UGC NET Environmental Science Unit-VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation Syllabus

Unit-VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Unit-VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation in UGC NET Environmental Science, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

   11 topics

   • Aims and objectives of EIA
   • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
   • EIA Guidelines
   • Impact Assessment Methodologies
   • Procedure for reviewing EIA of developmental projects
   • Life-cycle analysis, cost-benefit analysis
   • Guidelines for Environmental Audit
   • Environmental Planning as a part of EIA and Environmental Audit
   • Environmental Management System Standards (ISO14000 series)
   • EIA Notification, 2006 and amendments
   • Eco-labeling schemes
2. 2

   Risk Assessment

   1 topic

   • Overview of Risk Assessment
     • Hazard identification
     • Hazard accounting
     • Scenarios of exposure
     • Risk characterization
     • Risk management
3. 3

   Environmental Laws in India

   20 topics

   • Constitutional provisions in India
     • Article 48A and 51A
   • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
     • Amendments 1991
   • Forest Conservation Act, 1980
   • Indian Forest Act, Revised 1982
   • Biological Diversity Act, 2002
   • Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
     • Amended 1988 and Rules 1975
   • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
     • Amended 1987 and Rules 1982
   • Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986
     • Rules 1986
   • Motor Vehicle Act, 1988
   • The Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
   • The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
   • The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016
   • The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
   • The e-waste (Management) Rules 2016
   • The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016
   • The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical (Amendment) Rules, 2000
   • The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010 with Amendments
   • The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
     • Rules 1991
   • Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
   • Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) 1991
     • Amended from time to time
4. 4

   National Policies

   3 topics

   • National Forest Policy, 1988
   • National Water Policy, 2002
   • National Environmental Policy, 2006
5. 5

   Environmental Conventions and Agreements

   15 topics

   • Stockholm Conference on Human Environment 1972
   • Montreal Protocol, 1987
   • Basel Convention (1989, 1992)
   • Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971)
   • Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, 1992
     • Agenda-21
   • Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
   • Convention on Biodiversity (1992)
   • UNFCCC
   • Kyoto Protocol, 1997
     • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
   • Earth Summit at Johannesburg, 2002
     • RIO+20
   • UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals, 2000
   • Copenhagen Summit, 2009
   • IPCC
   • UNEP
   • IGBP

Unit-VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation flashcards for UGC NET Environmental Science

25 of 60 cards from the Unit-VIII: Environmental Assessment, Management and Legislation deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the primary aim of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

   To identify, predict, evaluate and mitigate the biophysical, social and other relevant effects of development proposals BEFORE major decisions are taken, ensuring environmentally sound and sustainable development.

2. Differentiate between an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

   An EIS is the document reporting the findings of the EIA study (predicted impacts and significance). An EMP is the action plan specifying the mitigation, monitoring and institutional measures to be implemented during project construction and operation.

3. Name two widely used impact assessment methodologies in EIA.

   Checklists/Matrices (e.g., the Leopold Matrix), Networks, Overlays (GIS-based map overlays) and Cost-Benefit Analysis. The Leopold Matrix and the Battelle Environmental Evaluation System are classic examples.

4. What is the Leopold Matrix used for in EIA?

   It is an interaction matrix (100 project actions x 88 environmental characteristics) where each cell is scored for the magnitude and importance of an impact, helping identify and rank significant project-environment interactions.

5. What is Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA)?

   A 'cradle-to-grave' technique that assesses the environmental impacts of a product or process across its entire life cycle: raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal/recycling.

6. State the four main phases of a Life-Cycle Assessment as per ISO 14040.

   1) Goal and scope definition, 2) Life-cycle Inventory analysis (LCI), 3) Life-cycle Impact assessment (LCIA), and 4) Interpretation.

7. What does Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) determine in environmental decision-making?

   It compares the total monetised costs and benefits of a project (including environmental externalities) to judge economic viability; a project is acceptable when the Benefit-Cost ratio exceeds 1 or Net Present Value is positive.

8. Define Environmental Audit.

   A systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well an organisation's management, equipment and operations perform in conserving the environment and complying with environmental regulations.

9. In India, who must submit an Environmental Statement (Form-V) and by when?

   Every industry/operation requiring consent under the Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981 or authorisation under the Hazardous Waste Rules must submit Form-V to the State Pollution Control Board by 30th September each year (for the financial year ending 31st March).

10. What is the ISO 14000 series of standards?

    A family of international standards for Environmental Management Systems (EMS); ISO 14001 specifies the certifiable requirements for an EMS, helping organisations minimise environmental impact and comply with regulations.

11. Which ISO 14000 standard is the certifiable EMS specification, and which covers Life-Cycle Assessment?

    ISO 14001 is the certifiable EMS specification; ISO 14040/14044 cover Life-Cycle Assessment principles and requirements. (ISO 14020 series covers eco-labelling.)

12. Under which authority and year is the current EIA Notification in India issued?

    The EIA Notification, 2006 was issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

13. How does the EIA Notification 2006 categorise projects, and who appraises each?

    Category A projects are appraised at the Central level by the MoEFCC (Expert Appraisal Committee); Category B projects are appraised at the State level by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) with a State EAC. Category B is further split into B1 (requires EIA) and B2 (no EIA).

14. What are the four stages of the EIA process under the 2006 Notification?

    1) Screening, 2) Scoping (preparation of Terms of Reference), 3) Public Consultation (public hearing + written responses), and 4) Appraisal (leading to grant/rejection of Environmental Clearance).

15. What are eco-labelling schemes, and name India's eco-label.

    Eco-labels are voluntary marks certifying that a product meets defined environmental criteria over its life cycle. India's scheme is 'Ecomark' (1991), administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards, symbolised by an earthen pot.

16. What are the three types of eco-labels under ISO 14020?

    Type I (ISO 14024): third-party certified multi-criteria seal; Type II (ISO 14021): self-declared environmental claims by manufacturers; Type III (ISO 14025): quantified environmental data (Environmental Product Declarations).

17. What is Environmental Risk Assessment?

    A process to estimate the likelihood and consequences of adverse effects to human health or ecosystems from hazards, comprising hazard identification, dose-response (exposure-effect) assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterisation.

18. Which Articles of the Indian Constitution form the basis of environmental protection through Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties?

    Article 48A (Directive Principle: State to protect and improve the environment, forests and wildlife) and Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty of citizens to protect the natural environment). Article 21 (right to life) is judicially extended to a clean environment.

19. By which Constitutional Amendment were Articles 48A and 51A(g) added?

    The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

20. What is the main objective of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972?

    To provide protection to wild animals, birds and plants; it establishes protected areas (National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation and Community Reserves) and contains schedules listing species by degree of protection (Schedule I providing the highest protection).

21. What does the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 chiefly regulate?

    It restricts the de-reservation of forests and the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, requiring prior approval of the Central Government for any such diversion.

22. What is the focus of the Indian Forest Act (originally 1927, revised)?

    It consolidates law relating to forests, the transit of forest produce, and duty on timber; it classifies forests into Reserved Forests, Protected Forests and Village Forests.

23. State the three-tier institutional structure created by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

    National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the centre, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local body level.

24. Which Act first established the Central and State Pollution Control Boards in India?

    The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 created the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

25. What is the purpose of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977?

    To levy and collect a cess on water consumed by specified industries and local authorities, to augment the resources of the Pollution Control Boards.

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