MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

MPPSC 2025
PRELIMS EXAM
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SPACE TECHNOLOGY
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOMENT
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ENVIRONMENT
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PRELIMS | PAPER 1 | UNIT 7

NO. 1 NOTES in ENGLISH MEDIUM
COMPLETE NOTES based on NEW SYLLABUS
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT
CONTENTS
1. SATELLITE AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................... 3
2. ACHEIVEMENT OF INDIA IN THE FIELD OF SPACE SCIENCE ................................................... 12
3. INDIAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS & THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS ........................... 19
4. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SDGs ......................................................... 34
5. ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM ................................................................... 48
6. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ................................................................................................... 83
7. NATURAL CALAMITIES & MANAGEMENT ..............................................................................106

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

1. SATELLITE AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY

SPACE TECHNOLOGY
• This is a technology developed by space science or aerospace industry for application in
spaceflight, satellites or space exploration.
• Spacecraft, satellites, space stations and support infrastructure, equipment and procedures are
included in this technology.

Indian Space Research Programme (ISRP)

• Driven by the vision of Vikram Sarabhai, its primary objective is to promote development and
application of Space and Technology and for the socio-economic benefit of the country.
• Such objectives are:
1. Utilisation of outer space for peaceful purposes.
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2. Establishment of operational space services in a self-sufficient manner.
3. Indian Space Research Programme primarily involves the designing and fabricating
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ofsatellites and development of launch vehicles to launch these satellites.

INSTITUTIONAL SETUP
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• The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up in 1962 by Jawaharlal
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Nehru (the first Prime Minister of the Indian Government) under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to formulate
the Indian Space Programme.
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• In 1969, ISRO was formed and superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space
Research (INCOSPAR).
• The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised space activities in India. It is managed by the
Department of Space , reporting to Prime Minister of India.

ISRO AND ITS PROMINENT REGIONAL CENTRE

• ISRO built India’s first experimental satellite, Aryabhatta, launched by the Soviet Union on 19
April in 1975.
• In 1980, the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3 was
named Rohini.
• ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for
launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
for placing satellites into geostationary orbits.
• These rockets have launched numerous communication satellites and Earth observation
satellites.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Satellite navigation systems like GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) and Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) have been deployed.
• ISRO successfully used an indigenous cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-14, in
January 2014.
• On 22 October 2008, ISRO sent its first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1.
• ISRO also launched its Mars Orbiter Mission on 5 November 2013, which successfully entered
Mars orbit on 24 September 2014. Consequently, India became the first nation to succeed in its
first attempt, and ISRO the fourth space agency in the world as well as the first space agency in
Asia to successfully reach Mars orbit.
• There are more plans in future including development of GSLV Mk III (for launch of heavier
satellites), human spaceflight, development of a reusable launch vehicle, further lunar
exploration, further mars exploration, a solar spacecraft mission, interplanetary probes, etc.
•
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ISRO has also conducted various operations for both Indian and foreign clients. As a part of
several bilateral and multilateral agreements, it has several field installations as assets and co-
operates with the international community.
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DIFFERENT TYPES OF SATELLITE ORBITS
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• Different types of orbit and their distance from earth surface

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Orbit Altitude
50-1,500 km (from the surface of Earth to 2,000 km
1. Low Earth Orbit
distance also considered as Low Earth Orbit)
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2. Medium Earth Orbit 5,000-12,000 km (even 20,000 km in the case of GPS)

3. Geosynchronous Orbit 35,786 km

4. High Earth Orbit Beyond 35,786 km

A satellite may orbit around the Earth in different planes.

• For instance, an orbit which is directly above the Earth's equator is known as equatorial orbit,
while the one which passes over both poles is known as polar orbit
• Other orbits are referred to as inclined orbits.
• The orbit can be circular (with the centre of the circle at centre of the Earth), or elliptical (with
the Earth centre at one of the two foci of the ellipse).
• The altitude of communication satellite can be Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Medium Earth
Orbit (MEO) or Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Low Earth Orbit satellites are often in polar orbit at altitude of 50—1,500 km and the orbital
period in the range of 95-120 minutes.
• LEO satellite tries to ensure a high elevation for every spot-on Earth, thus provides a high-quality
communication link.
• The maximum time that the LEO satellites are visible from a fixed point on Earth is up to 20
minutes. LEO is further classified into little
• LEO with low bandwidth services (almost 100 bits/sec), big LEO (almost 1 kbps) and broadband
LEO (almost 2 mbps).

Advantages of LEO
• It can provide true global coverage and efficient use of spectrum.
• Due to lower path loss, use of smaller terminal becomes possible.
• The propagation delay is very low (10 ms). DA
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Disadvantages of LEO
• The mismatch of the orbital period of satellite and Earth results in serious consideration of
Doppler Effect.
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• It requires large number of satellites for whole coverage.

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• High probability of handover during a call.

• Failed satellites are required to be replaced regularly because of their lower lifetimes.
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Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

• MEO satellite can be positioned somewhere between LEO and GEO at altitude of around 5,000-
12,000 km. above the Earth surface with inclination to equator plane.
• So far, there have not been many satellites in this orbit, but some upcoming system uses this
orbit.
• The orbital period of MEO satellite is about 6 hours. The visibility of satellite from a fixed point
on Earth is about 60-100 minutes.
Advantages of MEO
• It can provide true global coverage.
• It is possible to use smaller terminal because it provides lower path loss due to less distance.
• It provides medium propagation delay (80 ms).
• MEO can cover large area, thus requires less handover.
Disadvantages of MEO
• It requires large number of satellites required for whole coverage.
• Orbital periods of satellite and Earth are mismatched; therefore the Doppler Effect is considered.
• Requires relatively long time to deploy a whole constellation.

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• Failed satellites need to be replaced regularly due to their lower lifetime and larger number.
• The medium visibility of satellite leads to low probability of handover during call.

Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)

• The Geostationary Earth orbit satellite is the most popular type of communication satellite.
• If the orbital period of satellite exactly matches the orbital period of Earth at an altitude of 35,863
km above the Earth surface and rotates in the equatorial plane of the Earth with angular velocity
of 3,075 m/s, such an orbit is called geosynchronous orbit.
• When the inclination and the eccentricity of the orbit are zero, the satellite appears stationary to
an observer on the ground. Thus, the orbit is termed as geostationary orbit.

Advantages of GEO
• Since the orbital periods of satellite and Earth are almost same, the problem of Doppler Effect

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does not occur as relative motion is zero.
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The GEO satellite covers most of the inhabited portion of the entire Earth excluding only the area
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near the North Pole and South Pole.
• Interference effects are easy to predict owing to stable geometric relationship.
• Time between launch and deployment operation is relatively small of the order of weeks.
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Disadvantages of GEO
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• It provides relatively large propagation delay by 0.24 seconds. This affects voice and time data
protocol.
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• Relatively large path loss due to large distance travelled by signal.

• Relatively high launch cost.
• The polar region and far Northern and Southern hemispheres are poorly served by geostationary
satellite.

High Earth Orbit (HEO)

• Those satellites or space mission we send across the Earth orbit (beyond 35,786 km) are called
as high Earth orbit, e.g., Chandrayaan I, II, Mangalyaan I and Aditya mission.
• Note: LEO satellites at polar position (Polar Satellite), MEO satellites at inclined or transitional
position and GEO satellites at equatorial position for their own work.

Polar Versus Polar Sun-Synchronous Orbit

• Polar satellite cannot be used always to take image of the Earth surface.
• Only for certain time period this satellite will be in front of the Sun and for rest of the time, due
to planetary movement of the Sun and Earth position change satellite will see the shadow of the
Sun on the Earth surface.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• The only solution to this problem is polar Sun-synchronous orbit should be placed at the
surface where the revolution of satellite is always in front of Sun by changing its own inclination
angle at every revolution. Since this orbit satellite appears to follow the path of Sun at every
moment of time, it is called as polar Sun-synchronous orbit.
• Sun-synchronous orbit is called a dawn-to-dusk orbit. In a dawn-to-dusk orbit, the satellite trails
the Earth’s shadow. The shadow is casted on the opposite of the side where the Sun shines (This
shadow is night-time). Since the satellite never moves into this shadow, the Sun appears to always
shine on it (sort of like perpetual daytime). Due to closeness of satellite to the shadow, the part
of the Earth the satellite is directly above, is always at sunset or sunrise. Hence this orbit is called
a dawn-dusk orbit.
• This enables the satellite to always have its solar panels near the Sun. Generally, Sun-synchronous
orbits are medium or low orbits. Radarsat (Canadian satellite) is an example of a satellite in a low

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Sun-synchronous orbit. Radarsat is under the orbit of 798 Km above the Earth, at an angle of
inclination of 98.6 degrees to the equator as it circles the globe from pole to pole. To keep its
solar panels facing the Sun almost constantly, Radarsat relies on its dawn-to-dusk orbit. Radarsat
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can henceforth rely mostly on solar power rather than batteries.
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Transfer Orbit
• It’s an intermediate orbit into which a satellite is released and from here the satellite will
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subsequently lift up by making noise of its propulsion system.

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GPS Orbit/Semi-synchronous Orbits

• It is an elliptical orbit at an altitude of about 5,000- 12,000 km, used for navigation purpose. 24-
36 constellations of satellite in MEO orbit (Inclined or transitional in position) will be utilised to
cover world navigation in Global Positioning System (e.g., NAVSTAR and GLONASS).
• Three geostationary satellites can be used to cover whole Earth surface except polar area, so it
cannot be used in global navigation system. In nations like India (which are near to equator), for
regional GPS, we can use Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit
(GEO) in combination, e.g., GAGAN and IRNSS.

Halo Orbit
• It is a specific type of solar orbit located at gravitational stable point between the Earth and Sun.
This orbit is described in ADITYA Mission (Solar mission) of India.

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Geosynchronous Orbit Vs. Geostationary Orbit
Geosynchronous Orbit
• An orbit around Earth whose orbital period is equal to a sidereal day (23 hours, 56 minutes),
irrespective of its inclination. This implies that a person on a point on Earth will see a satellite in
this orbit at the same place in the sky at the same time of the day, every day.

Geostationary orbit
• A geosynchronous orbit around Earth at 35,786 km above the equator thus appears stationary
as seen from Earth. Just like a star in the sky, a person on any point on Earth will see a satellite in
this orbit stationary w.r.t. his position, (Note: Every geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit
(Figure 8.6) but not the other way around. A satellite will be geostationary if the revolution of
satellite is West to East with respect to rotation of the Earth).

Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)

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This idea was propounded by W. Hohmann in 1925. This orbit is elliptical; hence if we want to
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shift a satellite from GTO to GEO, we require apogee motor firing. (Apogee: The point in the orbit
of a heavenly body, especially the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from
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the Earth.)
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SATELLITE LAUNCHING SYSTEM

• Since the Eastern side of East-coast has a water body, the satellite launching station is generally
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located on the East-coast and as close as possible to equator. For instance, Cape Canaveral in
S.E. coast of Florida of USA, N-E Coast of French, Guyana in S. America.
• The launch vehicle moves from West to East, same of the direction of Earth’s rotation, so it is
easy to up-thrust because Earth rotation helps the satellite to launch it in the same direction.
• This place is also towards the eastern coast, if any casualty happen during launching of satellite
so it will be safe for people and property because satellite will drop in ocean.

BASIC TERMINOLOGIES
Satellite
• A satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star.
• For instance, the moon is a satellite because it orbits Earth, likewise, Earth is a satellite as it orbits
the Sun. Usually, and the word ‘satellite’ refers to a machine, it is launched into space to move
around Earth or another body in space. Earth and the moonare the examples of natural satellites.
• Thousands of artificial, or man-made, satellites orbit Earth.

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• These have numerous applications as in taking pictures of the planet that help meteorologists
predict weather and track hurricanes.
• Sputnik 1 was the first satellite in space launched by Soviet Union in 1957.

Space Shuttle
• It is a partially reusable rocket-launched vehicle, designed to go into orbit around the Earth.
• It derives its application in transporting people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, and
to glide to a runway landing on its return to Earth’s surface.
• The first of such vehicle was developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). Formerly called the Space Transportation System (STS), it lifted off into
the space for the first time on 12 April 1981.

Spacecraft
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A vehicle, or machine designed to fly in outer space is called space craft. On a sub-orbital
spaceflight, a spacecraft enters space and then returns to the surface without having gone into
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an orbit.
• For orbital spaceflights, spacecraft enters the space around other celestial bodies or closed orbits
around the Earth. Spacecrafts are used for human spaceflights carrying people on board as crew
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or passengers from start or on orbit (space stations) only. On the other hand, those used for
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robotic space missions operate either autonomously or telerobotically.

• Space probes are robotic spacecrafts used to support scientific research. Robotic spacecraft that
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remains in orbit around a planetary body serves as an artificial sattelite.

• Only a handful of interstellar probes, such as Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2 and New
Horizons, are on trajectories that leave the solar system.

Type of Spacecrafts
• Manned spacecraft: In order to carry astronauts into space a piloted spacecraft is designed. It
requires a crew compartment and life support systems, unlike unmanned spacecraft. Manned
spacecraft are either reusable (like the space shuttle), or designed for one time use like (Soyuz).
The latter type is generally modular, that is consisting of a re-entry module that houses the crew
and a service module that contains propulsion, power supply and life support. Only the re-entry
module returns to the Earth.
• Fly-by spacecraft: A spacecraft following a continuous trajectory past a target object is never to
be captured into an orbit. By compensating for the target’s apparent motion, it must carry
instruments that are capable of observing passing targets. The spacecraft’ must be capable of

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survive long periods of interplanetary cruise and must be able to downlink data at high rates.
Examples include Pioneers 10 and 11, and Voyagers 1 and 2.
• Orbiter spacecraft: It is designed to travel to a distant planet or moon and enter orbit. To achieve
orbit insertion, it must carry a substantial propulsive capability to decelerate it at the right
moment. An orbiter spacecraft must be resistant to extreme thermal variation and power storage
capacity will be required by it, on being equipped with solar panels. This must help it to endure
periods during which it is shaded from sunlight. Examples of orbiter spacecraft include Magellan,
Galileo and Mars Global Surveyor.
• Atmospheric probe: A small, instrumented craft that is separated from the main spacecraft prior
to closest approach to a planet in order to study the gaseous atmosphere of the body as it drops
through it. It is equipped with an aero shell to protect it during atmospheric entry and a
parachute to slow down its decent. Data is typically telemetered to the mother craft where it gets

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recorded which later is transmitted to the Earth.
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Lander spacecraft: It represents a spacecraft designed to reach the surface of a planet or moon
with longer survivability, enough to telemeter data back to the Earth. It may perform a powered
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descent and landing or may descend to the surface suspended from a parachute. Examples of
lander spacecraft are Surveyor, Viking, Mars Pathfinder and the Soviet Venera.
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• Surface rover: A semi-autonomous roving vehicle which is steerable from Earth is deployed on
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the surface of a planet or other body to take images and soil analysis for telemetering back to
Earth. Sojourner is solar-powered, wheeled micro-rover included in the Mars Pathfinder mission.
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Launch Vehicle
• In spaceflight, Launch vehicle is a rocket-powered vehicle used to transport a spacecraft beyond
Earth’s atmosphere, either into orbit around Earth or to some other destination in outer space.
• Practical launch vehicles have been deployed to send manned spacecraft, unmanned space
probes and satellites into space since the 1950s.

Rocket
• A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle that obtains thrust from a rocket engine.
• Rocket engine exhaust is formed entirely from propellant carried within the rocket before use.
Rocket engines operate on principle of action and reaction which pushes rockets forward simply
by expelling their exhaust in the opposite direction at high speed.
• They can, thus, work in the vacuum of space. The efficiency of rockets is greater in space than in
atmosphere.

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Missile
• A missile is a self-propelled precision-guided munitions system, rather than unguided self-
propelled munitions, referred to as a rocket (although these too can also be guided). Missiles
comprise of four system components: targeting and/or missile guidance, engine, flight system
and warhead.

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2. ACHEIVEMENT OF INDIA IN THE FIELD OF

SPACE SCIENCE
• India’s space journey started with the establishment of the Indian National Committee for Space
Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, later renamed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in
1969.

Key highlights of India’s space endeavours:

First Satellite:
• Aryabhata was India’s first satellite which was launched on April 19th, 1975 using Russia’s
Kosmos-3M launch vehicle.

Launch Vehicles:
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Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 was India’s first experimental satellite launch vehicle, launched in 1980.
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• Its success paved the way for advanced launch vehicle projects including the
o Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV),
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o Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV),

o Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and
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o LVM3.
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Remote Sensing and National Natural Resource Management System

• The Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) System, with currently 11 satellites in orbit, is one of
the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation in the world today. It provides
inputs for management of natural resources and various developmental projects across the
country using space-based imagery.

Lunar Mission : Chandrayaan

• Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first moon mission,
launched in 2008.
• Chandrayaan-2 was India's first attempt to soft-
land on the Moon which was launched in 2019 by
GSLV MkIII-M1.

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Chandrayaan-3
• With the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, India became the first country to
successfully land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole.
• The mission’s goal was to investigate the south-polar region of the Moon, an area rich in
scientific opportunities.
• The main goal was to explore the lunar surface more thoroughly using cutting-edge equipment
that may help solve the geological puzzles surrounding the Moon.
• The goal of Chandrayaan-3 was to outperform earlier findings, especially Chandrayaan-2’s
finding of water molecules on the lunar surface.

What is the Chandrayaan-3 Programme?

• Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar mission and second attempt at achieving a soft landing on
the moon's surface.
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On July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The spacecraft seamlessly entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023.
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• The historic moment unfolded when the lander made a successful touchdown near the Lunar
south pole on Aug 23, 2023.
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Mission Objectives:
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• To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface

• To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
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• To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Components:
• Chandrayaan-3 is a three-component mission consisting of a Propulsion Module, a Lander
Module, and a Rover Module.
• Propulsion Module : It will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit.This
propulsion module has Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to
study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.
• Lander Module: The Lander Module (Vikram) is carrying a scientific payload that includes a
suite of instruments to study the lunar surface and atmosphere Chandra’s Surface
Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature;
Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing
site; Langmuir Probe (LP) to estimate the plasma density and its variations. A passive Laser
Retroreflector Array from NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies.
• Rover Module:The Rover Module(Pragyan) is carrying a suite of instruments to study the lunar
surface and subsurface which includes Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser
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Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity
of landing site.

Major Findings:
• Lunar Surface Temperature Surprise: Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)
measured temperatures reaching 70 degrees Celsius, surprising scientists who expected
temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
• Lunar Surface Elements Confirmed:The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument
onboard 'Pragyan' rover confirmed the presence of Sulphur on the lunar surface near the south
pole.Elements such as Aluminum, Calcium, Iron, Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon,
and Oxygen were also detected.

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Mars Orbiter Mission: MoM
• India’s first interplanetary mission, was launched in 2013.
• After Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency, India became the fourth space agency
in the world to reach Mars orbit.
• It also made India the first country in the world to reach Martian orbit in its maiden attempt.

104 Satellites in a single flight

• PSLV-C37 successfully launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite along with 103 co-
passenger satellites in 2017.

Solar Mission Aditya-L1 Mission

• In September 2023 India launched the Aditya-L1 mission,
the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun.
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heliophysics, was another feather in India’s space
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he Aditya L1 mission, an investigation into the field of
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exploration crown.
• The mission’s name, which derives from the name of the Sun, represents its emphasis on
investigating the corona, the outermost layer of the Sun.
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• The scientific community was looking forward to Aditya L1’s insights into solar activity and how
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it affects space weather.

Shukrayaan 1
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• It is a planned mission to send an orbiter to Venus, the second planet from the Sun.
• It is expected to study Venus’s geological and volcanic activity, emissions on the ground, wind
speed, cloud cover, and other planetary characteristics.

LUPEX
• Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and
JAXA(Japan), is poised to explore the Moon's polar regions.
• It will be specifically designed to venture into permanently shaded areas.
• Investigating the presence of water and assessing the potential for a sustainable long-term
station are among LUPEX's objectives.

Gaganyaan
• Gaganyaan mission aims to send humans to space and return them safely to Earth.
• The Gaganyaan Mission is an ongoing project in India to send a three-person crew to a 400 km
Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

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• The mission will consist of two unmanned flights and one manned flight, using the GSLV Mk III
launch vehicle and a human-rated orbital module.
• The manned flight will carry three astronauts, including a woman, for up to seven days in low
Earth orbit.

NISAR
• NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA
and ISRO.
• NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data
for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise,
ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.

Xposat: Uncovering Universe Mysteries

• Taking a closer look at our galactic neighbors,
India demonstrated its capabilities with the Xposat
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mission, which stands for ‘X-ray Polarimeter
Satellite.’
• Xposat’s previous mission was to investigate X-
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rays coming from cosmic objects such as

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supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes.

• Equipped with specialist equipment, the satellite
MP

illuminated the magnetic fields and other phenomena connected to these celestial marvels by
measuring the polarization of X-rays.

Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD)

• It is one of ISRO's most technologically challenging projects aimed at developing critical
technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space.

Space Capsule Recovery:

• A leap-frog in Indian Launch Vehicle Technology was achieved in 2007 through the Space
Capsule Recovery Experiment Mission which established India’s technological capability to
recover an orbiting satellite with precise re-entry trajectories.

Cryogenic Technology
• In 2003, the Indian space agency successfully tested its first cryogenic engine.
• India is now one of only six countries to have developed their own cryogenic engines.
• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is capable of placing 2 Tonne class
communication satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Scramjet Engines
• A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at
hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.

Socio-economic development through application of space technology:

• Economic growth: Satellite communications, navigation systems, earth observation missions,
space science and technology research all create employment, boost economic growth and help
make industries more competitive in an intense global market.
• Telemedicine: The Telemedicine programme connects remote/rural hospitals through the Indian
satellites to major specialty hospitals in cities and towns. The telemedicine technology utilises
Information & Communication Technology (ICT) based system consisting of customised medical
software integrated with computer hardware along with medical diagnostic instruments
connected to VSATs. Presently, around 165 Telemedicine nodes are operational across the

•
country. DA
Tele-education: Under Tele-education programme, the teaching sessions conducted from
AD
customised studio are telecast through satellite to schools and colleges. It has manifold benefits
by imparting effective teacher training, providing access to experienced resource persons, and
C

thus resulting in effective delivery of quality education to the nook and corners.
• Resource mapping: Survey of various mineral and natural resources have been made possible
PS

through remote sensing. Management of these resources, their development conservation and
formulation of various policies through remote sensing has helped economic growth.
MP

• Rural development: Bhuvan based application (GeoMNREGA), is being employed for

monitoring of rural development activities under major schemes of the Ministry of Rural
Development. Geo-MGNREGA has entered the second Phase wherein asset implementation is
monitored using Bhuvan app for site selection, during asset creation and also after the creation
of the asset.
• Agricultural services: Various meteorological services including information about monsoon,
climate flood, cyclonic activities etc. are provided through the technologies. Green revolution
had been made possible through this technology. Coordinated programme on Horticulture
Assessment & Management (CHAMAN) has been completed using geoinformatics for faster and
efficient collection of ground information, as well as in building up a geodatabase through
Bhuvan platform.
• Environmental conservation: They have helped in environment conservation programmes
estimation of agricultural production and water resources information. Monitoring & Assessment
of Ecosystem Processes in North-West Himalayas is done to understand various processes
related to mountain ecosystem, & climate change induced impacts.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Water conservation: Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) is a flagship
programme of the Department of Land Resources. Using multi-temporal IRS high resolution
(Cartosat-2 and Resourcesat) data, the monitoring of IWMP Projects is being carried out at
National level. Bhuvan based GIS tool, called SRISHTI is used for monitoring and evaluation of
the watersheds.

DA
C AD
PS
MP

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

3. INDIAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

INSTITUTIONS & THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO is the space agency of the Government of
India headquartered in the city of Bengaluru.
• It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the prime minister of India.

Brief History

• The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established in the
tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1962, with the

•
•
DA
urging of scientist Vikram Sarabhai recognizing the need in space research.
INCOSPAR grew and became ISRO in 1969, also under the DAE.
In 1972, Government of India had setup a Space Commission and the Department of
AD
Space (DOS), bringing ISRO under the DOS.
• The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized space research activities in India.
C

Vision
PS

• To harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research &
planetary exploration.
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Mission
• Design and development of launch vehicles and related technologies for providing access to
space.

Important and prominent regional centres of ISRO:

1. ISAC: ISRO Satellite Application Centre, Bangalore
2. VSSC: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
3. SDSC: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
4. SAC: Space Application Centre, Ahmadabad
5. LPSC: Liquid Propulsion System Centre, Bengaluru
6. ISTRAC: ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network, Bengaluru
7. MCF: Master Control Facility, Hassan in Karnataka and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh
8. NRSA: National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Master Control Facility (MCF), Hassan in KN and Bhopal in MP
• It monitors and controls all the geostationary satellites of ISRO. It also carries out operations
related to initial orbit rising of satellites, in-orbit payload testing and on-orbit operations
throughout the life of these satellites.

ANTRIX
• Antrix Corporation Limited is the marketing arm (Commercial wing) of ISRO. It helps in promotion
and commercialisation of space products, technical consultancy services and aids in transfer of
technologies developed by ISRO. It was incorporated as a private limited company owned by the
Indian government in September 1992. Antrix provides space products and services to the
international customers worldwide. It achieved a turnover of Rs. 13 billion in 2013-2014 and was
awarded ‘Miniratna’ status by the government in 2008.

Important achievements of ISRO

•
DA
ISRO built India's first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April
AD
1975. It was named after the mathematician Aryabhata.

• In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch
C

vehicle, SLV-3.
PS

• ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets:

o Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and
MP

o Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary
orbits

• These rockets have launched numerous communications satellites and Earth observation
satellites.

• Satellite navigation systems like GAGAN and IRNSS have been deployed.

• In January 2014, ISRO used an indigenous cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-
14.

• ISRO sent a lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, on 22 October 2008, which discovered lunar water in
the form of ice, and the Mars Orbiter Mission, on 5 November 2013, which entered Mars
orbit on 24 September 2014, making India the first nation to succeed on its maiden attempt to
Mars, as well as the first space agency in Asia to reach Mars orbit.

• On 18 June 2016, ISRO launched twenty satellites in a single vehicle, and on 15 February 2017,
ISRO launched one hundred and four satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37), a world record.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• ISRO launched its heaviest rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-
Mk III), on 5 June 2017 and placed a communications satellite GSAT-19 in orbit.

• With this launch, ISRO became capable of launching 4-ton heavy satellites into GTO.
• On 22 July 2019, ISRO launched its second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 to study the lunar
geology and the distribution of lunar water.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), Thiruananthpuram

• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is the lead Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India.
• It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, in the Indian state of Kerala. The centre had its beginnings
as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962.
• It was renamed in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the father of the Indian

•
space program.
Activities DA
o VSSC pioneers in rocket research and launch vehicle projects of ISRO.
AD
o The Centre also pursues research and development activities in associated areas like
propellants, solid propulsion technology, aerodynamics, aero structural and aero thermal
C

fields, avionics, polymers and composites, guidance, control & simulation, computer and
PS

information, mechanical engineering, aerospace mechanisms, vehicle integration and testing,

space ordnance, chemicals and materials.
o Systems reliability and quality assurance of all aspects of engineering and operations are
MP

studied and evaluated to the levels of perfection required in each field.

o The ongoing programmes at VSSC include launch vehicle projects like Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Rohini Sounding Rockets
and Space-capsule Recovery Experiments.
o The next generation launcher GSLV MkIII (also known as LVM3) has been successfully
launched.
o Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) and Air Breathing Propulsion for Advanced Reusable Launch
Vehicle, Human Spaceflight Project, etc are on the anvil.

Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) Shriharikota

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota,the Spaceport of India, is respon
sible for providing Launch Base Infrastructure for the Indian Space Programme.
• This Centre has the facilities for solid
propellant processing, static testing of solid motors, launch vehicle integration and launch

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
operations, range operations comprising telemetry, tracking and command network and mission
control centre.

• History

o To venture on the indigenous development of satellites and their launch vehicles, it was
decided to set up a rocket launch station on the East Coast of our country, far from populated
areas.

o Features like a good launch azimuth corridor for various missions, nearness to the equator
(benefiting eastward launches) and large uninhabited area for a safety zone have made
Sriharikota the ideal location for the spaceport.

o This spindle shaped island in SPSR Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, situated in the
backwater Pulicat Lake and sandwiched by Buckingham Canal on the West and Bay of Bengal
DA
on the East, was chosen in 1969 for setting up the rocket launch station of our country.
o It became operational on October 9, 1971 with the flight of ‘Rohini-125’, a small sounding
AD
rocket.
o Since then the facilities here were gradually expanded to meet the growing needs of ISRO.
C

o The space centre, which was popularly known as SHAR (Sriharikota Range) was renamed as
Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR on September 5, 2002, in fond memory of Prof. Satish
PS

Dhawan, former Chairman of ISRO.

• The Centre has two launch pads from where the rocket launching operations of PSLV and GSLV
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are carried out.

• The mandate for the centre is
o To produce solid propellant boosters for the launch vehicle programmes of ISRO.
o To provide the infrastructure for qualifying various subsystems and solid rocket motors
and carrying out the necessary tests.
o To provide launch base infrastructure for satellites and launch vehicles.
• SDSC SHAR has a separate launch pad for launching sounding rockets.
• The centre also provides the necessary launch base infrastructure for sounding rockets of ISRO
and for assembly, integration and launch of sounding rockets and payloads.

Space Application Center (SAC), Ahmedabad

• Space Applications Centre (SAC), is a major research and development centre of the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It plays a key role in realizing vision and mission of ISRO.
• Located at Ahmedabad, SAC is spread across two campuses having multi-disciplinary activities.
• The core competence of the centre lies in
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
o Development of space borne and air borne instruments/payloads and
o Their applications for national development and societal benefits.
• These applications are in diverse areas and primarily meet the communication, navigation and
remote sensing needs of the country.
• Besides these, the centre also contributes significantly in scientific and planetary missions of ISRO
like Chandrayan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission etc.
• The communication transponders developed at this centre for Indian National Satellite (INSAT)
and Geo Synchronous Satellite (GSAT) series of satellites are used by government and private
sector for VSAT, DTH, internet, broadcasting, telephony etc.
• This centre designs and develops the optical and microware sensors for the satellites, signal and
image processing software, GIS software and many applications for Earth Observation (EO)
programme of ISRO.

Liquid Propulsion System Center (LPSC), Bengaluru

DA
AD
• Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is the lead Centre for development and realization of
earth-to-orbit advanced propulsion stages for Launch Vehicles and also the in-space
propulsion systems for Spacecrafts.
C

• The LPSC activities and facilities are spread across its two campuses viz.
PS

o LPSC Headquarters and Design Offices at Valiamala/Thiruvananthapuram, and

MP

o Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Unit at LPSC, Bangalore/Karnataka.

• Activities

o LPSC is vested with the responsibility of design, development and system engineering of high
performance Space Propulsion Systems employing Earth Storable and Cryogenic Propellants
for ISRO's Launch Vehicles and Satellites.

o Development of fluid control valves, transducers, propellant management devices and other
key components of Liquid Propulsion Systems are also under the purview of LPSC.

• LPSC Valiamala

o It is the Centre Headquarters, responsible for R & D, System Design/Engineering and Project
Management functions.

o The Fluid Control Components Entity and the Materials & Mechanical Engineering Entity are
located here apart from the Earth Storable & Cryogenic Propulsion Entities, handling the core
tasks of the Centre.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• LPSC Bangalore
o It focuses on satellite propulsion.
o Design & Realisation of Propulsion Systems, integration of spacecraft propulsion systems for
Remote Sensing and Communication satellites, Development and production of transducers
/ sensors are other major activities at LPSC, Bangalore.
o Fabrication of launch vehicle stage tanks and structure at ASD/HAL is also coordinated and
managed by LHWC at Bangalore.

National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), Hyderabad

• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) at Hyderabad has been converted into a full-fledged
centre of ISRO since September 1, 2008.
• Earlier, NRSC was an autonomous body called National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) under

•
Department of Space (DOS).
DA
The Centre is responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquisition and processing, data
AD
dissemination, aerial remote sensing and decision support for disaster management.
• NRSC has set up data reception station at Shadnagar near Hyderabad for acquiring data from
Indian remote sensing satellites as well as others.
C

• The Centre is also engaged in executing remote sensing application projects in collaboration with
PS

the users.

Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN), Ramanagara

MP

• Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) is a communications infrastructure operated by the Indian
Space Research Organisation to support the interplanetary spacecraft missions of India.
• Its hub is located at Byalalu, a village near Bangalore, Karnataka in India.
• It was inaugurated on 17 October 2008 by the former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair.
• It is a part of the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) system.
• It comprises of an indigenously built 32-metre-diameter antenna and a German 18-m antenna.
• It played a critical role in Chandrayaan-1 mission.

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

• DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India.
• Mandate
o It has a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission
to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our
armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with
requirements laid down by the three Services.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
o "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of strength is science-drives the nation in peace and
war.

• Achievments

o Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts,
radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already
been made in several such technologies.

o DRDO's pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of

strategic systems and platforms such as

▪ Agni and Prithvi series of missiles;

▪ Light combat aircraft, Tejas;

▪
Multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka;

air defence system, Akash;

DA
AD
▪ a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems; etc.,

have given quantum jump to India's military might, generating effective deterrence and
C

providing crucial leverage.

PS

o DRDO has firm determination to make the nation strong and self-reliant in terms of
science and technology, especially in the field of military technologies.
MP

• Organizational set up

o DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical
Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical
Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).

o DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories.

o Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines,
number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

o Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in
developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments,
electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced
computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information
systems and agriculture.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai
• The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility,
headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research
and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas.

• Mandate

o BARC's core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for
power generation.

o It manages all facts of nuclear power generation, from theoretical design of reactors to,
computerised modelling and simulation, risk analysis, development and testing of new
reactor fuel materials, etc.
DA
o It also conducts research in spent fuel processing, and safe disposal of nuclear waste.
AD
o Its other research focus areas are applications for isotopes in industries, medicine, agriculture,
etc. BARC operates a number of research reactors across the country.
C

• History
PS

o The Government of India created the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) on 3
January 1954.
o It was established to consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors
MP

and technology under the Atomic Energy Commission.

o All scientists and engineers engaged in the fields of reactor designing and development,
instrumentation, metallurgy and material science etc., were transferred with their respective
programmes from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to AEET, with TIFR
retaining its original focus for fundamental research in the sciences.
o After Homi Jehangir Bhabha's death in 1966, the centre was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre on 22 January 1967.
• Achievements
o BARC has five test reactors. The facilities include research reactors for research and
radioisotope production, plants for generating uranium metal and nuclear fuels, fuel
reprocessing, waste immobilisation and seismic stations.
o Of all the research reactors at the centre, Dhruva represents the most significant
engineering achievement.
▪ The high neutron flux reactor was designed, built and commissioned entirely by Indian
engineers.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
▪ It uses natural uranium as fuel, and heavy water as moderator and coolant.
▪ Dhruva is useful in investigations related to power reactor technology and production of
radioisotopes required for special applications.
▪ The 100 MW reactor, though commissioned in 1985, initially experienced problems that
delayed plutonium production for several years.
o The plutonium nuclear fuel used in India's nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 came from
BARC's reactors.
o The effort gave Indian scientists the technological knowhow and confidence to not only
develop nuclear fuel for future reactors but also the capacity to refine it into weapons-grade
fuel for developing nuclear weapons.
o BARC has also designed and built India's first pressurised water reactor, which was
commissioned at Kalpakkam near Chennai, as well as the power unit and propulsion reactor

DA
for INS Arihant, the first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
commissioned in 2016.
AD
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a public research institution located
C

in Mumbai that is dedicated to basic research in mathematics and the sciences.

