Syllabus for filling up the posts of Assistant professor

(ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) in Higher Education Department (JKPSC-2023)

1. Ecology and biodiversity

Introduction to ecology and ecosystem. Terrestrial ecosystems (Landscape, Forest and agro-
ecosystem), Aquatic ecosystems (Freshwater, Stream and river, Lakes and wetland). Biomes:
Concept, classification, distribution and characteristics, Biogeochemical cycles, Primary and
secondary productivity, Principles of limiting factors, Concept of biotic community. Population
characteristics and dynamics, Population structure and interactions, Biodiversity: Status and
importance, India as a mega-diversity nation, Endemism, Hot Spots and cold spots, Concept of
native and exotic species, Biodiversity decline, Threatened species categories of IUCN,
Biodiversity conservation (In-situ and Ex- situ).

2. Environmental pollution
Sources, classification and properties of primary and secondary air pollutants, Impact of air
pollution on human health and environment, Smog and acid rain, Ozone layer depletion, Air
quality standards and indices, Control of particulate and gaseous air pollution - SOX, NOX, CO,
Control of greenhouse gases, Bio-filters for control of air pollution, Noise pollution: definition
and sources, Measurement of noise levels, Noise indices, Impact of noise on human health and
environment, Noise control and abatement measures, Electromagnetic pollution in indoor and
outdoor environment, Radiation exposure and impact on Human beings, Sources and
management of Municipal solid waste, Biomedical waste, Hazardous waste, Industrial waste
and E-waste, Sources, impact and management of soil pollution, Sources and types of water
pollution, water quality standards and indices, effect of water pollution on living beings,
Sources, types, impact and control of marine pollution, Thermal pollution and its control,
Eutrophication and restoration of lakes, Ground water contamination and control.

3. Environmental microbiology and biotechnology

Bioremediation: Types, factors affecting bioremediation, processes, White-rot fungus
technology for hazardous waste treatment, In-situ bioremediation, Bioventing, Air sparging.
Bioaugmentation, Alternate electron acceptors technology. Land farming. Bioscrubber,
Vermitechnology, Composting Types of phytoremediation, Factors affecting phytoremediation.
Rhizo-remediation, Green Infrastructures, Constructed wetlands, Biodeterioration and its
control, Status of communicable diseases in India, Epidemiology (reservoir of infection,
communicability and control) of major air, soil, water and food borne diseases, Biofuels,
Biohydrogen, Bioplastics, Biomining, Bioindicators and biosensors in environmental
biomonitoring, Genetically modified organisms and biosafety, Health and Environmental
concerns in waste water management, Wastewater treatment methods (Primary, secondary,
tertiary).

4. Ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry and instrumentation

Definition, scope, goals and divisions of toxicology. Factors influencing toxicity, Dose- response
relationship, Toxicological interactions, Route of toxicant uptake in human beings. Toxicity
testing methods, General principles and types of biotransformation, Bioaccumulation,
Bioconcentration and biomagnifications, Bioassay and its applications in toxicology, Antidotal
procedures in toxicology, Chemical safety evaluation, Toxicokinetics, Toxicants as public health
hazard, Ecological risk assessment and management, Ions, radicals and particulates in the
atmosphere, Formation of inorganic and organic particulate matter, Thermo-chemical and
photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Cycling of
primary gaseous pollutants, Physico-chemical properties of water, Solubility of gases in water;
dissolved gases in water - CO2, O2, H2S, CH4 and NH3, Carbonate-bicarbonate system and
redox potential, acid base, equilibria, Buffering capacity, Oxidation/reduction, Precipitation
chemistry, Principles of coagulation, flocculation, filtration and sedimentation, Nutrients in
water: Phosphorus and nitrogen, Inorganic and organic components of soil, Physico-chemical
properties of soils, Soil biology, Basic concepts in analytical chemistry, sampling and analytical
techniques for air, water and soil quality monitoring, Principles and applications of: UV-Visible
Spectrophotometer, FTIR, Flame photometer, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS, HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, X-Ray
diffraction, FTIR, lon chromatograph, Compound microscope, SEM, TEM, Introduction to
biostatistics: Sampling of data, Measures of Central Tendency. Measurements of deviation,
Analysis of variance.

5. Atmospheric science and climatology

Composition and structure of atmosphere, insolation, heat budget, horizontal distribution of
atmospheric pressure, factors controlling wind, Introduction to atmospheric science and air-sea
interactions, Air masses and air fronts, Weather forecasting, Introduction, types, sources,
transformation, geographical distribution and atmospheric effects of aerosols, Major climates of
the world (Equatorial, Savanna, Hot desert, Mediterranean, Steppe). Classification of climate:
Koppen's, Thornthwaite and Trewartha, Monsoon and climatic zones of India, Western
disturbances, Indian Summer Moonsoon and climate of J&K, Paleo- climatology and climate
change, Atmospheric general circulation, Ocean general circulation, Madden Julian oscillations
(MJO), El-nino and southern oscillations (ENSO), Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), Chemical
composition of aerosols, Dry and wet atmospheric deposition, LIDARS, SODARS, weather
RADARS, WP-RASS, Self recording instruments, radiosondes, radiometersondes, ozone sonde,
Satellite meteorology: visible and infrared radiometer and multi scanner radiometer, Climate
hazards: fog and thunderstorms, Climate and human health, Climate and house types.

