UGC NET People, Development and Environment Syllabus

People, Development and Environment syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for People, Development and Environment in UGC NET, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Development and Environment

   4 topics

   • Development and its interrelationship with environment
   • Sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
   • Millennium Development Goals and global initiatives
   • Human and environment interaction
2. 2

   Environmental Issues and Pollution

   4 topics

   • Air, water, soil and noise pollution
     • Sources and causes
     • Effects and control measures
   • Solid waste management and e-waste
   • Pollutants and human health
   • Carbon footprint and pollution standards
3. 3

   Natural Hazards and Disaster Management

   4 topics

   • Natural and anthropogenic hazards
   • Mitigation strategies
     • Earthquakes, floods and cyclones
     • Landslides and droughts
   • Disaster preparedness and response
   • Role of institutions in disaster management
4. 4

   Climate Change and Energy

   4 topics

   • Climate change and global warming
   • Impacts of climate change on society
   • International agreements and efforts
     • Kyoto Protocol
     • Paris Agreement
     • UNFCCC and IPCC
   • Renewable and non-renewable energy resources
5. 5

   Environmental Protection and Legislation

   4 topics

   • Environmental protection acts and rules
   • International and national environmental policies
   • Conservation of biodiversity
   • Environmental ethics and awareness

People, Development and Environment flashcards for UGC NET

20 of 50 cards from the People, Development and Environment deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is meant by 'development' in the context of People, Development and Environment?

   A process of improving the quality of human life, raising living standards, expanding economic and social opportunities, and increasing freedom of choice. It is multidimensional, covering economic growth plus social, political and environmental well-being.

2. How are development and environment interrelated?

   Development depends on natural resources from the environment, while uncontrolled development degrades the environment (pollution, resource depletion). Sustainable development seeks a balance so environmental quality is maintained for present and future generations.

3. Define 'sustainable development' as given in the Brundtland Report.

   Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Our Common Future, 1987).

4. What are the three pillars (dimensions) of sustainable development?

   Economic (growth and efficiency), Social (equity and human well-being), and Environmental (ecological protection).

5. In which year and report was the term 'sustainable development' popularized?

   In 1987, in the Brundtland Commission report 'Our Common Future' by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).

6. How many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are there, and when were they adopted?

   17 SDGs (with 169 targets), adopted by the UN in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

7. What is the target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

   2030.

8. What is SDG 1 and SDG 2?

   SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger.

9. What is SDG 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals?

   SDG 13: Climate Action — taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

10. Name SDGs 6, 7 and 4.

    SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 4: Quality Education.

11. What were the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how many were there?

    8 goals adopted in 2000 (Millennium Declaration) to be achieved by 2015, covering poverty, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, diseases, environment, and global partnership.

12. What was the time frame of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

    2000 to 2015. They were succeeded by the SDGs (2015-2030).

13. How do the SDGs differ from the MDGs?

    MDGs (8 goals) targeted developing countries mainly on social development; SDGs (17 goals) are universal, apply to all countries, and integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions more comprehensively.

14. What is the Kyoto Protocol?

    A 1997 international treaty (effective 2005) under the UNFCCC committing developed countries to legally binding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

15. What is the Paris Agreement (2015)?

    A global climate accord under the UNFCCC aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

16. What is Agenda 21?

    A non-binding global action plan for sustainable development adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development).

17. Name the main air pollutants regulated as criteria pollutants.

    Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx/NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and lead (Pb).

18. What is the difference between primary and secondary air pollutants?

    Primary pollutants are emitted directly (e.g., CO, SO2, NOx); secondary pollutants form in the atmosphere through reactions (e.g., ozone, PAN, smog).

19. What causes photochemical smog?

    Reaction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight, producing ozone and other oxidants. It is common in sunny, vehicle-heavy cities.

20. What is the main cause of acid rain?

    Emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that react with water vapour to form sulphuric and nitric acids, lowering rainfall pH below 5.6.

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