PS

• TIFR is considered as one of the outstanding research institutes in India.

• It is a Deemed University and works under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic
MP

Energy of the Government of India.

• It is located at Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai, with an affiliated
campus in Serilingampally near Hyderabad.
• TIFR conducts research primarily in the natural sciences, mathematics, the biological sciences
and theoretical computer science and is considered to be one among India's outstanding
research centres.
• TIFR has a graduate programme leading to a PhD in all the major fields of study.

History

• The Institute was founded on 1st June 1945 with support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. The
Institute first began functioning within the Cosmic Ray Research Unit on the campus of the
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and moved to Bombay in October that year.
• The foundation stone of the main building at the Colaba campus was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru in 1954. This constitutes the Institute's main campus at present.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• In 1955-56 the Tripartite Agreement between the Government of India, Government of
Bombay and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust came into force at the Institute. The Tripartite Agreement
envisaged extensive financial support from the Government of India and correspondingly a
greater and more permanent representative for it on the Council of Management.
• Today, more than 99% of the expenditure of the Institute is borne by the Government of India.

Raja Ramanna Center for Atomic Technology (RRCAT)

• Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology is a unit of Department of Atomic Energy,
Government of India, engaged in R & D in non-nuclear front line research areas of Lasers,
Particle Accelerators & related technologies. It is located in Indore (MP).

History

• DA
RRCAT was established by the Department of Atomic Energy, India to expand the activities
carried out at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, in two frontline areas of
AD
science and technology namely Lasers and Accelerators.
• On February 19, 1984 the President of India, Gyani Zail Singh, laid the foundation stone of
C

the centre. Construction of laboratories and houses began in May 1984.

• In June 1986, the first batch of scientists from BARC, Mumbai, moved to RRCAT and scientific
PS

activities were started.

• Since then, the centre has rapidly grown into a premier institute for research and development
MP

in lasers, accelerators and their applications.

Research Activities
A. Accelerator
• The Centre has indigenously designed, developed, and commissioned two synchrotron
radiation sources: Indus-1 and Indus-2, serving as a national facility. Indus-2 is presently the
largest and the highest energy particle accelerator in the country.
• The Centre is pursuing several other key accelerator activities viz.

o Development of a high energy proton accelerator for a spallation neutron source,

o Electron accelerators for food irradiation and industrial applications,

o Free electron lasers (FEL) in terahertz (THz) and infra-red (IR) spectral region,
o Superconducting and magnetic materials required for accelerators,

o Development of advanced technologies such as superconducting radio-frequency

(SCRF) cavities and cryomodules, high power radio-frequency (RF) generators,

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
cryogenics, magnets, ultrahigh vacuum, precision fabrication and control
instrumentation to support the various R&D programmes.
B. Laser
• The Centre is also involved in development of a variety of laser systems and their utilization
for applications in industry, medicine and research.
• The laser systems developed include high power CO2 lasers, flash lamp and diode laser
pumped Nd lasers, semiconductor lasers, chemical lasers, excimer lasers and high
energy/intensity pulsed lasers.
• Crystals of a variety of materials of interest to laser technology have been grown.
• The industrial applications being pursued include cutting, drilling, welding, surface
modifications and rapid manufacturing. Various laser based instruments such as uranium
analyzer, land leveler, compact N2 laser, photo-coagulator, fibre based temperature sensor,

•
surgical CO2 laser system have been developed.
DA
Home-made and commercial lasers are being used for research in the areas of laser plasma
interaction, laser-based charged particle acceleration, laser cooling and trapping of atoms,
AD
nonlinear optics, ultra-fast dynamics, material processing, laser fluorescence spectroscopy of
tissues, effects of narrow bandwidth light on cells and animal models, imaging through turbid
C

media, laser micromanipulation of microscopic objects etc.

PS

National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Tirupati

MP

• NARL is an autonomous research laboratory fully funded by the Department of Space,

Government of India and involved in carrying out fundamental and applied research in
Atmospheric and Space Sciences.
• It had its humble beginning in 1992 as the National Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere
(MST) Radar Facility. Over the years several complementary techniques such as Rayleigh/Mie
lidars, wind profilers have been added.
• NARL has now become one of the prime centers for atmospheric research in the country and
operates
o state-of-the-art MST radar

o Rayleigh/ Mie Lidar

o Boundary Layer Lidar

o Sodium Lidar

o Lower Atmospheric Wind Profiler

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
o Sodar

o Disdrometer

o Optical Rain Gauge

o Dual frequency GPS receiver

o Automatic Weather Station

o regular launching of the GPS balloon sonde.

• Being relatively young, NARL’s research activities are spearheaded by a team of young and
vibrant fulltime research scientists and students.

Indian Space Science Data Center(ISSDC), Ramanagara, Karnataka

•
Byalalu campus of ISTRAC/ISRO.
DA
The Indian Space Science Data Center (ISSDC) is located at the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN)
AD
• ISSDC provides data ingestion, processing, archival and dissemination services to the global
science community for the science missions of ISRO.
• ISSDC is designed to provide high computation, high capacity storage, and high bandwidth
C

network and for secure hosting of variety of applications necessary to support all the planetary,
PS

lunar and space science missions of ISRO.

• ISSDC has a multi-layered architecture considering the multitude dimensions of mission
MP

requirements where each and every layer is scalable, resilient and flexible enough to serve
requirements of current & future planetary and space science missions.
• The primary users of this facility are the principal investigators of the science payloads.
• In addition to them, the data is made accessible to the scientists from other institutions and also
to the general public.
o

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST),

Thiruananthpuram
• Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is a government-aided institute and
deemed university for the study and research of space science, located at
Valiamala, Nedumangad Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• It is the first university in Asia to be solely dedicated to the study and research of Outer space.
• It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman of ISRO.
• IIST was set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of
Space, Government of India.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was the Chancellor of IIST.
• IIST offers regular engineering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes with
focus on space science, technology and applications.

Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradoon

• The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing is a premier institute for research, higher education and
training in the field of Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural
Resources, Environmental and Disaster Management under the Indian Department of Space,
which was established in the year 1966.
• It is located in the city of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• The institute is a constituent unit of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department
of Space, Govt. of India.
• The training, education and capacity building programmes of the Institute are designed to meet

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the requirements of Professionals at working levels, fresh graduates, researchers, academia, and
decision makers.
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• IIRS is also one of the most sought after Institute for conducting specially designed courses for
the officers from Central and State Government Ministries and stakeholder departments for the
effective utilization of Earth Observation (EO) data.
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• IIRS is also empaneled under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme
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of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India providing short term regular and special
courses to international participants from ITEC member countries since 2001.
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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

• Establishment: 1911 (Indian Research Fund Association)
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• Its vision is totranslate their research into action for improving the health of the population.
• It conducts, coordinates and implements medical research for the benefit of the society.
• It translates medical innovations into products or processes and introduces them into the public
health system.

Important Institutes of Medical Research And Biotechnology

• National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
• National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune
• National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), New Delhi
• National Bioresource Development Board New Delhi
• Centre for DNA Finger Printing and Diagnostics (CDFC), Hyderabad

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur
• National Institute of Homeopathy, Kolkata

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

• Establishment: 1988
• Headquarter: Pune
• C-DAC is the premier organisation for carrying out research and development in IT, Electronics
and associated areas.
• It comes under the aegis of the MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).
• The setting up of C-DAC was the result of the denial of import of Supercomputers by the USA.
• Since then C-DAC has been undertaking the building of multiple generations of Supercomputer
starting from PARAM series to the latest AI supercomputer 'AIRAWAT'.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

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• Establishment: 1942
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• CSIR is a cutting edge R&D organisation dealing in diverse fields of science and technology.
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• It has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 1 Innovation

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knowledge base and three units with a pan-India presence.

• CSIR undertakes research, design & development of scientific & industrial instruments,
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components and systems.

• It facilitates service, maintenance, testing & calibration of instruments.
• It promotes Human Resource Development in the area of instrumentation.
• It offers technical assistance to industry and provides ecosystem support.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Establishment: 1929
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• ICAR is an autonomous organisation, registered as a society, under the Societies Registration Act,
1860.
• It is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• The Council is responsible for the research, development and education in agriculture. This
includes horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences.
• It supervises 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities in India.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Establishment: 1909
• Place: Bangalore
• IISc was established by a visionary partnership between the industrialist Jamsetji Nusserwanji
Tata, the Mysore royal family and the Government of India.
• It was selected as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) by the Government of India in 2008.
• It is mandated to provide for advanced instruction and to conduct original investigations in all
branches of knowledge that are likely to promote the material and industrial welfare of India.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

• Establishment: 1998
• Headquarter: Goa
• It is India’s premier Research and Development institution dedicated to the country’s research

•
activities in the polar and Southern Ocean realms.
It operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. DA
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Research Station:
• Maitri: India based research stations at Antarctica since 1998. It was undertaken to understand
the Polar processes and phenomena.
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• Bharti: It is also a research station at Antarctica.Bharti was established in March, 2013

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• Himadri: It is India’s first research station located at the International Arctic Research base at
Svalbard, Norway. It is located 1,200 km away from the North Pole. It was established in 2008
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

4. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

AND SDGs
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by
the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and
ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
• The 17 SDGs are integrated—they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in
others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
• Countries have committed to prioritize progress for those who're furthest behind. The SDGs are
designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.
Goal 1 NO POVERTY
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Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. While
the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by more than half between 1990 and
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2015, too many are still struggling for the most basic human needs.
• As of 2015, about 736 million people still lived on less than US$1.90 a day; many lack food, clean
drinking water and sanitation. Rapid growth in countries such as China and India has lifted
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millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven. Women are more likely to be poor than
men because they have less paid work, education, and own less property.
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• Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which
account for 80 percent of those living in extreme poverty. New threats brought on by climate
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change, conflict and food insecurity, mean even more work is needed to bring people out of
poverty.
• The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started, and end poverty in all forms and
dimensions by 2030. This involves targeting the most vulnerable, increasing basic resources and
services, and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters.
736 million
• 736 million people still live in extreme poverty.
10 percent
• 10 percent of the world’s population live in extreme poverty, down from 36 percent in 1990.
1.3 billion
• Some 1.3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty.
50 percent
• Half of all people living in poverty are under 18.
1 in 10
• One person in every 10 is extremely poor.

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Goal 2 ZERO HUNGER
• The number of undernourished people has dropped by almost half in the past two decades
because of rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity. Many developing
countries that used to suffer from famine and hunger can now meet their nutritional needs.
Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in
eradicating extreme hunger.
• Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many
countries. There are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017,
often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Over
90 million children under five are dangerously underweight. Undernourishment and severe food
insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America.
• The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people–
especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This involves promoting
sustainable agricultural, supporting small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology
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and markets. It also requires international cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure
and technology to improve agricultural productivity.
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821 millon
• The number of undernourished people reached 821 million in 2017.
63 percent
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• In 2017 Asia accounted for nearly two thirds, 63 percent, of the world’s hungry.
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22 percent
• Nearly 151 million children under five, 22 percent, were still stunted in 2017.
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1 in 8
• More than 1 in 8 adults is obese.
1 in 3
• 1 in 3 women of reproductive age is anemic.
26 percent
• 26 percent of workers are employed in agriculture.

Goal 3 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

• We have made great progress against several leading causes of death and disease. Life
expectancy has increased dramatically; infant and maternal mortality rates have declined, we’ve
turned the tide on HIV and malaria deaths have halved.
• Good health is essential to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda reflects the complexity
and interconnectedness of the two. It takes into account widening economic and social
inequalities, rapid urbanization, threats to the climate and the environment, the continuing
burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, and emerging challenges such as noncommunicable
diseases. Universal health coverage will be integral to achieving SDG 3, ending poverty and

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
reducing inequalities. Emerging global health priorities not explicitly included in the SDGs,
including antimicrobial resistance, also demand action.
• But the world is off-track to achieve the health-related SDGs. Progress has been uneven, both
between and within countries. There’s a 31-year gap between the countries with the shortest
and longest life expectancies. And while some countries have made impressive gains, national
averages hide that many are being left behind. Multisectoral, rights-based and gender-sensitive
approaches are essential to address inequalities and to build good health for all.
400 million
• At least 400 million people have no basic healthcare, and 40 percent lack social protection.
1.6 billion
• More than 1.6 billion people live in fragile settings where protracted crises, combined with weak
national capacity to deliver basic health services, present a significant challenge to global health.
15 million
•
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By the end of 2017, 21.7 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Yet
more than 15 million people are still waiting for treatment.
2 seconds
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• Every 2 seconds someone aged 30 to 70 years dies prematurely from noncommunicable diseases
- cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes or cancer.
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7 million
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• 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air.
1 in 3
• More than one of every three women have experienced either physical or sexual violence at
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some point in their life resulting in both short- and long-term consequences for their physical,
mental, and sexual and reproductive health.

Goal 4 QUALITY EDUCATION

• Since 2000, there has been enormous progress in achieving the target of universal primary
education. The total enrollment rate in developing regions reached 91 percent in 2015, and the
worldwide number of children out of school has dropped by almost half. There has also been a
dramatic increase in literacy rates, and many more girls are in school than ever before. These are
all remarkable successes.
• Progress has also been tough in some developing regions due to high levels of poverty, armed
conflicts and other emergencies. In Western Asia and North Africa, ongoing armed conflict has
seen an increase in the number of children out of school. This is a worrying trend. While Sub-
Saharan Africa made the greatest progress in primary school enrollment among all developing
regions – from 52 percent in 1990, up to 78 percent in 2012 – large disparities still remain.
Children from the poorest households are up to four times more likely to be out of school than
those of the richest households. Disparities between rural and urban areas also remain high.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Achieving inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is one of the
most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. This goal ensures that all girls
and boys complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030. It also aims to provide equal
access to affordable vocational training, to eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve
universal access to a quality higher education.
91 percent
• Enrollment in primary education in developing countries has reached 91 percent.
57 million
• Still, 57 million primary-aged children remain out of school, more than half of them in sub-
Saharan Africa.
1 in 4
• In developing countries, one in four girls is not in school.
50 percent
•
103 million
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About half of all out-of-school children of primary school age live in conflict-affected areas.
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• 103 million youth worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 percent of them are
women.
6 of 10
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• 6 out of 10 children and adolescents are not achieving a minimum level of proficiency in
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reading and math.

Goal 5 GENDER EQUALITY

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• Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial for
sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and
development.
• UNDP has made gender equality central to its work and we’ve seen remarkable progress in the
past 20 years. There are more girls in school now compared to 15 years ago, and most regions
have reached gender parity in primary education.
• But although there are more women than ever in the labour market, there are still large
inequalities in some regions, with women systematically denied the same work rights as men.
Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and
discrimination in public office all remain huge barriers. Climate change and disasters continue to
have a disproportionate effect on women and children, as do conflict and migration.
• It is vital to give women equal rights land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to
technology and the internet. Today there are more women in public office than ever before,
but encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
77 cents
• Women earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men get for the same work.
1 in 3
• 35 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.
13 percent
• Women represent just 13 percent of agricultural landholders.
750 million
• Almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday.
2 of 3
• Two thirds of developing countries have achieved gender parity in primary education.
24 percent
• Only 24 percent of national parliamentarians were women as of November 2018, a small increase
from 11.3 percent in 1995.

Goal 6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

DA
AD
• Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people, an alarming figure that is projected to rise
as temperatures do. Although 2.1 billion people have improved water sanitation since 1990,
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dwindling drinking water supplies are affecting every continent.

• More and more countries are experiencing water stress, and increasing drought and
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desertification is already worsening these trends. By 2050, it is projected that at least one in four
people will suffer recurring water shortages.
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• Safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 requires we invest in adequate infrastructure,
provide sanitation facilities, and encourage hygiene. Protecting and restoring water-related
ecosystems is essential.
• Ensuring universal safe and affordable drinking water involves reaching over 800 million people
who lack basic services and improving accessibility and safety of services for over two billion.
• In 2015, 4.5 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation services (with adequately disposed
or treated excreta) and 2.3 billion lacked even basic sanitation.
5.2 billion
• 71 percent of the global population, 5.2 billion people, had safely-managed drinking water in
2015, but 844 million people still lacked even basic drinking water.
2.9 billion
• 39 percent of the global population, 2.9 billion people, had safe sanitation in 2015, but 2.3 billion
people still lacked basic sanitation. 892 million people practiced open defecation.
80 percent
• 80 percent of wastewater goes into waterways without adequate treatment.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
2 billion
• Water stress affects more than 2 billion people, with this figure projected to increase.
80 percent
• 80 percent of countries have laid the foundations for integrated water resources management.
70 percent
• The world has lost 70 percent of its natural wetlands over the last century.

Goal 7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

• Between 2000 and 2018, the number of people with electricity increased from 78 to 90 percent,
and the numbers without electricity dipped to 789 million.
• Yet as the population continues to grow, so will the demand for cheap energy, and an economy
reliant on fossil fuels is creating drastic changes to our climate.
• Investing in solar, wind and thermal power, improving energy productivity, and ensuring energy

•
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for all is vital if we are to achieve SDG 7 by 2030.
Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean and more efficient energy
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in all countries will encourage growth and help the environment.
10 percent
• One out of 10 people still lacks electricity, and most live in rural areas of the developing world.
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More than half are in sub-Saharan Africa.

