ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The subject deals with the interdependence of living 3. To appreciate the influence of human activity on
things within their environment and provides an natural processes.
insight into the orderly interplay of factors 4. To develop an awareness of the need and
influencing environmental change. The impact of responsibility to keep the natural system in a
human demands on renewable and non-renewable condition that it sustains life.
resources and the limited availability of these
5. To develop sensitivity in persoml attitudes to
resources in nature, have been linked to correlate
environmental issues.
with patterns of human behaviour necessary to
evolve a sustainable environmental paradigm. 6. To develop an understanding of how local
environments contribute to the global
Aims: environment.
7. To develop a sense of responsibility and concern
1. To acquire knowledge of the ongm and
for welfare of the environment and all life forms
functioning of the natural system and its
which share this planet.
correlation with the living world.
8. To develop a keen civic sense.
2. To develop an understanding that human beings,
plants and animals are part of a natural 9. To develop a sound basis for further study,
phenomenon and are interdependent. personal development and participation in local
and global environmental concerns.
CLASS XI

There will be one paper of three hours duration To be studied with reference to the developed
carrying 75 marks and Internal Assessment if and developing countries.
25 marks.
(d) The root of environmental problems .
The paper will have two Sections:
Population crisis and consumptioi crisis
Section A (Compulsory) will contain short answer should be covered.
questions covering the entire syllabus.
(e) A sustainable world.
Section B will contain seven questions. Candidates will
Concept of sustainability to be explained;
be required to answer any four questions from this
sustainable societies to be discussed
section.
2. Living things in Ecosystems
1. Understanding our Environment
(a) What is an ecosystem?
(a) What is Environmental Science?
What do we understand by 'Environment '? Concept of ecosystems to be explained; biotic
What does the study of Environmental Science and abiotic structures, organisms and
involve? species; populations, communities.

(b) What are our main environmental problems? (b) Habitat and ecological niche.

