :
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Noise pollution
e. Thermal pollution
f. Nuclear hazards
 Solid waste Management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial
wastes – biodegradable and non biodegradable wastes.
 Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.
 Disaster Management: Floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.

Unit 6: Social Issues and the Environment

Classes : 10
Marks : 15
 From Unsustainable to Sustainable development.
 Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management.
 Resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problems and concerns.
 Environmental ethics.
 Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, unclear accidents and
holocaust.
 Wasteland reclamation.
 Consumerism and waste products.
 Environmental Legislation.
 Public awareness.

5
Unit 7: Human Population and the Environment
Classes : 10
Marks : 10
 Population growth, variation among nations.
 Population explosion – Family Welfare Programme.
 Environment and human health and hygiene (including Sanitation and HIV/AIDS) etc.
 Role of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health.

REFERENCES
1. Rajagopalan, R. 2018 Environmental Studies- From Crisis To Cure, Oxford University Press, New
Delhi.
2. Agarwal, K.C. 2001 Environmental Biology, Nidi publ. Ltd. Bikaner.
3. Bharucha Earch, The Biodiversity of India, Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Ahmadabad – 380 013,
India Email: [email protected] (R)
4. Bharucha Erach, Text book on Environmental Studies, UGC, New Delhi
5. Borua P.K., J.N.Sarma and others, A Text book on Environmental Studies, Banlata, Dibrugarh
6. Brunner R.C., 1989 Hazardous Waste Incineration, McGraw Hill Inc. 480p.
7. Clark R.S., Marine Pollution, Clanderson Press Oxford (TB).
8. Cunningham, W.P. Cooper, T.H. Gorhani, E & Hepworth, M.T. 2001, Environmental
Encyclopedia, Jacio Publ. House, Mumbai, 1196p.
9. De A.K., Environmental Chemistry, Wiley Eastern Ltd.
10. Down to Earth, Centre for Science and Environment (R).
11. Dutta Prasanna, Rofique Ahmed & Sumbit Chaliha, Environmental Studies., Eunika Publication,
Jorhat
12. Gleick, H.P. 1993. Water in crisis, Pacific Institute for Studies in Dev., Environment & Security,
Stockholm Env. Institute. Oxford Univ. Press 473p.
13. Hawkins R.E., Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History, Bombay Natural History Society,
Bombay (R).
14. Heywood, V.H. & Watson, R.T. 1995. Global Biodiversity Assessment. Cambridge Univ. Press
1140p.
15. Jadav, H & Bhosale, V.M. 1995. Environmental Protection and Laws. Himalaya Pub. House,
Delhi 284p.
16. Joshi P.C. and Namita Joshi, A Text book of Ecology and Environment, Himalaya Publishing
17. Kaushik Anubha and C.P.Kaushik ,Perspective in Environmental Studies, New Age International
18. Mckinney, M.L. & Schooh, R.M. 1996. Environmental Science systems & Solution, Web
enhance/edition. 639p.
19. Mhaskar A.K. Matter Hazardous, Techono-Science Publications (TB).
20. Miller T.G. Jr. Environmental Science, Wadsworth Publishing Co. (TB).
21. Odum, E.P. 1911 Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA, 574p.
22. Rao M.N. & Datta, A.K. 1987. Waste Water treatment. Oxford & IBH Publ. Co. Pvt. Ltd. 345p.
23. Sharma B.K., 2001. Environmental Chemistry. Goel Publ. House, Meerut.
24. Survey of the Environment, the Hindu (M).
25. Townsend C., Harper J and Michael Begon, Essentials of Ecology, Blackwell Science (TB).
26. Trivedi R.K. Handbook of Environmental Laws, Rules, Guidelines, Compliances and Standards,
Vol I and II, Enviro Media (R).
27. Trivedi R.K. and P.K. Goel, Introduction to air pollution, Techno-Science Publications (TB).
28. Wagner K.D., 1998. Environmental Management. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, USA 499p.
(M) Magazine (R) Reference (TB) Textbook

****