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73 percent
• Energy is by far the main contributor to climate change. It accounts for 73 percent of human-
caused greenhouse gases.
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40 percent
• Energy efficiency is key; the right efficiency policies could enable the world to achieve more than
40 percent of the emissions cuts needed to reach its climate goals without new technology.
2.8 billion
• Almost a third of the world’s population—2.8 billion—rely on polluting and unhealthy fuels for
cooking.
17.5 percent
• As of 2017, 17.5 percent of power was generated through renewable sources.
18 million
• The renewable energy sector employed a record 11.5 million people in 2019. The changes
needed in energy production and uses to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting the rise
in temperature to below 2C can create 18 million jobs.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Goal 8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
• Over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined dramatically,
despite the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In developing
countries, the middle class now makes up more than 34 percent of total employment – a number
that has almost tripled between 1991 and 2015.
• However, as the global economy continues to recover we are seeing slower growth, widening
inequalities, and not enough jobs to keep up with a growing labour force. According to the
International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.
• The SDGs promote sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological
innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective
measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind,
the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and
men by 2030.
5 percent
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An estimated 172 million people worldwide were without work in 2018 - an unemployment rate
of 5 percent.
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1 million
• As a result of an expanding labour force, the number of unemployed is projected to increase by
1 million every year and reach 174 million by 2020.
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700 million
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• Some 700 million workers lived in extreme or moderate poverty in 2018, with less than US$3.20
per day.
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48 percent
• Women’s participation in the labour force stood at 48 per cent in 2018, compared with 75 percent
for men. Around 3 in 5 of the 3.5 billion people in the labour force in 2018 were men.
2 billion
• Overall, 2 billion workers were in informal employment in 2016, accounting for 61 per cent of the
world’s workforce.
85 million
• Many more women than men are underutilized in the labour force—85 million compared to 55
million.
Goal 9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
• Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and
development. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and
renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and
information and communication technologies.
• Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and
environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all
important ways to facilitate sustainable development.
• More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are from the
developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information
and knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
2.3 billion
• Worldwide, 2.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.
40 percent
• In some low-income African countries, infrastructure constraints cut businesses’ productivity by
around 40 percent.
2.6 billion
• 2.6 billion people in developing countries do not have access to constant electricity.
90 percent
•
developing world.
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More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet; 90 percent of them are in the
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2.3 million
• The renewable energy sectors currently employ more than 2.3 million people; the number could
reach 20 million by 2030.
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30 percent
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• In developing countries, barely 30 percent of agricultural products undergo industrial processing,

compared to 98 percent high-income countries.
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Goal 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES

• Income inequality is on the rise—the richest 10 percent have up to 40 percent of global income
whereas the poorest 10 percent earn only between 2 to 7 percent. If we take into account
population growth inequality in developing countries, inequality has increased by 11 percent.
• Income inequality has increased in nearly everywhere in recent decades, but at different speeds.
It’s lowest in Europe and highest in the Middle East.
• These widening disparities require sound policies to empower lower income earners, and
promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.
• Income inequality requires global solutions. This involves improving the regulation and
monitoring of financial markets and institutions, encouraging development assistance and
foreign direct investment to regions where the need is greatest. Facilitating the safe migration
and mobility of people is also key to bridging the widening divide.
22 percent
• In 2016, 22 percent of global income was received by the top 1 percent compared with 10 percent
of income for the bottom 50 percent.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
16 percent
• In 1980, the top one percent had 16 percent of global income. The bottom 50 percent had 8
percent of income.
33 percent
• Economic inequality is largely driven by the unequal ownership of capital. Since 1980, very large
transfers of public to private wealth occurred in nearly all countries. The global wealth share of
the top 1 percent was 33 percent in 2016.
39 percent
• Under "business as usual", the top 1 percent global wealth will reach 39 percent by 2050.
2x
• Women spend, on average, twice as much time on unpaid housework as men.
60 percent
• Women have as much access to financial services as men in just 60 percent of the countries
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assessed and to land ownership in just 42 percent of the countries assessed.
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Goal 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
• More than half of us live in cities. By 2050, two-thirds of all humanity—6.5 billion people—will
be urban. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the
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way we build and manage our urban spaces.

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• The rapid growth of cities—a result of rising populations and increasing migration—has led to a
boom in mega-cities, especially in the developing world, and slums are becoming a more
significant feature of urban life.
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• Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and
affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in
public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management
in participatory and inclusive ways.
4.2 billion
• In 2018, 4.2 billion people, 55 percent of the world’s population, lived in cities. By 2050, the urban
population is expected to reach 6.5 billion.
3 percent
• Cities occupy just 3 percent of the Earth’s land but account for 60 to 80 percent of energy
consumption and at least 70 percent of carbon emissions.
828 million
• 828 million people are estimated to live in slums, and the number is rising.
33 cities
• In 1990, there were 10 cities with 10 million people or more; by 2014, the number of mega-cities
rose to 28, and was expected to reach 33 by 2018. In the future, 9 out of 10 mega-cities will be
in the developing world.
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90 percent
• In the coming decades, 90 percent of urban expansion will be in the developing world.
80 percent
• The economic role of cities is significant. They generate about 80 percent of the global GDP.

Goal 12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

• Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our
ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources.
Agriculture is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70 percent
of all freshwater for human use.
• The efficient management of our shared natural resources, and the way we dispose of toxic waste
and pollutants, are important targets to achieve this goal. Encouraging industries, businesses and
consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important, as is supporting developing

• DA
countries to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030.
A large share of the world population is still consuming far too little to meet even their basic
needs. Halving the per capita of global food waste at the retailer and consumer levels is also
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important for creating more efficient production and supply chains. This can help with food
security, and shift us towards a more resource efficient economy.
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1.3 billion
• 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, while almost 2 billion people go hungry or
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undernourished.
22 percent
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• The food sector accounts for around 22 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, largely from
the conversion of forests into farmland.
2 billion
• Globally, 2 billion people are overweight or obese.
3 percent
• Only 3 percent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), and humans are using it faster than nature
can replenish it.
US$120 billion
• If people everywhere switched to energy efficient lightbulbs, the world would save US$120
billion annually
20 percent
• One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was from renewable sources.

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Goal 13 CLIMATE ACTION
• There is no country that is not experiencing the drastic effects of climate change. Greenhouse
gas emissions are more than 50 percent higher than in 1990. Global warming is causing long-
lasting changes to our climate system, which threatens irreversible consequences if we do not
act.
• The annual average economic losses from climate-related disasters are in the hundreds of billions
of dollars. This is not to mention the human impact of geo-physical disasters, which are 91
percent climate-related, and which between 1998 and 2017 killed 1.3 million people, and left 4.4
billion injured. The goal aims to mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 to address the needs
of developing countries to both adapt to climate change and invest in low-carbon development.
+1° Celsius
• As of 2017 humans are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above
pre-industrial levels.
+20 cm
• DA
Sea levels have risen by about 20 cm (8 inches) since 1880 and are projected to rise another 30–
122 cm (1 to 4 feet) by 2100.
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2050
• To limit warming to 1.5C, global net CO2 emissions must drop by 45% between 2010 and 2030,
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and reach net zero around 2050.

1/3
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• Climate pledges under The Paris Agreement cover only one third of the emissions reductions
needed to keep the world below 2°C.
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US$26 trillion
• Bold climate action could trigger at least US$26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.
18 million
• The energy sector alone will create around 18 million more jobs by 2030, focused specifically on
sustainable energy.

Goal 14 LIFE BELOW WATER

• The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that
make the Earth habitable for humankind. How we manage this vital resource is essential for
humanity as a whole, and to counterbalance the effects of climate change.
• Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
However, today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching below
the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.
• Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are
seeing a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
Marine pollution, an overwhelming majority of which comes from land-based sources, is reaching

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on every square
kilometre of ocean.
• The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution,
as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and the sustainable
use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some of the
challenges facing our oceans.
75 percent
• The ocean covers three quarters of the Earth’s surface and represents 99 percent of the living
space on the planet by volume.
200K
• The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions.
40 percent
• As much as 40 percent of the ocean is heavily affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, loss of
coastal habitats and other human activities.
30 percent
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The ocean absorbs about 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the
AD
•
impacts of global warming.
3 billion
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• More than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
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US$3 trillion
• The market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at US$3 trillion per
year, about 5 percent of global GDP.
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Goal 15 LIFE ON LAND

• Human life depends on the earth as much as the ocean for our sustenance and livelihoods. Plant
life provides 80 percent of the human diet, and we rely on agriculture as an important economic
resources. Forests cover 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, provide vital habitats for millions of
species, and important sources for clean air and water, as well as being crucial for combating
climate change.
• Every year, 13 million hectares of forests are lost, while the persistent degradation of drylands
has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares, disproportionately affecting poor
communities.
• While 15 percent of land is protected, biodiversity is still at risk. Nearly 7,000 species of animals
and plants have been illegally traded. Wildlife trafficking not only erodes biodiversity, but creates
insecurity, fuels conflict, and feeds corruption.
• Urgent action must be taken to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity which are
part of our common heritage and support global food and water security, climate change
mitigation and adaptation, and peace and security.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
1.6 billion
• Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.
80 percent
• Forests are home to more than 80 percent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.
2.6 billion
• 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture for a living.
33 percent
• Nature-based climate solutions can contribute about a third of CO2 reductions by 2030.
US$ 125 trillion
• The value of ecosystems to human livelihoods and well-being is $US125 trillion per year.v
60-80percent
• Mountain regions provide 60-80 percent of the Earth's fresh water.

Goal 16 PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

•
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We cannot hope for sustainable development without peace, stability, human rights and effective
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governance, based on the rule of law. Yet our world is increasingly divided. Some regions enjoy
peace, security and prosperity, while others fall into seemingly endless cycles of conflict and
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violence. This is not inevitable and must be addressed.

• Armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting
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economic growth, and often resulting in grievances that last for generations. Sexual violence,
crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is conflict, or no rule of law, and
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countries must take measures to protect those who are most at risk
• The SDGs aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and
communities to end conflict and insecurity. Promoting the rule of law and human rights are key
to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of
developing countries in the institutions of global governance.
68.5million
• By the end of 2017, 68.5 million people had been forcibly displaced as a result of persecution,
conflict, violence or human rights violations.
10 million
• There are at least 10 million stateless people who have been denied nationality and its related
rights.
US$1.26 trillion
• Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries US$1.26 trillion per year.
49 countries
• 49 countries lack laws protecting women from domestic violence.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
46 countries
• In 46 countries, women now hold more than 30 percent of seats in at least one chamber of
national parliament.
1 billion
• 1 billion people are legally ‘invisible’ because they cannot prove who they are. This includes an
estimated 625 million children under 14 whose births were never registered.

Goal 17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

• The SDGs can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation. Official
Development Assistance remained steady but below target, at US$147 billion in 2017. While
humanitarian crises brought on by conflict or natural disasters continue to demand more
financial resources and aid. Many countries also require Official Development Assistance to
encourage growth and trade.
•
DA
The world is more interconnected than ever. Improving access to technology and knowledge is
an important way to share ideas and foster innovation. Coordinating policies to help developing
countries manage their debt, as well as promoting investment for the least developed, is vital for
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sustainable growth and development.
• The goals aim to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation by supporting national
plans to achieve all the targets. Promoting international trade, and helping developing
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countries increase their exports is all part of achieving a universal rules-based and equitable
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trading system that is fair and open and benefits all.

$5trillion
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• The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says achieving SDGs will require US$5
trillion to $7 trillion in annual investment.
$147.2 billion
• Total official development assistance reached US$147.2 billion in 2017.
$613 billion
• In 2017, international remittances totaled US$613 billion; 76 percent of it went to developing
countries.
6 countries
• In 2016, 6 countries met the international target to keep official development assistance at or
above 0.7 percent of gross national income.
$18.2 trillion
• Sustainable and responsible investments represent high-potential sources of capital for SDGs. As
of 2016, US$18.2 trillion was invested in this asset class.
$155.5 billion
• The bond market for sustainable business is growing. In 2018 global green bonds reached
US$155.5billion, up 78 percent from previous year.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

5. ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY AND

ECOSYSTEM
• In 1935 that Arthur Tansley, the British ecologist, coined the term ecosystem.
• German explorer Alexander Von Humboldt is often considered the true father of ecology.
He was the first to take on the study of the relationship between organisms and their
environment.
• Ramdeo Misra is revered as the Father of Ecology in India. Due to his efforts, the Government
of India established the National Committee for Environmental Planning and Coordination
(1972) which, in later years, paved the way for the establishment of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (1984).

Biosphere (Sphere of life)

•
DA
Biosphere is the life supporting layer which surrounds the earth and makes existence of life
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possible without any protective layer.
• The biosphere consists of living organisms, physical environment and energy. It is the zone of
assemblage of lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and living organisms together.
C

• There are three components of biosphere, are:

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o Biotic or Organic components: It includes micro-organisms, plants and animals including

man.
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o Abiotic or Inorganic component: It includes physical environment of soil, water, air,

temperature and sunlight
o Energy component: Solar and geothermal energy etc.
• Biosphere is termed as an open system as there is continuous inward and outward flow of energy
and matter.

Environment
• The environment is defined as ‘the sum total of living, nonliving components; influences and
events, surrounding an organism’.
• Everything that surrounds or affects an organism during its life time is collectively known as its
environment which comprises both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components.
o Abiotic Components: Soil, Topography, Water, Atmosphere etc.
o Biotic Components: Green Plants, Non-Green Plants, Animals, Parasites, Decomposers etc.
• The environment is not static. Both biotic and abiotic factors are in a flux and keeps changing.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Factors affecting environment are:
• The rotation of earth and the tilt of its axis cause annual variations in temperature, resulting into
distinct seasons. This leads to the formation of various biomes such as desert, rain forest,
tundra, grassland, temperate forest, etc.
• Regional and local variations within each biome lead to the formation of different habitats.
• Temperature, water, light and soil are the key elements that lead to so much variation in the
physical and chemical conditions of habitats.

Biodiversity
• The term Biodiversity was coined by Edward Wilson. Biodiversity as describes by Edward
Wilson is the combined diversity at all levels of biological organization.
• Biodiversity is the variety of living forms present in various ecosystems. It includes variability
among life forms from all sources including air, water and land.

Ecology
DA
AD
• ‘Ecology is defined as the scientific study of the relationship of living organisms with each other
and with their environment.’
• It has been derived from two Greek words, ‘oikos’, meaning home or estate and ‘logos’ meaning
C

study.
PS

• The emphasis is on relationships between organisms and the components of the environment
namely abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living).
MP

Types of Ecology
• Autecology/Species Ecology: The study of reciprocal relationships between every stage of
development of a population/species and its environment is called autecology.
• Synecology: It is the study of reciprocal relationships between composition, organization and
development of communities and their environment
• Habitat Ecology: Habitat is an ecological area which is inhabited by a species of living being
• Genecology: Study of genetic composition and changes in relation to the origin of ecotypes,
new species, etc.
• Social Ecology: It is a critical social theory of American socialist Murray Bookchin. It advocates a
constructive and transformative outlook on current social and environmental issues.

Difference between Ecology, Environment and Ecosystem

• Ecology is the scientific study of the reciprocal relation between organisms, including
microbes, plants, animals as well as man, with their environment.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• The term Environment is defined as “the sum total of living, nonliving components;
influences and events, surrounding an organism”

• The complex natural organisation with their living and non-living environments that controls
them and from which the living organisms derive their sustenance are technically called as
‘Ecosystem’ or an ‘ecological system’.

Othe Key terms

• Abiotic Factors : All the non-living things that affect living thing in the ecosystem. examples :
Sun, temperature, soil.
• Biotic Factors : All the living things that affect living things in the ecosystem; examples :
Decomposer, Plants, animals, fungi, people.
• Community : All of the organisms that live in the same place.
Consumer : A living thing that eats another living thing. Example : A cow is a consumer
•

•
because it eats grass. DA
Decomposer : An organism that gets its energy from dead organism.
AD
• Ecology : The study of the relationship of organisms in their surroundings.
• Ecosystem : The community of organisms that lives in a particular area, along with their non-
living surroundings; example : prairie, forest, lake, stream, pond.
C

• Environment : Surroundings.
Food Chain : A model that shows how energy moves through an ecosystem from the
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•
producer to the consumers.
• Food Web : A model that shows how food chains overlap in an ecosystem.
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• Habitat : A place where a living thing lives.