Environmental problems to be studied in To be discussed in terms of address and

terms of' resource depletion, pollution and function.
extinction of species. (c) How species interact with each other.
(c) A global perspective of environmental Interaction of species should be covered in
problems. terms of-predation, competition, parasitisn,
 mutualism and commensalism. Law of the examination. The rest arefor knowledge
Limiting Factors; synergisms. and understanding.
(d) Adapting to the environment. (e) Biogeographic zones ofIndia.
Evolution by natural selection; co-evolution, The different biogeographiczones/ regions of
extinction. India andpredominant wildlife in thesezones/
regions.
3. How Ecosystems work
5. Water
(a) Energy flow in ecosystems.
(a) Our water resources.
An explanation of how life depends on the
sun; who eats what; respiration: burning IWaterresource in theform of frozen solid in
the fuel. Energy transfer:food chains,food polar ice caps, surface water (rivers of
webs and trophic levels. controversy, dams), groundwater (aquifers
running low). Solutions to water shortages
(b) The cycling of materials.
must be covered in terms of desalting the sea,
The water cycle, the carbon cycle (how towing water, water conservation and water
humans are affecting the carbon cycle) and harvesting.
the nitrogen cycle; Not to be tested, for
(b) Freshwater pollution.
knowledge and understanding only.
Point pollution and non-point pollution;
Interdependenceof natural cycles.
wastewater treatment plants, pathogens. The
(c) How ecosystems change. manner in which water pollution affects
Succession-secondary andprimary. ecosystems; artificial eutrophication, thermal
pollution. Cleaning up water pollution. The
4. Kinds of Ecosystems special problem of groundwater pollution;
bottled water.
(a) Forests.
(c) Ocean pollution.
Tropical rainforests and threats to
rainforests; temperate rainforests; temperate How pollutants get into oceans; preventing
deciduousforests; Taiga. oceanpollution; who owns the oceans?
(b) Grasslands, Deserts and Tundra. 6. Air
Tropical savannas; temperate grasslands: (a) What causes air pollution?
pratnes, steppes and pampas; deserts;
Tundra. Threats to the temperate grasslands, Air pollution due to - natural disasters;
desertsand Tundra. domestic combustion;airpollution on wheels;
industrialairpollution.
(c) Freshwater ecosystems. ...
Major air pollutants - carbon monoxide,
The study to cover - lakes and ponds;
oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur, ozone,
wetlands - marshes and swamps; rivers. lead, hydrocarbons,benzene and particulates
Threats to wetlands and rivers must also be
-their sources, health effects and the
highlighted.
environmentaleffects must be studied.
(d) Marine ecosystems.
Classification of air pollutants based on
Estuaries,coral reefs, oceansand how each is composition gaseous pollutants and
threatened should be discussed. Polar particulate matter (grit, dust, smoke and lead
ecosystems of the Arctic and the Antarctic oxide); broader classification - primary' and
and the threats to them must also be covered. secondarypollutants.
Only threats to the specifically mentioned
ecosystems will be testedfor the purpose of
 Aerosols (smog), sources natural world -Juel crisis, competitionJor land, land
(continental, oceanic and anthropogenic); exploitedJor cash andfood crops,population
their effect on our lives. pressures, increasing demand Jor timber to
meet the needs of the developed world,
Air pollution episode - the Bhopal gas
grazing and its link with desertification.
tragedy.
Effects oj deforestation on climate,
(b) Thermal inversions, photochemical smog and
atmosphereand soil process.
acid precipitation.
(b) Soil erosion and desertification
Thermal inversions (Los Angeles),
PhotochemicalSmog (Mexico City) and Acid Causes and consequences of soil erosion and
Precipitation (Mumbai) how acid desertification removal of vegetation,
precipitationaffects ecosystems. overgrazing, overculture, clearance oj slopes,
drought, heavy rainfall, bad Jarming
(c) Impact of air pollution.
practices.
Impact oj air pollution should be covered in
(c) Land pollution.
terms oj economic losses, lowered
agriculturalproductivity and healthproblems. Causes and consequences oj land pollution -
salinization, fertilizers, pesticides, toxic
7. Atmosphere and Climate wastes, nuclear wastes, domestic wastes,
(a) The atmosphere.
ground water contamination.

Balance between photosynthesis and 9. People

respiration; layers oj the atmosphere. Not to
(a) World poverty and gap between developed
be tested,for knowledge and understanding
and developing countries.
only.
Dimensions of worldpoverty and gap between
(b) Climate.
developed and developing countries using
What determines climate (latitude, development indicators such as per-capita
atmospheric circulation patterns, ocean incomes, housing, levels oj disease and
circulation patterns, local geography, nutrition.
seasonalchanges in climate).Not to be tested,
(b) Poverty in developed countries, poverty in
for knowledge and understanding only.
developing countries.
(c) Greenhouse earth.
Ruralpoverty and urbanpoverty.
The GreenhouseEffect, rising carbon dioxide (c) The implications of poverty trap for the
levels. GHGs and the earth's temperature environment in developing countries.
(global warming); effect on weather,
agriculture and sea-levels; slowing the Self-explanatory.
temperaturechange.
10. Urbanisation
(d) The Ozone layer.
(a) Causes of urbanisation.
Ozone in the troposphere, ozone in the
stratosphere; detection of the damage to the Thepush-pullfactors to be discussed.
ozone layer; causes and consequences of (b) Manifestations of urbanisation,
ozone thinning;alternativesto CFCs. Growth oj slums, growth of informal sector,
8. Soil and Land pressure on civic amenities; degradation oj
human resources;growing sense oj despair.
(a) Deforestation.
(c) Social, economic and environmental
Causes and consequences of rapid and problems.
progressive deJorestation in the developing
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I Problems of housing, congestion, pollution,

