3-Month Study Plan – Environment & Ecology (UPSC)
📘 Month 1 – Ecology & Biodiversity Foundation
🗓 Week 1 – Basics of Ecology & Ecosystem
Topics to Cover:
- Definition and Scope of Ecology
- Levels of Ecological Organization
- Ecosystem – Structure and Function
- Biotic & Abiotic Components
- Energy Flow in Ecosystem (Food Chains, Webs, and Pyramids)
- Ecological Productivity and Efficiency
📚 Sources:
- NCERT Class 12 Biology (Unit 10: Ecology)
- Shankar IAS (Ch. 1–3)
- PMF IAS Environment Notes
🧭 Practice:
- Diagram practice: Food web, energy pyramid
- PYQs (2013–2024) on Ecology
🗓 Week 2 – Ecosystem Types & Dynamics
Topics:
- Types of Ecosystems (Forest, Grassland, Desert, Aquatic)
- Ecological Succession – Primary & Secondary
- Ecological Niche and Habitat Concepts
- Biogeochemical Cycles – Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Water
- Ecosystem Services and Importance
📚 Sources: Shankar IAS (Ch. 4–6)
🧭 Map Practice: Major ecosystems and biomes of the world
🧠 Tip: Make a “Cycle Chart” for all biogeochemical cycles.
🗓 Week 3 – Biodiversity Fundamentals
Topics:
- Definition, Types, and Importance of Biodiversity
- Levels: Genetic, Species, Ecosystem
- Biodiversity Hotspots (India & World)
- Biogeographical Regions of India
- Threats to Biodiversity (Habitat Loss, Poaching, Alien Species, etc.)
📚 Sources:
- Shankar IAS (Ch. 7–8)
- NCERT Class 12 Biology – Unit 10
🧭 Map Practice: Biodiversity hotspots, biogeographic zones of India
🗓 Week 4 – Biodiversity Conservation
Topics:
- In-situ and Ex-situ Conservation
- Protected Area Network (National Parks, WLS, Biosphere Reserves)
- India’s Biodiversity Heritage Sites
- Important Environmental Conventions – CBD, CITES, Ramsar, Bonn
- Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Rhino
📚 Sources: Shankar IAS (Ch. 9–10)
🧭 Map Practice: Biosphere reserves and tiger reserves
🧠 Test: Week 1–4 revision test + 20 MCQs practice
📗 Month 2 – Pollution, Climate Change & Environmental Laws
🗓 Week 5 – Environmental Pollution
Topics:
- Air, Water, Soil, Noise, and Radioactive Pollution
- Major Pollutants and Their Effects
- Eutrophication and Algal Bloom
- Solid Waste, E-Waste, and Plastic Waste Management
- Pollution Control Boards (CPCB, SPCB)
📚 Sources:
- Shankar IAS (Ch. 11–12)
- MoEFCC Reports
🧭 Current Affairs: NCAP, Swachh Bharat, Plastic Ban
🗓 Week 6 – Climate Change & Global Warming
Topics:
- Greenhouse Effect & Greenhouse Gases
- Global Warming – Causes & Effects
- Ozone Depletion and Montreal Protocol
- El Niño, La Niña, and Monsoon Impact
- Climate Change Impact on Agriculture & Health
- IPCC Reports, UNFCCC, COP Summits
📚 Sources:
- Shankar IAS (Ch. 13–14)
- IPCC & UNEP Reports
🧠 Tip: Maintain a “Climate Agreements Timeline Chart.”
🗓 Week 7 – Environmental Conservation & Management
Topics:
- Natural Resource Conservation – Water, Forest, Soil
- Sustainable Development & Green Economy
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Eco-Sensitive Zones & Environmental Ethics
- River Cleaning Missions (Namami Gange, Narmada Conservation)
📚 Sources: Shankar IAS (Ch. 15–16)
🧭 Current Affairs: National Mission for Clean Ganga, Jal Shakti Abhiyan
🗓 Week 8 – Environmental Laws & Policies (India Focus)
Topics:
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amendments)
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010
- CAMPA Act, 2016
- National Forest Policy (1988, Draft 2018)
- Important Court Judgments (MC Mehta, etc.)
📚 Sources: Shankar IAS (Ch. 17–18), MoEFCC Official Site
🧠 Tip: Create a one-page summary table of all Acts & Years.
📙 Month 3 – Sustainable Development, Reports & Current Affairs
🗓 Week 9 – Environmental Organisations & Global Summits
Topics:
- UNEP, IPCC, IUCN, WWF, FAO, WMO
- Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
- Earth Summit (Rio 1992), Rio+20, Agenda 21
- Johannesburg, Paris, and COP Summits
- India’s INDC Commitments
📚 Sources: Shankar IAS (Ch. 19–20), PIB & MoEFCC Updates
🧭 Tip: Make a “Chronological Chart of Global Summits.”
🗓 Week 10 – Sustainable Development & SDGs
Topics:
- Concept and Principles of Sustainable Development
- Brundtland Commission Report
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – UN Agenda 2030)
- MDGs vs SDGs
- India’s Initiatives – LiFE, Green Hydrogen Mission, Solar Alliance, AMRUT
📚 Sources:
- Shankar IAS (Ch. 21)
- UNDP SDG India Index
- NITI Aayog Reports
🗓 Week 11 – Disaster & Environmental Challenges
Topics:
- Natural Disasters – Floods, Cyclones, Droughts, Earthquakes
- Human-Induced Disasters – Industrial, Chemical
- Desertification and Land Degradation
- Forest Fires, Landslides, Coastal Erosion
- NDMA Framework & Disaster Management Act
- Environmental Refugees & Migration
📚 Sources: NDMA Reports, NIDM Notes, Shankar IAS (Ch. 22)
🧠 Tip: Create one “India Disaster Map.”
🗓 Week 12 – Revision & Practice
Goals:
- Revise all static topics (Ecology → Laws → Climate)
- Revise all conventions & acts
- Practice 2 full-length mock tests (Prelims pattern)
- Practice Mains questions on Environment (GS Paper 3)
- Revise all diagrams & protected area maps
📘 Output:
- 10 summary sheets (one per theme)
- 1 diagram notebook (ecosystems, laws, global summits)
- 1 current affairs file
📚 Booklist Recap
| Type | Book / Resource |
|---|---|
| NCERTs | Class 9–12 Geography + Class 12 Biology (Unit 10) |
| Main Book | Shankar IAS Environment Book |
| Supplementary | PMF IAS Environment Notes |
| Atlas | Oxford / Orient BlackSwan Atlas |
| Magazines | Down to Earth, Kurukshetra, Yojana (Environment issues) |
| Reports | IPCC, UNEP, MoEFCC, NITI Aayog SDG Index |
| Current Affairs | PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express (Environment Page) |