• Host : The organism that is harmed by another organism.
• Limiting Factors : Things in the environment that keep the size of a population down.
• Niche : organisms role or job, in its habitat.
• Parasite : An organism that gets its energy from another organism and harms that organism.
• Population : All the members of one species in a particular area.
• Predator : An animal that eats another animal.
• Prey : An animal that is eaten by another animal.
• Primary Consumer (Herbivore) : Animal that eats a, plant. Example : A caterpillar is a
primary consumer because it eats plant leaves.
• Producer : Any organism that is able to make its own food from sunlight; example : Plants
make their own food from sunlight so they are called producers.
• Secondary Consumer (Carnivore) : An animal that eats a primary consumer, eats another
animal.
• Tertiary Consumer : An animal that eats a secondary consumer.
• Energy Pyramid : A way to show how energy is lost through the different levels of a food
web.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Ecological Hierarchy
Ecology is concerned with four levels of biological organization:

• Organisms (Every individual of a species)

o It is the basic unit of ecological hierarchy.
o Every individual functions separate from those in other individuals. It continuously exchanges
materials and information with its environment.
o New individuals develop from pre-existing ones. Hereditary characters are transferred during
this process. The constituents of an individual cannot survive independently.
• Populations (Individual of the same species)
o It is a grouping of similar individuals in a geographical area or space during specific time.
o The different populations of the same organism present in any geographical area are called
local populations/ demes.
DA
o A local population adapted genetically to its environment is called ecotype. There may be
several ecotypes of the same organism which show variations amongst them.
AD
o Population ecology is an important area of ecology as it links ecology to population genetics
and evolution
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• Species is defined as a group of organisms which can interbreed and produce a successful
offspring
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• Communities (A large or small number of populations)

o It is an assemblage of populations of distinct species of plants, animals, bacteria and fungi
MP

which live in a particular area and interact with one another through several positive and
negative interactions among them.
o Each biotic community has a specific composition and structure, e.g., pond community.
o On the basis of size and degree of relative independence communities may be divided into
two types: Major Communities and Minor Communities.
o Major Communities: These are large sized, well organized and relatively independent. They
depend only on the sun’s energy from outside. Eg: Tropical evergreen forests.
o Minor Communities: These are dependent on neighbouring communities and are often
called societies. They are secondary aggregations within a major community and therefore
are not completely independent. Eg: A mat of lichen on a cow dung pad.
• Ecosystem:

o It is a segment of nature consisting of a biological community and its physical

environment both interacting and exchanging materials as well as energy, e.g., pond
ecosystem.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Biomes (It includes large flora and fauna in a species climatic zone)
o A large regional unit delimited by a specific climatic zone, having a particular major vegetation
zone and its associated fauna, e.g., tundra desert, temperature deciduous forest, tropical rain
forest, ocean.
o No two biomes are alike. The climate determines the boundaries of biomes and abundance
of plants and animals found in each one of them. The most important climatic factors are
temperature and precipitation.
• Biosphere:
It is biologically inhabited part of earth along with its physical environment consisting of lower
atmosphere, land and water bodies
Species: Types and Interaction
• Dominant species: These are species with
substantially higher abundance or biomass than
other species in a community.
DA
AD
• Keystone species: These are species that is not
necessarily abundant in a community yet exerts
strong control on community structure by the
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nature of its ecological role or niche. A small

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number of keystone species can have a huge

impact on the environment.
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• Indicator species: An indicator species is an

organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.
• Edge species: The species which are found abundantly in Ecotones boundary are known as edge
species.

Interaction of Species
• Neutralism, in which neither population is affected by association with the other;
• Competition, Direct Interference Type, in which both populations actively inhibit each other;
• Competition, Resource Use Type, in which each population adversely affects the other
indirectly in the struggle for resources in short supply;
• Amensalism, in which one population is inhibited and the other not affected;
• Commensalism, in which one population is benefited, but the other is not affected;
• Parasitism; in which one population is adversly affected and another is benefited;
• Predation, in which one population adversely affects the other by direct attack but nevertheless
depends on the other;
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Proto-cooperation (also frequently referred to as facultative cooperation), in which both
populations benefit by the association but their relations are not obligatory; and
• Mutualism, in which the growth and survival of both populations is benefited, and neither can
survive under natural conditions without the other.

Habitat and Niche

• The habitats and niche occupied by the living organisms are part of living components, whereas
soil, water, light, weather, inorganic nutrients, etc. are included in non-living components.
• A habitat is a place in which an organism resides or is usually fund.
• A niche is associated with its role in the community, and with factors impacting its life and how
it works to acquire its food.

ECOSYSTEM
•
DA
An ecosystem consists of a community of organisms together with their physical environment
AD
• Ecosystems can be of different sizes and can be marine, aquatic, or terrestrial.
• Broad categories of terrestrial ecosystems are called Biomes.
C

• In ecosystems, both matter and energy are conserved.

PS

• Energy flows through the system—usually from light to heat—while matter is recycled.
• Ecosystems with higher biodiversity tend to be more stable with
greater resistance and resilience in the face of disturbances, disruptive events.
MP

Functions of ecosystem
These are:
1. Energy flow through food chain
2. Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
3. Ecological succession or ecosystem development
4. Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms

Components of Ecosystem
Ecosystems involve both living (biotic) and non-living (biotic) components. The habitats and niche
occupied by the living organisms are part of living components, whereas soil, water, light, weather,
inorganic nutrients, etc. are included in non-living components.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

COMPONENTS OF THE Ecosystem

Abiotic Biotic
Light, climate (humidity and temperature) Living organisms including plants, animals
atmospheric gases, water, substrata (soil, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa), and
river/sea bad) human beings

a. Abiotic Components
• Light — Sunlight provides energy. Green plants utilize sun light for photosynthesis for
synthesizing food for themselves as well as all other living organisms.
• Rainfall — Water is essential for all living beings. Majority of biochemical reactions take place
in an aqueous medium. Water helps to regulate body temperature. Further, water bodies form

•
the habitat for many aquatic plants and animals. DA
Temperature — Temperature is a critical factor of the environment which greatly influences
AD
survival of organisms. Organisms can tolerate only a certain range of temperature and humidity.
• Atmosphere — The earth’s atmosphere is made of 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 0.038%
C

carbon dioxide. Rest are inert gases (0.93% Argon, Neon, etc).
• Substratum — Organisms may be terrestrial or aquatic. Land is covered by soil and a wide
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variety of microbes, protozoa, fungi and small animals (invertebrates) thrive in it.
b. Biotic Components
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• Producers (Autotrophs): The green plants manufacture food for the entire ecosystem through
the process of photosynthesis. Green plants are called autotrophs, as they absorb water and
nutrients from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air, and capture solar energy for this process.
• Consumers (Heterotrophs): They are called heterotrophs and they consume food synthesized
by the autotrophs. Based on food preferences they can be grouped into three broad categories.
Herbivores (e.g. cow, deer and rabbit etc.) feed directly on plants, carnivores are animals which
eat other animals (eg. lion, cat, dog etc.) and omnivores organisms feeding upon both plants and
animals e.g. human, pigs and sparrow.
• Decomposers (Saprotrophs): Also called saprotrophs. These are mostly bacteria and fungi that
feed on dead decomposed and the dead organic matter of plants and animals by secreting
enzymes outside their body on the decaying matter. They play a very important role in recycling
of nutrients. They are also called detrivores or detritus feeders.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Reponses To Abiotic Factors
Homeostasis is the process by which an organism maintains a constant internal environment in
respect to changing external environment.

An organism may adopt one of the following strategies for homeostasis:

(a) Regulate: Certain animals have the ability to maintain a constant temperature and constant
osmolality to keep up their homeostasis. E.g. All birds and mammals, very few lower vertebrates
and invertebrates. Mammals have a constant body temperature (37°C) irrespective of the outside
temperature. In summers, to maintain the temperature, we sweat and in winters we shiver to
produce heat.
(b) Conform: 99% of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment.
Their body temperature or osmotic concentration change with the surrounding conditions. They

environment. DA
are called conformers. Hence, the internal environment of conformers changes with external

(c) Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area. Small animals have a larger surface area
AD
relative to their volume so they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside; then has
to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. This is why very small
C

animals are rarely found in Polar Regions.

PS

(d) Migrate: Many animals like birds move away temporarily from stressful habitat to a more
hospitable area and return when stressful condition is over. For example, during winter, Keoladeo
National Park (Bharatpur, Rajasthan) hosts migratory birds coming from Siberia and other
MP

extremely cold northern regios.

(e) Suspend: In bacteria, fungi and lower plants, thick walled spores are formed which help them to
overcome stressful, unfavourable conditions. Spores germinate when conditions are favourable.

Plants
• In higher plants, seeds and some other vegetative reproductive structures serve to tide over
periods of stress. They reduce their metabolic activity and go into a state of ‘dormancy’. They
germinate under favourable moisture and temperature.

Animals
• Hibernation or winter sleep is a resting stage wherein animals escape winters (cold) by hiding
themselves in their shelters. They escape the winter season by entering a state of inactivity by
slowing their metabolism. The phenomenon of hibernation is exhibited by bats, squirrels,
bears and other rodents.
• Hibernation of bears during winter.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Aestivation of some snails and fishes during summer.
• Diapause is a stage of suspended development to cope with unfavourable conditions. Many
species of zooplankton and insects exhibit diapauses to tide over adverse conditions during
their development. Diapause of many zooplanktons in

Ecotone
• An ecotone is a zone of junction or a transition area between two biomes (diverse ecosystems).
It is the zone where two communities meet and integrate. For e.g. the mangrove forests represent
an ecotone between marine and terrestrial ecosystem.

Characteristics of Ecotone:
• It may be narrow (between grass- land and forest) or wide (between forest and desert).
• It has conditions intermediate to the adjacent ecosystems. Hence it is a zone of tension.
•

•
DA
It is linear as it shows progressive increase in species composition of one in-coming community
and a simultaneous decrease in species of the other out-going adjoining community.
A well-developed ecotone contains some organisms which are entirely different from that of the
AD
adjoining communities.
• Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of the species are much
greater in this zone than either community. This is called edge effect.
C

• The organisms which occur primarily or most abundantly in this zone are known as edge species.
PS

In the terrestrial ecosystems edge effect is especially applicable to birds. For example, the density
of birds is greater in the ecotone between the forest and the desert.
MP

ECOCLINE
• It is a zone of gradual but continuous change from one ecosystem to another when there is no
sharp boundary between the two in terms of species composition.

• It occurs across the environmental gradient (gradual change in abiotic factors such as altitude,
tempera- ture (thermocline), salinity (halocline), depth, etc.).

Niche
• It refers to the unique functional role and position of a species in its habitat or ecosystem.

• The functional characteristics of a species in its habitat are referred to as “niche” in that common
habitat.

• Niche plays an important role in the conservation of organisms. If we have to conserve species
in its native habitat, we should have knowledge about the niche requirements of the species.

In nature, many species occupy the same habitat, but they perform different functions:
• Habitat niche – where it lives,
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Food niche – what is eats or decomposes & what species it competes with,
• Reproductive niche – how and when it reproduces,
• Physical & Chemical niche – temperature, land shape, land slope, humidity & another
requirement.
Range of Tolerance (Maximum Range)
• A factor that limits growth, development, reproduction or activity of an organism by its deficiency
or excess is called limiting factor while the unfavourable impact of limiting factor is called
limiting functions. Low temperature is a limiting factor for growth at high altitude, water
availability in deserts and low phosphorus for phytoplankton growth in deep lakes.
• Range of tolerance is the range between critical minimum and critical maximum limits of
environmental factor/factors influencing an organism.
• According to law of tolerance, the abundance and distribution of organisms is controlled by their

DA
limits of tolerance (critical minimum and critical maximum) to ecological factors.
AD
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
C

• Grasslands
• Tundra
PS

• Deserts
• Mountains
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• Forest Ecosystem in India

Aquatic ecosystem
• Aquatic ecosystem
• Factors affecting the productivity of aquatic ecosystems
• Fresh water ecosystem
• Marine ecosystem
• Marine Organisms
• Plankton
• Phytoplankton
• Factors Affecting Phytoplankton Biodiversity
• Importance of phytoplankton
• Zooplankton
• Sea-grass
• Seaweeds
• Human Modified Ecosystems

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS
The functions of an ecosystem are very dynamic and can be studied under the following three
categories:
1. Energy Flow

2. Nutrient cycling (Biogeochemical cycles)

3. Ecological succession or ecosystem development.

Energy Flow
• The flow of energy from producer to top consumers is called energy flow which is
unidirectional.

• Producers absorb solar energy and use inorganic nutrients taken from the environment to

DA
transform the solar energy into chemical bonds. The energy elements of organic food continue
in the food chain and then finally all energy is lost as heat. Therefore, a continual input is required.
In the process, most of the original inorganic elements are returned to the soil, and producers,
AD
use them again, without requiring fresh inputs.

• Energy flow in an ecosystem is based on the two laws of thermodynamics.

C

o First: As per the first law, energy is neither created nor destroyed. It merely changes its form
PS

from one to another.

o Second: When energy is changed from one form to another, some portion of energy is lost
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as heat. Therefore, in any food chain, some energy must be lost as we move up the chain.

Difference between Producer, Consumer and Decomposer

PRODUCER CONSUMER
• Producers are autophyte i.e. they are • Consumers are heterophyte i.e. they are not
capable of producing food by the capable of manufacturing their own food
process of photosynthesis. and depend on producer for their food.

• Producers have chlorophyll, i.e. • Consumers have no chlorophyll.

pigment.
• Producers entrap the solar energy in • Consumers can not entrap the solar energy.
their produced food.
• Producers produce oxygen by the • Consumers are not capable of producing
process of photosynthesis. Oxygen.
• Example: Green plant, bacteria (e.g.
• Example: Animals (Herbivores, carnivores
Euglena, Cryso-meoba etc.)
etc.)

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
CONSUMER DECOMPOSER
• Consumers depend on producer • Decomposers depend on the dead
for their food. body of producer and consumer.

• Consumers are herbivores and • Decomposers are saprophyte.

carnivores.
• Consumers take complex food. • Decomposers take simple food.

• Consumers are of three types • Decomposers have not classification

according to their food habit such as like Consumer.
Primary consumer, Secondary • Example: Saprophytic bacteria, fungi
consumer and Tertiary consumer. etc.
• Example: Animals etc.
PRODUCER DECOMPOSER
• Producers are self sufficient
nutrition.
in •
DA
Decomposers depend on dead body of
producer and consumers.
AD
• Producers produce food by the • Decomposers cannot produce food in
process of Photosynthesis their body.
C

• Producers obtain the elements from • Decomposers provide food elements to

air and soil necessary for the producer for manufacturing food.
PS

manufacturing food except sunlight.

• Example: Saprophytic bacteria, fungi etc.
• Example: Green plant, some bacteria
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(e.g. Euglena, Cryso-moeba etc.)

Difference between Decomposers: Detritivores and Saprotrophs

(Organisms which decompose organic matter)

Detrivores are mostly animals Saprotorphs are mostly fungi or bacteria

Detrivores consume lumps of dead organic Derive their nutrition that comes from dead
matter separately decaying organic matter
Detrivores digest food internally in the digestive Saprotrophs digest their food externally
system
Saprotrophs absorb the entire digested matter
Detrivores shed most of the digested matter into them for their growth, repair and
unabsorbed reproduction

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Trophic Levels
• Energy Flows through the trophic levels: from producers to subsequent trophic levels.

• The trophic level interaction involves three concepts namely:

a. FOOD CHAIN
b. FOOD WEB
c. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
Food Chain
Food Chain
• The unidirectional transfer of food energy from the producers, through a series of organisms
(herbivores to carnivores to decomposers) is known as food chain. (Energy flow is always
unidirectional.)
•
consumer levels.
DA
It is the movement of organic matter and energy from the producer level through various
AD
• For Ex:
o food chain starts with green plants because they are food producers.
o Animals, which eat the plants, form the second link of the chain.
C

o Plant-eaters are the first or primary food consumers in a food chain.

PS

o Next come predators which feed on the plant eaters (i.e. primary consumer).
o These animal- eaters are second or secondary food consumers.
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o Some animals-eaters are eaten by other animals, for example, a snake feed on a toad which
in turn feeds on fruit fly. These animal-eaters are called tertiary food consumers.
o The last link of food chain is occupied by decomposers, which feed on dead plants and
animals. Decomposer decomposes the dead bodies of plants and animals into nutrients,
water and carbon dioxide.
• The nutrients and water are returned to the soil while carbon dioxide is released into the air,
which in turn are re-used for the growth of new plants.
Types
There are two types of food chain:

Grazing Food Chains (GFC)

• It is the most common food chain. It is also called predator food chain as predation occurs at
every step.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• The consumers which start the food chain, utilizing the plant or plant part as their food, constitute
the grazing food chain. This food chain begins from green plants at the base and the primary
consumer is herbivore.

Detritus Food Chains (DFC)

• It begins with dead organic matter to the detrivores organisms It is made up of decomposers
(saprotrophs) which are heterotrophic organisms. E.g. fungi and bacteria.
• The food energy present in detritus passes into detrivores and decomposers who feed over
it.
• Detrivores and decomposers are consumed by smaller carnivores which in turn become
food for larger carnivores and so on.
• Decomposers secrete digestive enzymes that breakdown dead and waste materials into simple,
inorganic materials, which are subsequently absorbed by them.

Food-chain efficiency
•
DA
Food-chain efficiency is the ratio between the energy value (the nutritional value, discounting
AD
indigestible parts such as hair or feathers) of prey consumed by a predator and the energy value
of the food eaten by that prey.
C

• Maximum food-chain efficiency (gross ecological efficiency) occurs when the yield of prey to the
predator is such that the surviving prey just consumes all the available food: this implies that the
PS

food of the prey is being exploited to the best advantage by the predator.
Flow of energy in the Food Chain
MP

• Flow of energy in an ecosystem is always unidirectional or one way that is, it passes from solar
radiations to producers, then to herbivores and then to carnivores and omnivores
• As there is gradual increase in the trophic level of food chain, there is decrease in the content
and flow of energy. This happens because:
o Producers: Approx. 20% of the energy captured by producers is dissipated in respiration
and metabolic activity. Rest energy stored in producers goes down to herbivores in the form
of food through food chain.
o Herbivores: In the herbivores, a lot of the energy assimilated from the food is dissipated in
ingestion and digestion of food, respiration and metabolism, body functions, egestion and
heat. Only 10% of this energy is stored by herbivores in the form of building material
of body.
o Carnivores: Herbivores are eaten by carnivores; the 10% stored energy of herbivores goes
down to carnivores. Carnivores dissipate a majority of this assimilated energy in digestion,
respiration, body functions and heat. Only 10% of the energy is stored in carnivores.
o Higher carnivores and omnivores are similarly able to store only 10% of the carnivores’
energy.
• Hence flow of energy in a food chain follows a Ten Percent Law.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Ten Percent Law

• It was given by Lindemann in 1942. It states that during transfer of energy from
one trophic level to another, only about 10% is stored at higher levels; remaining
90% is lost in respiration (heat).
• Ecosystems obey 2nd Law of thermodynamics. They need a constant supply of energy
to synthesize the molecules they require, to counteract the universal tendency toward
increasing disorderliness.
Food Web
• in an ecosystem, the various food chains are interconnected to each other to form a network
called Food Web. The concept of food web was introduced by Charles Elton in 1927.
• A food web illustrates all possible transfers of energy and nutrients among the organisms in an
ecosystem, whereas a food chain traces only one pathway of the food. Food webs are very
important in maintaining the stability of an ecosystem
• DA
Commonly, many interrelations prevail within food webs. For example, the fungi that decompose
matter in a detrital web may help in sprouting of mushrooms that are eaten by squirrels, mice
AD
and deer in a grazing web.