6. Environmental geoscience
Origin and evolution of earth, Composition and classification of Earth's interior, Basics of
seismology, Types of seismic waves and their role in the study of Earth's interior, Geological time
scale, Geomagnetism: Magnetic and gravitational fields of the earth, Magnetic reversal and
magnetic anomalies, Continental drift theory, evidences and contradictions, Plate tectonics and
Neo-tectonics, Theory of isostasy and global isostatic adjustment, Major rock types and their
classification, Rock cycle, Types of folds and faults, Types of weathering, Volcanism, components
and types of Volcanoes, volcanic material,processes and effects of volcanism, Factors affecting
the landform development, Geomorphological systems (Fluvial, Karst, Aeolian, Glacial).

7. Environmental impact assessment and disaster management.

Environmental impact assessment: Concept and objectives, EIA process, Impact evaluation and
prediction, EIA guidelines 2006 and amendments, Protocol for EIA, Environmental Impact
Statement, Environmental Management Plan, Ecological and Social Impact Assessment, E
nvironmental Impact Assessment of: River valley projects, Mining projects, Thermal power
projects, Cement industry and oil refineries, Life Cycle Assessment, Eco- labeling, Environmental
Auditing (ISO-14001), Environmental education, Ecotourism and its impact on environment and
livelihood, Watershed management, Land use planning, Land capability and suitability
classification, Concept and classification of natural hazards and disasters and causal factors,
Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear disasters, Forest fires, Desertification, Causes and
environmental consequences of Earthquakes, Tsunami, Floods, Droughts, Landslides,
Avalanches, Heat and cold waves, Cyclones, Volcanic eruptions, Risk assessment and
vulnerability analysis, Disaster mitigation and management: preparedness, response, relief and
rehabilitation and disaster failures, National and State Disaster Management Policy.

8. Environmental economics and sustainable development

Definition and scope of Environmental economics, Linkage between environment, growth and
economics, Economic growth versus sustainable development, Concept of intangibles, Market
failures and externalities, Environmental evaluation methods: Travel cost, Hedonic pricing,
contingent evaluation and Household production function, Carbon credits and trading. Common
property resources: Tragedy and role of people in their management, Economic instruments for
sustainable development, Ecological footprint, Environmental cost-benefit analysis,
Sustainability and pillars of sustainability, Sustainable development goals, World Summit on
sustainable development, Population, poverty and resource utilization, Resource conflicts:
Extraction, access and control, Linkages between environment, population and development,
Ecosystem services, Valuation and accounting of Ecosystem services, Incentives for Ecosystem
services (IES) in the Himalayas, Sacred groves, Environmental ethics and activism.

9. Environmental law and policies

Indian constitution and environmental protection, Provisions of constitution (Article 21, 48A,
51A, and 253), National efforts on environmental protection, International efforts for
environment protection (Stockholm, Kyoto protocol, Paris agreement), CITES (1973), Earth
Summit, Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act (1974), Air (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act (1981), Environmental Protection Act (1986), Indian forest Act (1927), Forest
Conservation Act (1980) and Rules (1981), Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and amendments
(1991, 2002) and J&K wildlife (Protection) Act (1978) and amendment (2002). Biological
Diversity Act (2002), National Forest Policy (1988), National Environment Policy (2006), National
Water Policy (2012), National Energy Policy (2017). National Mineral Policy (2019), National
Green Tribunal Act (2010). Public Liability Insurance Act (1991), Intellectual Property Rights and
Patent Act (2005), Indian Penal code (IPC 1960), Offences affecting public health, Safety and
convenience (Sections 268, 277, 278, 279, 284, 290, 291), Hazardous Waste Management and
Handling Rules (1989). Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules (1998), Noise
Pollution (Regulations & Control) Rules (2000), Municipal Solid Wastes (Management &
Handling) Rules (2000), E- waste (Management & Handling) Rules (2011), Plastic Waste
Management Rules (2016), Powers and functions of SPCB and CPCB, Role of Indian Judiciary in
Environmental protection, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), National Action Plan on
Climate Change (NAPCC).

10.Natural resource conservation and management

Concept and classification of natural resources, Factors influencing resource availability, Forest
resources: Status, distribution and forest products, Priorities for conservation of plant
resources, Wildlife as natural resource, Wildlife distribution in India, Man and wildlife conflict,
Wildlife management principles, Protected area network (National parks, wild life Sanctuaries
and Biosphere reserves), Important conservation areas and wildlife species of J&K, Classification
of mineral resources, Mineral resources in India with special reference to J&K, Economic
minerals (iron, steel and the ferro alloy metals), Energy minerals (Coal, oil, natural gas, thorium
and uranium). Global mineral distribution in oceans, Environmental impact of mineral resource
exploitation, mining, processing and post- processing scenarios, Soil as natural resource: general
account with reference to macro- and micro-nutrients and soil biota, Soil fertility, Global water
footprint, Water resources of India with special reference to Jammu and Kashmir, Water and
food security linkages, Animal and fishery resources of India, Forest resources of India: Timber
and non-timber, Rangelands, Renewable energy resources, Non-renewable energy resources.
Nuclear energy. Concept of green fuels, Hydrogen as a source of energy, Remote sensing and
GIS applications in natural resource management.