loss of agricultural land and provision of
Discussion on whether Green Revolution is a
success or afailure.
services to be covered.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
11. Agriculture
There will be two sessionals of 25 marks each and
(a) Unsustainable patterns of modern anyone project/assignment from the prescribed syllabus.
industrialised agriculture.
Monocultures, disappearance of traditional Suggested Assignments
crop varieties, pollution risk due to use of 1. Make a survey of anyone threat to the local
pesticides and inorganic fertilizers; problems
environment with suggestions as to how the
of irrigation - surface and ground water.
impadt of the threat could be gradually reduced.
(b) Environmental damage due to large farm
units. 2. Make a functional model of an
apparatus/equipment that could be used to
Self-explanatory.
alleviate the impact of any pollutant and, make a
(c) Food mountains in developed countries. survey to study the effectiveness of this
Surplus and waste. apparatus/equipment. (The report of the study isto
form a part of the Project Work.)
(d) The Green Revolution.
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CLASS XII

There will be one paper of two hours duration (c) Strategies for controlling growth of
carrying 75 marks and Internal Assessment of population.
25 marks.
Strategies to include family planning and
Thepaper will have two Sections: birth control, health care, education,
economic development; women-centered
Section A (Compulsory) will contain short answer
humandevelopment.
questionscoveringthe entire syllabus.
(d) Development framework for poverty
Section B will contain six questions. Candidates will
apeviation.
be required to answer any four questionsfrom this
section. Social mobilisation, agriculturaldevelopment,
small-scale industries, human development.
1. Controlling Air Pollution Not to be tested, for know/edge and
(a) From domestic combustion.
understanding only.