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web

C
PS

Food Chain Food Web

• It is a straight single pathway through • It consists of number of interconnected
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which food energy travels in the food chain through which food energy passes
ecosystems. in the ecosystems.
• Members of higher trophic level feed upon a • Members of higher trophic level can feed upon
single type of organisms of lower trophic a number of alternative organisms of the lower
level. trophic level.
• Presence of separate or isolated food • Presence of food webs increases the stability
chains adds to the instability of the of the ecosystem.
ecosystem.
• It does not add to adaptability and • Food webs increase adaptability and compe-
competitiveness of the organisms. titiveness of the organisms.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Models for Energy Flow
Ecological Pyramid

• Ecological pyramids are the graphic representations of trophic levels in an ecosystem

• The base of the pyramid involves the producers, whereas the apex involves top predators that
are the consumers of the highest level.
• There are three main types of pyramids:

Pyramid of Numbers
• It is the graphical representation of the number of individuals present at each trophic level in a
food chain with producers being kept at the base and top carnivores kept at the tip.
• The pyramid of numbers can be Upright or Inverted depending on the number of producers.
• For e.g. in a grassland ecosystem, the pyramid of numbers is upright. In this type of food chain,
DA
the number of producers (plants) is followed by the number of herbivores (mice), which in turn
is followed by the number of secondary consumers (snakes) and tertiary carnivores (eagles).
AD
Hence, the number of individuals at the producer level will be maximum, while the number of
individuals present at top carnivores will be least.
C

• On the other hand, in Parasitic food chain, the pyramid of numbers is inverted. In this type of
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food chain, a single tree (producer) provides food to several fruit eating birds, which in turn
support several insect species.
MP

Pyramid of Biomass
• A pyramid of biomass is a graphical representation of the total amount of living matter present
at each trophic level of an ecosystem.
• This overcomes the size difference problem because all kinds of organisms at a trophic level are
weighed.
• Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time called the standing
crop.
• The standing crop is measured as the mass of living organisms (biomass) or the number in a unit
area

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• It can be Upright or Inverted. It is upright in grassland and forest ecosystems as the amount of
biomass present at the producer level is higher than at the top of carnivore level.
• The pyramid of biomass is inverted in a pond ecosystem as the biomass of fishes far exceeds the
biomass of zooplankton (upon which they feed).
Pyramid of Biomass – upright
• For most ecosystems on land, the pyramid of biomass has a large base of primary producers with
a smaller trophic level perched on top.
• The biomass of producers (autotrophs) is at the maximum. The biomass of next trophic level i.e.
primary consumers is less than the producers.
• The biomass of next higher trophic level i.e. secondary consumers is less than the primary
consumers. The top, high trophic level has very less amount of biomass.

Pyramid of Biomass – Inverted

•

•
DA
In contrast, in many aquatic ecosystems, the pyramid of biomass may assume an inverted form.
(In contrast, a pyramid of numbers for the aquatic ecosystem is upright)
This is because the producers are tiny phytoplankton that grows and reproduces rapidly.
AD
• Here, the pyramid of biomass has a small base, with the consumer biomass at any instant
exceeding the producer biomass and the pyramid assumes an inverted shape.
• Other examples of inverted pyramids are:
C

o Insects feeding on a big tree

PS

o Pyramid of biomass in sea is generally inverted because the biomass of fishes far exceeds
that of phytoplankton.
MP

Pyramid of Energy

• A pyramid of energy is a graphical representation of the amount of energy trapped per unit time
and area in different trophic level of food chain with producers forming the base and the top
carnivores at the tip.

• It is always Upright and Vertical because when energy flows from a particular trophic level to the
next, some energy is always lost as heat at each step.

• At the base, the primary producers like the autotrophs there is more amount of energy
available. The least energy is available in the tertiary consumers. Thus, shorter food chain
has more amount of energy available even at the highest trophic level

• The decrease in energy is due to the following reasons:

1. Only a part of food that is captured is consumed at the higher level of the pyramid.
2. A part of the food consumed remains undigested.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

• Only a small part of the food that is digested becomes part of the organism's body: the remaining
part is utilised by the organism as a source of energy.
• A considerable part of food energy is utilized in building up temporary ATP in mitochondria,
which is then used to synthesise proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nerve conduction and other
functions.

Ecological Productivity
DA
AD
• The rate of biomass production is called productivity.
• It is expressed in terms of g–2yr–1 or (kcal m–2).
• It is used to compare productivity of different ecosystems. A constant input of solar energy is the
C

basic requirement for any ecosystem to function and sustain.

PS

Primary productivity
• It is the amount of biomass produced per unit area in a given time period by plants during
MP

photosynthesis. It is expressed in terms of weight (g–2) or energy (kcal m–2).

• It can be divided into Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary Productivity
(NPP).
(a) Gross Primary Productivity: It is the rate of production of organic matter during
photosynthesis. A considerable amount of GPP is utilized by plants in respiration.
(b) Net Primary Productivity: Gross primary productivity minus respiration losses (R) is the Net
Primary Productivity (NPP). NPP is the available biomass for the consumption to heterotrophs
(herbivores and decomposers).
NPP = GPP – R
Primary productivity depends on the plants species inhabiting a particular area,
environmental factors, and availability of nutrients and photosynthetic capacity of plants.
Therefore, it varies in different types of ecosystems.
The annual net primary productivity of the whole biosphere is approximately 170 billion
tons (dry weight) of organic matter. Of this, despite occupying about 70% of the surface,
the productivity of the Oceans is only 55 billion tons. Rest of course, is on land.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Secondary productivity
• It is defined as rate of production of organic matter by consumers over a period of time.

Bioaccumulation
• Bioaccumulation refers to increase in the concentration of harmful substances in our body with
the passage of time. These substances do not degrade and their rate of discharge from the body
is less than their rate of absorption from the environment.
• Due to our interaction with the environment, we consume certain fat and water-soluble
substances. These water-soluble substances are discharged regularly by our body through urine.
Fat-soluble substances do not get dissolved in water and may remain concentrated in our body.

Bioconcentration
• Bioconcentration refers to the accumulation of harmful substances in our body from the intake
DA
of polluted water. Thus, when bioaccumulation occurs from the consumption of polluted water,
it is called bioconcentration.
AD
Biomagnification
• Biomagnification (also called, ‘biological magnification’) refers to the tendency of toxic
C

substances to progressively increase in concentration as these substances move up to higher

PS

levels of food chain. Human beings are at the highest risk due to biomagnification, because they
are at the top of the food chain. Mercury contamination is a good example of the
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bioaccumulation process.
• Typically, mercury (or a chemical version called ‘methylmercury’) is taken up by the bacteria and
phytoplankton. Small fishes eat the bacteria and phytoplankton. Mercury accumulates in bodies
of small fishes. The small fishes are in turn eaten by larger fishes, which can become food for
humans and animals. The result can be progressive increase in the concentrations of mercury in
humans and animals.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Key Facts
• In an aquatic ecosystem, Grazing Food Chain is the major conduit for energy flow.
• In a terrestrial ecosystem, a much larger fraction of energy flows through the Detritus Food
Chain than through the Grazing Food Chain .
• Detritus Food Chain may be connected with GFC at some levels. Some of the organisms of
Detritus Food Chain are prey to the Grazing Food Chain animals.
• The first link in a food chain is always a producer and the last link is always a decomposer.
• The amount of energy decreases at successive trophic levels.
• Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time called as the
Standing Crop.
• It is measured as the mass of living organisms (biomass) or the number in a unit area.
• Biomass of a species is expressed in terms of fresh or dry weight.
•
DA
Measurement of biomass in terms of dry weight is more accurate. The number of trophic levels
in a food chain is restricted by 10% flow of energy, less amount of energy available to the
AD
last trophic level.
C
PS
MP

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
NUTRIENT CYCLING
Water cycle
The water cycle is explained below:

• The whole process in which water evaporates and falls

on the land as rain and later flows back into the sea via
rivers is known as the water-cycle,
• As water flows through or over rocks containing soluble
minerals, some of them get dissolved in the water.
• Thus rivers carry many nutrients from the land to the
sea, and these are used by the marine organismsFirst,
water on the surface of the earth evaporates and is

•
into vapour form. DA
converted into water vapour. Similarly, plants, through the process of transpiration convert water

Evaporation: water in the form of water vapour gets collected in the sky. This water rises upwards
AD
and forms clouds.
• Condensation: Next, the water in the clouds gets colder and gets converted into liquid again.
C

This process is called condensation.

PS

• Precipiation: Then, the water falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet or hail. This process is called
precipitation.
• The water sinks into the surface and also gets collected in the lakes, oceans, or aquifers. It again
MP

gets converted into vapour form through evaporation and transpiration. The process continues
forever.
Carbon cycle
• It occurs in the elemental form as diamonds and
graphite
• it is found as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as
carbonate and hydrogen carbonate salts in various
• minerals, while all life-forms are based on carbon-
containing molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, fats,
nucleic acids and vitamins.
• The endoskeletons and exoskeletons of various animals
are also formed from carbonate salts.
• Carbon is incorporated into life-forms through the basic process of photosynthesis which is
performed in the presence of Sunlight by all life-forms that contain chlorophyll.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Carbon enters the long-term cycle in the following ways:

1. It accumulates in soil in the form of organic content.

2. Mineral carbonates such as calcium carbonates (limestone) remain stored in the earth’s crust for
a long period of time.
3. In deep oceans, organic content in the soil and mineral carbonate remain stored over millions of
years.
4. Carbon present in the dead plants and animals remain stored as a part of fossil fuels for millions
of years. This carbon is released into the atmosphere only when fossil fuels are burnt.
5. Moreover, some of the carbon from atmosphere is also transferred to ocean waters.
6. Some of the atmospheric carbon remains stored in polar ice caps in the form of dry ice.
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of our atmosphere and
•

•
nitrogen is also a part
Nitrogen gas (N2) present in the atmosphere is not
DA
AD
available for plants to use.

• Therefore, plants rely on different types of nitrogen-

C

fixing bacteria to take up nitrogen gas and make it

PS

available to them.
• The fixation of nitrogen takes place when it is
MP

chemically reduced, and it is added to organic

compounds. Atmospheric nitrogen is changed into
ammonium (NH4t) by some cyanobacteria present in aquatic ecosystems and by nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in the nodules on roots of legume (beans, peas, clover, etc.) plants in terrestrial
ecosystems.
• Nitrification refers to the process of inorganic production of nitrates. Nitrogen gas (N2) is
changed into nitrate (NO3) by cosmic radiation, meteor trails and lightning in the atmosphere.
• With the use of technology, humans can now produce nitrates for use in fertilizers. In soil, bacteria
convert ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-).
• Denitrification refers to the process of conversion of nitrate to nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas
back to the atmosphere. This is accomplished by denitrifying bacteria not only in aquatic but.
also in terrestrial ecosystems. The process of denitrification helps in counter balancing nitrogen
fixation.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Oxygen cycle
• In the crust, it is found as the oxides of most metals and silicon, and also as carbonate, sulphate,
nitrate and other minerals.

• It is also an essential component of most biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins,

nucleic acids and fats (or lipids) Oxygen from the atmosphere is used up in three processes,
namely combustion, respiration and in the formation of oxides of nitrogen.

• The oxygen-cycle mainly refers to the cycle that maintains the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.

• Oxygen from the atmosphere is used up in three processes, namely combustion, respiration
and in the formation of oxides of nitrogen.

• Oxygen is returned to the atmosphere in only one major process, that is, photosynthesis.

Phosphorus Cycle
•
DA
Phosphorus occurs naturally in the environment as phosphate and the ultimate source is rocks.
AD
• This is absorbed by plants through roots after the break down of rocks. Than it is passed along
grazing food chain with excess being excreted in faces. Dead animals and plants decompose
C

and release phosphate in the soil.

PS

Ozone Layer
• Ozone is poisonous,
MP

• It absorbs harmful radiations from the Sun

• Various man-made compounds like CFCs (carbon compounds having both fluorine and chlorine
which are very stable and not degraded by any biological process) were found to persist in the
atmosphere.

Ecological Succession
• Ecological Succession was first given by Warming (1899) and Elements (1916).
• The word Succession was first used by Hult.
• Ecological Succession is the process by which a natural community moves, through a sequential
change in the structure and composition, from a simpler level of organization to a more
complex community.
• Succession is a long-term cumulative, directional and largely predictable process of natural
development of different communities at the same site in a definite sequence over a period of
time. Such changes occur either in response to an environmental change or induced by the
intrinsic properties of the community itself.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Climax Community : Succession continues till a community develops maximum equilibrium to
the environment. It is called Climax Community. Climax community is the community which is in
equilibrium with its environment. It remains stable as long as the environment remains
unchanged. The Rain forest is an example of climax community ecosystem.
• Sere: The entire sequences of communities that successively change in a given area are called
Sere. The individual transitional communities are termed Serai stages (Serai communities).
Succession is divided into two types:
Primary Succession

• The succession that takes place in areas where no living organisms ever existed. E.g. newly cooled
lava, bare rock, newly created pond or reservoir.
• In primary succession, pioneer species are lichens, phytoplankton etc.
• The species invading a bare area are called pioneer species.
•
formation of fertile soil through natural processes.
DA
It is a slow process. It is because, before a biotic community is established, there must be
AD
Secondary Succession

The succession that takes place in areas which have lost all life forms due to destructions and
C

•
floods. E.g. abandoned farms lands, burned or cut forests, lands that have been flooded.
PS

Pioneer species: grasses, wild flowers, algae.

• Since some soil or sediment is present, succession is faster than primary succession.
MP

• The species that invade depend on the condition of the soil, availability of water etc.

Primary Succession Secondary Succession

Begins with no life Follows removal of existing biota
No Soil present Soil already present
New area (e.g. volcanic island) Old area (e.g. following a bush fire)
Lichen and moss come first Seeds and roots already present
Biomass is low Biomass is higher

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
BIODIVERSITY
• The term Biodiversity was coined by Edward Wilson. Biodiversity as describes by Edward
Wilson is the combined diversity at all levels of biological organization.
• Biodiversity is the variety of living forms present in various ecosystems. It includes variability
among life forms from all sources including air, water and land.

Levels of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
• Diversity shown by a single species at genetic level is called genetic diversity. India has more
than 50,000 different strains of rice and 1000 varieties of mango. E.g. Rauwolfia vomitoria
(Himalaya) shows genetic variation in terms of potency and concentration of the chemical
reserpine.
•
DA
Genetic diversity within a species often increases with environmental variability. The genetic
diversity enables a population to adapt to its environment and to respond to natural selection.
AD
The amount of genetic variation is the basis of speciation.

Species diversity
C

• Diversity at the species level is called as species diversity. It gives an idea about species richness
and species evenness. E.g. Western Ghats have greater amphibian species than Eastern Ghats.
PS

• Species richness refers to the number of species per unit area whereas Species evenness refers
to the relative abundance with which each species is represented in an area.
MP

Ecological diversity
• Diversity at the ecosystem level is called ecological diversity. E.g. in India, deserts, rain forests,
mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries and alpine meadows are seen.

Diversity at the level of community and ecosystem exists along 3 levels.

(a) Alpha diversity: It is the biodiversity within a particular area, community or ecosystem. It is
usually expressed by the number of species i.e. species richness in that ecosystem. This can be
measured by counting the number of taxa within the ecosystem.
(b) Beta diversity: It is the diversity which works by comparing the species diversity between
ecosystems. This involves comparing the number of taxa that are unique to each of the
ecosystems. It is the rate of change in species composition across habitats or among
communities.
(c) Gamma diversity: It refers to the total species richness over a large area or region. It is a
measure of the overall density of component ecosystems and the diversity between component
ecosystems.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Key Terms
o Ecosystem diversity: Informs the number of niches, trophic levels and ecological systems like
energy flow, food webs and recycling of nutrients.
o Supports of production: Soil fertility, pollination of plants, predator, decomposition of wastes
etc.
o Interdependence of species: All living organisms are closely linked with each other through
food chains, food webs, energy flow, material cycles, etc.
o Bio-rich nation: National having a great variety of plants and animals.
o Indigenous breeds of animals: Indian breeds.
o Exotic breeds: Foreign breeds.
o Agro-biodiversity: Crop diversity.
o Use value of biodiversity: Direct value such as tourism, etc.

THREATS to BIODIVERSITY
DA
AD
Causes of Biodiversity Losses (‘The Evil Quartet’)
1. Habitat loss and fragmentation: Habitat of various organisms are altered or destroyed by
C

uncontrolled and unsustainable human activities such as deforestation, slash, and burn
PS

agricultural, mining and urbanization. This results in the breaking up of the habitat into small
species, which effects the movement of migratory animals and also, decreases the genetic
MP

exchange between populations leading to a declination of species. E.g.

• Tropical rain forests (loss from 14% to 6%). Thousands hectares of rain forests is being

lost within hours.

• The Amazon rain forest is being cut for cultivating soya beans or for conversion of

grasslands for cattle.

• Due to fragmentation, animals requiring large territories and migratory animals are

badly affected.
2. Over-exploitation: Due to over-hunting and over-exploitation of various plants and animals

by humans, many species have become endangered or extinct. Many species like Steilar’s
sea cow, Passenger pigeon etc. extinct due to over-exploitation.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
3. Alien species invasions: Accidental or intentional introduction of non-native species into a

habitat has led to the declination or extinction f indigenous species. Alien species cause
decline or extinction of indigenous species. E.g.

• The Nile Perch introduced in Lake Victoria (East Africa) caused extinction of more than

200 species of native fish, cichlid fish in the lake.

• Invasive weed species like carrot grass (Parthenium), Lantana and water hyacinth

(Eicchornia) caused damage to our native species.

• The illegal introduction of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) for aquaculture is

posing a threat to the indigenous catfishes in our rivers.

DA
4. Co-extinction: In a native habitat, one species is connected to the other in an intricate

network. The extinction of one species causes the extinction of other species, which is
AD
associated with it in an obligatory way.

IUCN Red List and Classification

C

• International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) works towards
PS

assessing the global conservation status of plant and animal species. It maintains a
comprehensive list shown as IUCN Red List of threatened species.
MP

The uses of this Red list are:

1. Developing awareness about the importance of threatened bio-diversity.
2. Identification and documentation of endangered species.
3. Providing a global index of the decline of biodiversity.
4. Defining conservation priorities at the local level and guiding conservation action.

• Also, IUCN has recognized eight Red List categories of species. They are Extinct, Extinct in the
world, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Lower risk, Data deficient, Not
evaluated, etc. The 2000 Red List contains assessment of more than 18,000 species, 11,000 of
which are threatened.

• The division is as follows:

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
IUCN Red list Categories: Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups.
1. Extinct (EX) – beyond reasonable doubt that the species is no longer extant.
2. Extinct in the wild (EW) – survives only in captivity, cultivation and/or outside native range,
as presumed after exhaustive surveys.
3. Critically endangered (CR) – in a particularly and extremely critical state.
4. Endangered (EN) – very high risk of extinction in the wild, meets any of criteria A to E for
Endangered.
5. Vulnerable (VU) – meets one of the 5 red list criteria and thus considered to be at high risk
of unnatural (human-caused) extinction without further human intervention.
6. Near threatened (NT) – close to being at high risk of extinction in the near future.
7. Least concern (LC) – unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
8. Data deficient (DD)
9. Not evaluated (NE)
Endangered Species
•
DA
It includes those species which are in danger of extinction. The IUCN publishes information
AD
about endangered species world-wide as the Red List of threatened species.
• Animals whose numbers are diminishing to a level that they might face extinction are
C

known as the endangered animals.

• Endangered species are those which are facing the danger of extinction. The examples of such
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species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque,
sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur), etc. Zenkeria Sebastinei — a critically endangered
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grass in Agasthyamalai peak (India): Red Panda — an endangered species.

Vulnerable Species
• This includes the species which are likely to be in danger of extinction in near future if the
factors threatening to their extinction continue.

• Survival of these species is not assured as their population has reduced greatly. The examples
of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc.

Rare Species
• Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if
the negative factors affecting them continue to negative factors affecting them continue to
operate.
• Population of these species is very small in the world; they are confined to limited areas or
thinly scattered over a wider area. Humbodtia decurrens Bedd — highly rare endemic tree
of Southern Western Ghats (India) The examples of such species are the Himalayan brown
bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Endemic Species
• Those species of plants and animals which are fund exclusively in a particular area. They
are not naturally found anywhere else.
• A particular type of animal or plant may be endemic to a zone, a state or a country. Sal and
wild mango two examples of the (a) Wild Mango (b) Giant squirrel endemic flora of the
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. Bison, Indian giant.
• Squirrel and flying squirrel are endemic fauna Examples of such species are the Andaman
teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunchal Pradesh.

Extinct Species
• These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they
may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire
earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.

Depleted
DA
AD
• These are the species whose numbers are greatly reduced from those of the recent past, and
they are continuing to decrease. It is the continued decrease, which is the main cause of
concern. Animals/plant in this category can quickly change to a rare or endangered category.
C

• In the past few years, the fur of the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) was sold illegally
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in Kashmir markets.
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Indeterminate
• Those species that seem to be in danger of extinction but their true information regarding
their status is not known are the indeterminate species.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
There are two types of conservation methods namely in-situ and ex-situ conservations:
Conservation Advantages Disadvantages
• Best strategy for long-term protection
of biodiversity. • Protected areas are not always
• It is cheaper to protect populations in large enough and not well-
In-situ their natural habitat, for tourism or maintained.
other such activities. • Many protected areas like
• Not only conserves a, vast number of national parks, sanctuaries, etc.
species of living organisms but also are after used
provides opportunity to evolve.
• It gives longer life-span and breeding
• It is not possible to maintain the
activity to animals as it is always
favourable environmental
Ex-situ •
under human care.

these species.
DA
Genetic techniques can be utilized on
•
conditions always.
New life forms cannot evolve.
This technique is adopted only for
AD
•
• Captively breed species can again be
a few species.
reintroduced in the wild.
Ex-situ conservation
C

• Ex-situ conservation involves maintenance and breeding of endangered plants and animals
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under partially or wholly controlled conditions in specific areas like zoo, gardens, nurseries etc.
That is, the conservation of selected plants and animals in selected areas outside their natural
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habitat is known as ex-situ conservation.

• The stresses on living organisms due to competition for food, water, space etc. can be avoided
by ex-situ conservation there by providing conditions necessary for a secure life and breeding.
• Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of biological diversity outside of their natural
habitats. This involves conservation of genetic resources, as well as wild and cultivated or species,
and draws on a diverse body of techniques and facilities.
• Ex-situ Biodiversity conservation can be done as following:
a. By forming Gene banks: In this store seeds, sperm & ova at extremely low temperature and
humidity.
b. It is very helpful to save large variety of species of plants & animals in a very small space. e.g.
sperm and ova banks, seed banks.
c. Forming Zoo and botanical garden: for research purpose and to increase public awareness
collecting living organisms for aquaria, zoos and botanic gardens.
d. Collections of In vitro plant tissue and microbial culture.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
e. Captive breeding of animals and artificial propagation of plants, with possible
reintroduction into the wild.

In situ conservation:
• The conservation of species in their natural habitat or natural ecosystem is known as in situ
conservation. In the process, the natural surrounding or ecosystem is protected and maintained
so that all the constituent species (known or unknown) are conserved and benefited.
• In-situ conservation process includes protecded areas

Protected areas
• The protected areas are bio-geographical areas where biological diversity along with natural and
cultural resources are protected, maintained and managed through legal and administrative
measures.
•
physiological conditions.
DA
The demarcation of biodiversity in each area is determined on the basis of climatic and
AD
• In these areas, hunting, firewood collection, timber harvesting etc. are prohibited so that the wild
plants and animals can grow and multiply freely without any hindrance. Some protected areas
C

are: Cold desert (Ladakh and Spiti), Hot desert (Thar), Saline Swampy area (Sunderban and Rann
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of Kutch), Tropical moist deciduous forest (Western Ghats and north East) etc. Protected areas
include national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.
MP

Types of Protected Areas

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National parks
• These are the small reserves meant for the protection of wildlife and their natural habitats. These
are maintained by government.
• The boundaries are well demarcated and circumscribed.
• The activities like grazing forestry, cultivation and habitat manipulation are not permitted in these
areas. There are about 89 national parks in India.

Sanctuaries
• These are the areas where only wild animals (fauna) are present.
• The activities like harvesting of timbers, collection of forest products, cultivation of lands etc. are
permitted as long as these do not interfere with the project. That is, controlled biotic interference
is permitted in sanctuaries, which allows visiting of tourists for recreation.

Biosphere Reserves
•
DA
A Biosphere Reserve consists of core, buffer and transition zones.
AD
1. The core zone is fully protected and natural area of the Biosphere Reserve least disturbed by
human activities. It is legally protected ecosystem in which entry is not allowed except with
permission for some special purpose. Destructive sampling for scientific investigations is
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prohibited.
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2. The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and is managed to accommodate a greater variety
of resource use strategies, and research and educational activities.
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3. The transition zone, the outermost part of the Biosphere Reserve, is an area of active
cooperation between the reserve management and the local people, wherein activities like
settlements, cropping, forestry, recreation and other economic that are in recreation and
other economic that are in harmony with the conservation goals.
• Importance of biosphere reserves are as follows:
o These help in the restoration of degraded ecosystem.
o The main role of these reserves is to preserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems, and
habitats without disturbing the habitants.
o These maintain cultural, social and ecologically sustainable economic developments.
o These support education and research in various ecological aspects

Difference Between National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve

National Park Wildlife Sanctuary Biosphere Reserve

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It is a reserved area for It is a reserved areas for It is a Multipurpose projected
preservation of natural preservation of endangered areas to preserve genetic
vegetation, wild life and species. diversity in representative
natural beauty ecosystem.

Protected area ; No human Protected area; Limited human It is voluntary, cooperative,

activity is allowed; under activity is allowed ; under conservation reserve created to
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Wildlife Protection At 1972 protect the biological and
(India) (India) cultural diversity of a reign
while promoting sustainable
economic development.

Boundaries are fixed by Boundaries are not sacrosanct Boundaries are fixed by
legistation legislation.

Critically Endangered Animal Species of India

Birds
DA
Jerdon's Cotitser, Forest :Owlet, White-bellied Heron, White-backed
AD
Vulture, Slender, billed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Red- headed
Viilture, Bengal Florican, The Himalayan Quail, Pink – headed Duck,
C

Sociable Lapwing, Spoon Billed Sandpiper, Siberian Crane, Great Indian

Bustard
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Mammals Pygmy Hog, Andaman:White-toothed Shrew; Jenkin’s Andaman Spin

Shrew, Nicobar White-tailed Shrew, kondana Rat, Large Rock Rat,
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Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Malabar Civet, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Javan

Rhinoceros, Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Nilgiri Langur,
Indian Wild Dog, Black buck; Bengal Tigers.

Reptiles Gharial, Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, River Terrapin, Red

crowned Roofed Turtle, Sispara day gecko

Amphibians Anamalai Flying:Frog; Gundia Indian Frog, Kerala Indian Frog

Fish Pondicherry Shark, Ganges. Shark,-Sawfish, Ganges River Dolphin

Spiders Rameshwaram Parachute Spider, Peacock Tarantula

Corals Fire corals

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT

National Wildlife Conservation Projects

Project Year

Project Hangul 1970

Project Gir 1972

Project Tiger 1973

Project Olive Ridley Turtles 1975

Crocodile Breeding Scheme 1975

Project Manipur Thamin 1977

Project Rhino

Project Elephant
DA 1987

1992
AD
Project Red Panda 1996

Project Vulture 2006

C
PS

ENIRONMENT EVENTS
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• Earth Hour : March 23 : Earth Hour began in 2007 with about two million participants. The
voluntary one-hour blackout has sinclje grown into an international event as a sign of action
against global warming.
• Earth Hour Blue : Earth Hour Blue is an all new digital crowd funding and crowd sourcing
platform for the planet, launched in 2014, to engage people around the world beyond the lights-
out event.
• Word Environment : Day-June 5 : it was started by the UN General Assembly in 1972 at the
Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It aims to (a) give a human face to
environmental issues; (b) empower people as active agents of sustainable and equitable
development; (c) encourage communities to change attitudes towards environmental issues; (d)
adybcate partnership for all nations to enjoy a safer future.
• Earth Day : April 22 : Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, a result of the efforts of Sen. On
April 22 efforts are put in to impress that humans have an enormous impact on the environment.
Many companies are encouraging employees to use less paper and take public transportation to

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and from work, allowing some employees to communicate, using green materials and alternative
heating systems.
• Earth Charter : The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental values and
principles considered useful by its supporters for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global
society in the 21st century.

DA
C AD
PS
MP

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6. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
INTRODUCTION
• Any adverse change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and soil
can be termed as pollution.
• Such changes may adversely affect the life of living organisms such as plants, animals and human
beings. The chief cause of pollution is the presence of contaminants in the air, water and soil.
• The contaminants include the presence of solid, liquid or gases in greater than natural
abundance.
• This greater quantity can have an adverse effect on our environment.

POLLUTION
• DA
Pollution is any undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, land,
water or soil. Agents that bring about such an undesirable change are called as pollutants.
AD
• In order to control environmental pollution, the Government of India has passed the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986, to protect and improve the quality of our environment (air, water and soil).
• In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act came into force in 1981, but was
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amended in 1987 to include noise as an air pollutant,

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• Noise is undesired high level of sound: We have got used to associating loud sounds with
pleasure and entertainment not realising that noise causes psychological and physiological
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disorders in humans.
• The Government of India has passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
to safeguard our water resources.
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a chemical procedure for determining the amount of
dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down
organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time
period.

Sources of Pollution
Classification of Pollution
We can classify pollutants as follows:

1. Degradable or non-persistent pollutants: These pollutants can be quickly broken down-by

natural processes. These pollutants include domestic waste, discarded vegetables sewage, etc.

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2. Slow degradable pollutants: They cannot be: down by natural processes. Such pollutants incline
lead, mercury, nuclear wastes, glass, etc.
Pollutants are classified based on the following categories:
1. Primary pollutants: These pollutants are passed into the environment in the same form they
are produced. DDT, CO, plastic and glass are some examples.
2. Secondary pollutants: These pollutants are produced from other pollutants when there is any
change or reaction of the primary pollutants involved. Examples include ozone and peroxyacyl
nitrate.
3. Qualitative pollutants: These pollutants do not, occur naturally and are man-made harmful
substances. Examples include insecticides and herbicides. Quantitative pollutants: When the
concentration of naturally occurring, components becomes higher than the normal in the
environment, they become pollutants. Examples include carbon monoxide and nitrogen
oxides.

Air Pollution
DA
AD
Air pollution is among the most hazardous and common environmental pollutions. It is prevalent in
most industrial town and metropolitans across the world
C

Air Pollutants
1. Ozone: It is a gas that can be found in two places. Near the ground (the troposphere), it is a
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major part of smog. The harmful ozone in the lower atmosphere should be confused with the
perfective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) which screens out harmful
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ultraviolent rays.
2. Carbon Monoxide: It is a gas that comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mostly in cars. It cannot
be seen or smelled.
3. Nitrogen dioxide: It is a reddish brown gas that comes from the burning of fossil fuels. It has a
strong smell at high levels.
4. Particular Matter: Solid or liquid matter that is suspended in the air. To remain in the air, the
particles usually must be less than 0.1mm and can be as small as 0.00005mm.
5. Sulphur Dioxide: A corrosive gas that cannot be seen or smelled at low levels but can have a
'rotten egg' smell at high levels.
6. Lead: A blue grey metal that is very toxib and is found ' in number of forms and location. 7
7. Toxic Air Pollutants: A large number of chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer.
Some important pollutants in this category include arsenic, asbestos, benzene and dioxin.
8. Green House Gases: Gases that stay in the air for long time and warm up the planet by trapping
sunlight. The important greenhouse gases are Carbon dioxide, meltene and nitrous oxide.

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Anthropogenic
Pollutant Health Effects Environmental Effects
Sources

Breathing problems,
Secondary pollutant reduced lung function, Damages crops, forests, and
formed by chemical asthma, irritates eyes, other vegetation; damages
Ozone
reaction of VOCs and stuffy nose, reduces rubber, fabric, and other
(O3)
NOx in the presence of resistance to colds and materials; smog reduces
sunlight. infections, premature visibility.
aging of lung tissue.

Ozone (smog) effects;

precursor of acid rain which
Burning of gasoline,

Nitrogen natural gas, coal, oil.

Oxides (NOx) (Cars are a major

DA
Lung damage, respiratory damages trees, lakes, and soil;
illnesses, ozone (smog) aerosols can reduce visibility.
Acid rain also causes buildings,
AD
source of NOx.) effects.
statues, and monuments to
deteriorate.
C
PS

Carbon Reduces ability of blood

Burning of gasoline,
Monoxide to bring oxygen to body
natural gas, coal, oil.
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(CO) cells and tissues.

Volatile Fuel combustion,

solvents, paint. Ozone (smog) effects,
Organic Ozone (smog) effects,
Compounds (Cars are amajor cancer, and other serious vegetation damage.
source of VOCs.) health problems.
(VOCs)

Emitted as particles or Source of haze which reduces

formed through
Eye, nose, and throat visibility.
chemical reactions;
Particulate irritation; lung damage; Ashes, smoke, soot, and dust
burning of wood,
Matter bronchitis; cancer; early can dirty and discolor
diesel, and other fuels; structures and property,
death.
industrial processes; including clothes and furniture.
agriculture (plowing,

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
field burning);
unpaved roads.

Precursor of acid rain, which

Burning of coal and can damage trees, lakes, and
oil, especially high- Respiratory illness, soil; aerosols can reduce
Sulfur sulfur coal; industrial breathing problems, may visibility.
Dioxide (SO2) processes (paper cause permanent Acid rain also causes buildings,
manufacturing, metal damage to lungs. statues, and monuments to
smelting). deteriorate.

Combustion of fossil Brain and nervous system

Lead
fuels
gasoline;
smelters
and

(metal problems.
DA
leaded damage (esp. children),
paint; digestive and
Some
other
lead-
Harm to wildlife and livestock.
AD
refineries); battery containing chemicals
manufacturing. cause cancer in animals.
C

Fossil fuel combustion,

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waste disposal, Liver, kidney, and brain

industrial processes damage; neurological
Mercury Accumulates in food chain.
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(incineration, and developmental

smelting, chlor-alkali damage.
plants), mining.

Results of Air Pollution

Air pollution is the most serious type of pollution of all as humans and other animals need air to
breathe.

Changes of climate
• Air pollution can bring changes in climate and can lead to the green house effect. When there is
greater concentration of green house gases such as CO2 and methane in the atmosphere, the
atmospheric temperature increases and causes green house effect.