Reducing pollution from domestic cooking; 3. Managing the Urban environment

clean cooking - kerosene as a desirable
(a) Urbanisation - a challenge to the future.
cookingfuel in rural areas.
Sustainablecities: the need of the hour.
(b) From industries.
(b) Planning environmental improvement.
Measures for controlling industrial air
pollution - technological measures (energy Efficient land use, planning energy, shelter
efficient devices, clean technologies), and transport; water supply management,
meteorological controls; zoning strategy; wastewater and sanitary waste management,
penalties and subsidies; Case Study: the Taj constructionactivities.
Trapezium.
(c) Rural development to counter migration
(c) From vehicles.
Self-explanatory.
Vehicle emission control - modify engine
(d) Development of secondary cities to counter
design (catalytic converters, four stroh>,
migration.
engines),cleanfuels, public transportoptions,
traffic management, economic policy Self-explanatory.
measures.
(e) Community participation and contribution of
private enterprises.
2. Addressing Population
(a) The link between growing population and Community participation in keeping
environmental degradation. surroundings clean, participation of private
enterprises in city improvement, measures to
UN's population projections for 2050, the increaseprivate enterpriseparticipation.
climate link, the choice of alternativefutures.
Growing population in the developing 4. Managing Soil and Land
countries and rising consumption in the
developedcountries. (a) Conserving soil.
(b) The demographic transition. Erosion control techniques - terracing,
Stages of transition, transition stages of contourploughing, dryfarming, treeplanting,
certain developed nations and developing bunds, gullies, wind-breaks, use of organic
nations (such as India, China, Korea, fertilizers.
Malaysia). Not to be tested, for know/edge Soil conservation techniques - land-use
and understanding only. management, vegetative and mechanical
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practices, conservingsoil and water together; Trickle drip irrigation - need for a trickle
appropriate cropping systems - cropping drip irrigation system; operation of a drip
patterns (strip cropping), tree crops, foliage irrigation system; advantages and
crops. disadvantages.
(b) Land reforms. New organicfertilizers - integrated nutrient
supply programme, organicfertilizers - bulky
Meaning, measures enforced in India to give
organic manures, green manures,
land to the landless.
bio-fertilizers,and sewage sludge.
(c) Integrated rural development.
Gene banks - what are gene banks; objectives
Objectives, self-help schemes like social and of maintaininggene banks.
communityforestry. I
(b) Problem of global food security, food aid.
(d) Role of women and community in
Global food imbalance, distributional
conservation.
inequality; role of food aid in achieving
Self-explanatory. globalfood security.
(e) Combating deforestation.
6. Biodiversity
Reforestation, energy plantations, forest
(a) Biodiversity at risk due to human actions.
harvesting of non-timber forest products,
exploring alternative sources of livelihood, Reasons for loss of biodiversity; Man - the
change in consumptionpatterns. super consumer: impact of his actions on the
earth's resources; reasons for concern:
(f) Managing forest grazing.
economic,ecologicaland aesthetic.
Causes and consequences of overgrazing,
(b) Conserving our genetic resource: in-situ and
controlled forest grazing as in National
ex-situ; harvesting wildlife.
ForestPolicy, 1988.
In-situ - wildlife sanctuaries, nationalparks
(g) Alternatives to timber.
and biosphere reserves.
Recyclingof timber andpaper.
Ex-situ - zoologicalparks, botanicalgardens,
S. Food gene banks in agricultural research centres
andforestry institutions.
(a) Sustainable agriculture.
Harvestingwildlife to meet commercialneeds.
Integratedpest management- understanding
(c) Conservation strategies at national and
the term, aims, advantages,disadvantages.
international levels.
Genetically modified organisms, application
in plants and animals and environmental Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Project Tf¥er
risks. 1973, IUCN, The Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands, 1971, CITES, The Convention on
New crop strains - highyielding varietiesand BiologicalDiversity.
their viability,hybrid varieties.
Mixed cropping advantages and 7. Energy
disadvantages; regenerative farming (a) Fossil fuels used to produce electricity.
techniques - intercropping, crop rotation,
agro forestry, polyvarietal cultivation and Electricity: energy on demand; dwindling
polyculture. supplies of fossil fuels; renewable and non-
renewableenergy resources.Not to be tested,
Conservation tillage farming - meaning of for knowledge and understanding only.
conservation tillage, advantages and
disadvantages.
 (b) Nuclear energy. Concept of economic and environmental
global interdependence;global environmental
Nuclear fission, advantages and
health - the shared responsibility of nations;
disadvantages of nuclear energy; safety
trade and aid as ways of reducing world
concerns (the Chernobyldisaster);
inequalities.
nuclearfusion.
(b) International cooperation
(c) A sustainable energy future.
The Montreal Protocol; the Global
Energy conservation; alternative energy Environmental Facility (GEF) support; the
sources solar energy, wind energy, Earth Summit, UN's International Conference
hydroelectricity,geothermal energy, biomass, on Population and Development (Cairo); the
liquidfuels from biomass- methanol, ethanol, IVoto Treaty.
gasohol, CNG,hydrogen.
(c) Sustainable development
8. Waste The concept of sustainable development,
(a) Solid waste: the throwaway society. sustainable development and developed
countries; sustainable development and
Solid waste, biodegradable and developing countries.
non-biodegradablematerials; where does the
trashgo - landfills and incinerators. (d) Role of non-governmental organisations

(b) Solid waste: options for the future.

Self-explanatory.
(e) Technology that sustains.
Producing less waste, reusing, recycling,
composting, vermiculture, biotechnology; Satellite imagery as a means of monitoring
finding alternativesto materials we use. the global environment: satellite remote
sensing, advantages in collecting
9. Environment and Development environmental data, applying data in areas of
environmental damage as deforestation,
(a) Global environmental pollution.
desertification, land degradation, wastelands,
Who is responsible - developed or developing mining, ozone layer depletion and predicting
countries?Needfor mutual cooperation. droughts andfloods.
(b) Economic development and environmental The concept of alternate technology, adopting
degradation. alternate technology to create selfsustaining
societies in the developed and developing
Role of developed and developing countries;
world.
contrasting views of developed and
developingcountries;debt trap. Role of biotechnology in achieving global
food security.
(c) International trade.
Its link to environmental deterioration - INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
unfair tradepractices. Two sesionals of 25 marks each and anyone project!
(d) Role of multinational corporations. assignment given by the teacher, need to be completed.

Definition of MNCs, their contribution to

development and debatable contribution to
environment; case study - Bhopal gas
tragedy; measures to regulate activities of
MNCs in developingcountries.
10. Towards a Sustainable Future
(a) Global interdependence economic and
environmental.