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Ozone depletion
• The increased quantities of CFCs and nitrogen oxides may lead to the depletion of ozone layer.
Over the Antarctic region, there is nearly negligible ozone layer. The hole in the ozone layer
allows more ultraviolet rays to the surface of earth. This has caused decline in the process of
photosynthesis, more cases of blindness in animals and skin cancers among humans.

Acid rain
• Acid rain is the indirect effect of air pollution.
•
• Acid rain occurs when acid-containing precipitation falls onto the earth’s surface. Precipitation
comes in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

• Precipitation collects acidic particles and gases and becomes acidic. It is caused because of over

DA
concentration of SO2 and oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere. The oxides of sulphur and
nitrogen dissolve in water which produces sulphuric acid and nitric acid
AD
• These particles will have a pH level below 5.6.

• Over half of the forests in Germany, Poland and Switzerland have been destroyed by acid rains.
C

Impact of acid rain

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Acid rain can effect trees in several different ways, it may:

• dissolve and wash away the nutrients and minerals in the soil
MP

• which help the trees to grow.

• cause the release of harmful substances such as aluminium into the soil.
• wear away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them
and preventing them from being able to photosynthesise properly.
Smog
• Smog is a mixture of air pollutants—nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds—that
combine with sunlight to form ozone.
• Smog is made up of a combination of air pollutants that can compromise human health, harm
the environment, and even cause property damage
• Smog can cause or aggravate health problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
and other respiratory problems as well as eye irritation and reduced resistance to colds and lung
infections.
• The ozone in smog also inhibits plant growth and can cause widespread damage to crops
and forests.

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Photochemical Smog
• Photochemical smog happens when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react
together in the presence of sunlight as a catalyst and form ozone at lower levels. The nitrogen
oxides come from vehicle exhausts, and volatile organic compounds come from many chemicals,
such as paint and cleaning agents.
• The effects of smog on human health and the environment are serious and harmful. The toxic
chemicals formed in a photochemical smog can irritate nasal passages and eyes. Breathing
problems can become aggravated due to prolonged exposure to smog conditions. Some of the
toxins created by chemical reactions in the photochemical smog are carcinogenic. The acidic
nature of the smog can also cause environmental damage and structural decay in dwellings.
Particulate Matter
• Particulate are small size solid and liquid particles. Particulate contaminants contain about twenty

DA
two metallic elements. Depending upon the nature of industries and the concentration of these
metallic elements varies.
AD
• The proportion of lead increases as the vehicular traffic since lead tetra-ethyl is added as an anti-
knock agent to the petroleum fuel. Spectrographic analysis of the organic fraction reveals that a
number of both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, organic acids, bases, phenols and various
C

types of complex compounds, including some carcinogens are present in the atmosphere as
PS

particulate pollutants.
• The main sources of particulate are:
MP

a) Fossil fuel combustion

b) Industrial processes
c) Construction processes
d) Transportation sources
e) Smelting and mining operations
f) Fly as from power plants
g) Incomplete combustion processes
h) Forest fires
• Contribution from natural source is less as compared to manmade sources. Air borne particulate
materials consists of both solid and liquid particles. They vary in size ranging from 0.01 micron
to 2.0 micron (10–6 metre). Particles with the latest diameter are present in aerosols. (aerosols: A
suspension of particles in gas). The particulate pollutants may be classified according to their
nature and size as follows:
• Dust: Dust is formed by solid particles with their size ranging from 10 micron to 100
microns. Dust particles are:

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(i) Entrained by process gases directly from the materials being handled or proceed. e.g.-
coal.
(ii) The off-spring obtained directly from the parent material when it under goes a
mechanical operation e.g-saw dust from wood works, and
(iii) Entrained materials used in mechanical operations e.g-sand from sand blasting.
a) Fume: The size of these particles are less than 1 micron. Fumes are formed from particles
of metals and metallic oxides by condensation of vapour by sublimation, distillation,
calcinations and by other chemical processes and chemical reactions
b) Mist: Condensation of vapours forms a liquid particles known as mist which is less than 10
microns in size.
c) Spray: Liquid particles obtained from the parent liquid by the mechanical disintegration
processes such as atomization, is known as spray.

DA
d) Smoke: This includes solid and liquid particles of size ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 micron and
obtained by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials and formed by destructive
distillation.
AD
Diseases caused by pollutants
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• Metal like lead, zinc, arsenic, copper, mercury and cadmium in industrial waste waters adversely
affect humans and other animals.
PS

o Arsenic pollution of ground water has been reported from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar,
Western Uttar Pradesh Consumption of such arsenic polluted water leads to accumulation of
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arsenic in the body parts like blood, nails and hairs causing skin lesions, rough skin, dry and
thickening of skin and ultimately skin cancer.
• Pollution of water bodies by mercury causes Minamata disease in humans and dropsy in fishes.
Lead causes displexia, cadmium poisoning causes Itai – Itai disease etc.
• Blue Baby disease Modern agriculture uses a log of nitrogenous fertilizers and manures. This
leads to increased levels of nitrates in the ground water as nitrates being soluble in water easily
leach into the oil. Once the level exceeds 10 ppm it may become harmful. In areas where
groundwater is the only source of drinking water, this causes methaemoglobinaemia
particularly in bottle fed infants who are very sensitive to this pollutant.

Oil Spill
• An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the
marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.

• Oil spills may be due to releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling
rigs and wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as gasoline, diesel) and their
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
by-products, heavier fuels used by large ships such as bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily refuse
or waste oil.

• Oil spills sometimes are the reason for animal becoming endangered. Some of the endangered
species are—

• Sea Otter: When oil covers its body, its body temperature gets lowered and it dies.
• Seabirds: Seabirds are strongly affected by oil spills. The thick black oil is too heavy for the
birds to fly, so they attempt to clean themselves. The birds then eat the oil to clean its feathers
and poisons itself.
• Killer Whales: Oil spills are one of the many ways killer whale’s have become
endangered. The oil may be eaten or enter the whales blowhole and the whale cannot
breathe. The main reason for whales dying because of a spill happens when they eat a fish
that swam through the oil. If a fish swam through the oil, the whale will eat the oil along with
DA
the fish. Because the whale has eaten the oil, it will be poisoned, and it will die.
AD
Ozone Depletion
• Ozone depletion describes two related events observed since the late 1970s: a steady lowering
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of about four percent in the total amount of ozone in Earth's atmosphere (the ozone layer), and
a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone around Earth's polar regions. The latter
PS

phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole. There are also springtime polar tropospheric
ozone depletion events in addition to these stratospheric events.
MP

• The main cause of ozone depletion and the ozone hole is manufactured chemicals, especially
manufactured halocarbonrefrigerants, solvents, propellants and foam-blowing
agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons), referred to as ozone-depleting
substances (ODS). These compounds are transported into the stratosphere by the winds after
being emitted at the surface. Once in the stratosphere, they release halogen atoms
through photodissociation, which catalyze the breakdown of ozone (O3) into oxygen (O2). Both
types of ozone depletion were observed to increase as emissions of halocarbons increased.

• Impact of Ozone depletion

• Skin Cancer: exposure to UV rays from sun can lead to increased risk for developing of several
types of skin cancers. Malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma are the most
common cancers caused by exposure to UV rays.
• Eye Damage: UV rays are harmful for our eyes too. Direct exposure to UV rays can lead to
Cataract problems, and also Photokeratitis or snow blindness.

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• Damage to Immune system: our immune system is also highly vulnerable to UV rays.
Increased exposure to UV rays can lead to weakening of the response of immune system and
even impairment of the immune system in extreme cases.
• Aging of skin: exposure to UV rays can lead to acceleration of the aging process of your skin.
This will result in you looking older than what you actually are. It can also lead to photo allergy
that result in outbreak of rashes in fair skinned people
• In humans, exposure to UV rays can also lead to difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and throat
irritation and can even lead to hampering of lung function.
• UV rays affect other life forms too. It adversely affects the different species of amphibians and
is one of the prime reasons for the declining numbers of the amphibian species. It affects
them in every stage of their life cycle; from hampering the growth and development in the
larvae stage, deformities and decreases immunities in some species and to even retinal

•
damage and blindness in some species.
DA
UV rays also have adverse effect on the marine ecosystem. It adversely affects the planktons
which plays a vital role in the food chain and oceanic carbon cycle. Affecting phytoplankton
AD
will in turn affect the whole ocean ecosystem.
• UV rays will also affect the plants. UV radiations can alter the time of flowering in some plant
C

species. It can also directly affect the plant growth by altering the physiological and
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developmental processes of the plants.

• Ozone layer depletion leads to decrease in ozone in the stratosphere and increase in ozone
present in the lower atmosphere. Presence of ozone in the lower atmosphere is considered
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as a pollutant and a greenhouse gas. Ozone in the lower atmosphere contributes to global
warming and climate change. The depletion of ozone layer has trickle down effects in the
form of global warming, which in turn leads to melting of polar ice, which will lead to rising
sea levels and climatic changes around the world.

HISTORY OF EMISSION NORMS IN INDIA

• It was only in 1991 that the first stage emission norms came into force for petrol vehicles and in
1992 for diesel vehicles.
• From April 1995 mandatory fitment of catalytic converters in new petrol passenger cars sold in
the four metros of Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai along with supply of Unleaded Petrol
(ULP)was affected.
• Bharat Stage emissions standards are standards instituted by the Government of India that
regulate the output of air pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides) (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO),
hydrocarbons (HC), particulate matter (PM), soot and sulphur oxides (SOX) by internal

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combustion engine powered equipment, including motor vehicles, or other air polluting facilities
or equipment. In many cases, they are like European emissions standards.

Indian Emission Standard (Motor Vehicles)

Standard Reference Date Region

India 2000 Euro 1 2000 Nation wide

Bharat Stage II Euro 2 2001 NCR 1 Mumbai, Kolkata,

Chennai

2003 NCR 1 , 13 Cities2

2005 Nationwide

Bharat stage III Euro 3

DA
2005

2010
NCR1, 13 Cities2

Nationwide
AD
Bharat Stage IV Euro 4 2010 NCR1, 13 Cities2.

Bharat Stage V Euro 5 2019 -

C

Bharat Stage VI Euro 6 2021 -

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Water Pollution
MP

• Water is one of the most essential preconditions for the existence of life on earth.
• All cellular processes take place in a water medium. Life originated in water.
• Three types of pollutants cause water pollution — physical, chemical and biological pollutants.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

Water sources Percentage of total water
Surface storage (lakes, rivers) 0.02%
Glaciers 1.9%
Ground water/soil water 0.5%
Atmosphere 0.0001%
Oceans 97.6%

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Sources of Water Pollution
Natural and man-made sources contribute to water pollution. Human activities such as industrial
effluents, domestic sewage; detergents, pesticides, fertilizers and oil spills cause water pollution.

1. Sewage and community waste: Water-borne waste coming from homes and animals or food
processing units is called sewage. Sewage includes human excreta, paper, soap, cloth, etc. The
sewage is often discharged into rivers, which pollutes its waters. Aerobic microbes decompose
these wastes. Concentration of these wastes in water increases its oxygen requirements. This is
own as biological oxygen demand (BOD).
2. Industrial wastes: Industrial wastes discharged into water may contain toxic materials such as
mercury, cadmium, lead, cyanides, salts, acids and many other hazardous chemicals. Mercury is
discharged by paper and paint industries. It enters the food chain and when humans consume
the meat of mercury-poisoned animal they may acquire minimata disease. Welding,
DA
electroplating, pesticide and metallurgical industries discharge cadmium. It causes nausea,
vomiting, diarrhoea, ramps, hypertension and testicular atrophy. It also makes the bones fragile,
AD
which causes multiple fractures known as itai-itai disease.
3. Agriculture discharges: In modem times, a huge number of chemicals such as fertilisers,
C

pesticides another chemicals are used to increase agricultural production. A portion of fertilisers
used in fields pass do n into water bodies and lead to the problem of eutrophication. Pesticides
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such as insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, herbicides, rodenticides and fumigants are non-
degradable. They enter the food chain accumulated in adipose (fat) tissues. This is known as
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biomagnification.
4. Groundwater: The groundwater particularly around larger cities and villages is becoming
increasingly Polluted Groundwater is contaminated due to seepage pits, refuse dumps, septic
tanks, transports accidents, etc. Sewage and other pollutants are dumped in shallow soakpits
which result in cholera, hepatitis, dysentery, etc.
5. Oil Spill: Oil pollution usually takes place in marine regions. However, sometimes oil also pollutes
water. Spills from wells and refineries, washing of tankers during loading and unloading are some
of the reasons for oil pollution. Oil pollution can kill plankton and there is reduced supply of
oxygen to the underlying water causing death of many animals. Regions of oil spills are at greater
risk of fire.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Point vs Non-Point Sources of Pollution

DA
AD
Effects of Water Pollution
C

The health of all the living beings that depend on water gets affected due to water pollution. Some
of the effects o water pollution are as follows.
PS

1. Chemical pollutants: Chemicals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, sulphates, nitrates and
MP

persistent pesticides have adverse effect on water and causes water pollution.
2. Colour and odour: Different types of dyes, chemical compounds of iron and chromium make
the water coloured and adds odour to it such water is not for human consumption and industrial
purposes.
3. Turbidity: Dust, silt, mud and other related colloidal particles cause turbidity. The penetration of
light to the deeper layers is obstructed due to turbidity. It adversely affects the process of
photosynthesis. It also leads to clogging of gills in fishes. It also makes the water unfit to be
consumed or be used in industries.
4. Pathogenic diseases: Many water-borne diseases all over the world such as gastroenteritis,
cholera and jaundice are the results of water pollution.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Coral Reefs
• Corals are animals which live in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called
zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae, which live within the coral tissue, convert sunlight into food,
providing corals with up to 90 per cent of their energy needs. Zooxanthellae also give corals
much of their colour.

• Corals are found all over the world's oceans, from the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska to
warm tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea.

• The biggest coral reefs are found in the clear, shallow ocean waters of the tropics and subtropics
where they grow quickly. The largest of these coral reef systems — the Great Barrier Reef of
Australia — is more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) in length.

Coral bleaching
• DA
Bleaching occurs when stressful conditions, such as heat, cause this relationship to break down,
resulting in the corals expelling their zooxanthellae. This leaves the coral tissue mostly
AD
transparent, revealing the coral's bright white skeleton.
• This loss of their symbiotic algae means bleached corals are essentially starving.
C

• Mass coral bleaching events have only ever occurred during unusually high sea temperatures.
PS

Causes of Coral Bleaching

• Global Warming (Rise of Water Temperature)
• Diseases : Coral Plague + Black Band Disease + White Band Disease
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• Marine Pollution + Acidification + Oil Leakage

• Frequent formation of El Nino
• Oxygen starvation
• Increased sedimentation
• Changes in salinity

INDUSTRIAL WASTE
• Industrial solid wastes are also sorted out as biodegradable and non-degradable wastes.
Biodegradable wastes are generated by cotton mills, food processing units, paper mills, and
textile factories.
• Non-biodegradable wastes are generated by thermal power plants which produce fly ash;
integrated iron and steel plants which produce blast furnace slag and steel melting slag
• Industries manufacturing aluminium, zinc and copper produce mud and tailings. Fertilizer
industries produce gypsum.

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• Hazardous wastes such as inflammables, composite explosives or highly reactive substances are
produced by industries dealing in metals, chemicals, drugs, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides,
rubber goods etc.
• The disposal of non-degradable industrial solid wastes, if not done by a proper and suitable
method, may cause serious threat to the environment.
• New innovations have led to different uses of waste material
• Nowadays, fly ash and slag from the steel industry are utilised by the cement industry.
• Large quantities of toxic wastes are usually destroyed by controlled incineration, whereas small
quantities are burnt along with factory garbage in open bins.
• Moreover, solid wastes if not managed effectively, affect the components of the environment

STRATEGIES TO CONTROL ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Waste Management
•
DA
Solid waste is not the only waste in household garbage box. there are medical, agricultural,
industrial and mining wastes.
AD
• Improper disposal of wastes is one of the major causes of environmental degradation. Therefore,
the management of wastes is of utmost importance.
C

Collection and Disposal

PS

• Domestic wastes are collected in small bins, which are then transferred to community bins by
privateor municipal workers.
MP

• From these community bins, these are collected and carried to the disposable site. At the site,
garbage is sorted out and separated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
• Non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, glass, metal scraps etc. are sent for recycling.
• Biodegradable wastes are deposited in land fills and are converted into compost.
• The waste if not collected in garbage bins, finds its way into the sewers.
• Non-biodegradable wastes like polythene bag, metal scraps, etc. choke the sewers and cause
inconvenience.
• Polythene bags, if swallowed by cattle can cost their lives also.
• The poor management causes health problems leading to epidemics due to contamination of
ground water.
• It is specially hazardous for those who are in direct contact with the waste such as rag pickers
and workers involved in waste disposal, as they are the ones who handle waste materials mostly
without protective device such as gloves or water proof boots and gas masks.

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GREEN CHEMISTRY
Green chemistry is a way of thinking and is about utilising the existing knowledge and principles of
chemistry and other sciences to reduce the adverse impact on environment.

Utilisation of existing knowledge base for reducing the chemical hazards along with the
developmental activities is the foundation of green chemistry.

Green chemistry , is a cost effective approach which involves reduction in material, energy
consumption and waste generation

Green Chemistry in day-to-day Life

(i) Dry Cleaning of Clothes

• Tetra chlroroethene (Cl2C=CCl2) was earlier used as solvent for dry cleaning.
• The compound contaminates the ground water and is also a suspected carcinogen
• DA
The process using this compound is now being replaced by a process, where liquefied
carbondioxide, with a suitable detergent is used.
AD
• Replacement of halogenated solvent by liquid CO2 will result in less harm to ground water.
(ii) Bleaching of Paper
• Chlorine gas was used earlier for bleaching paper. These days, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
C

with suitable catalyst, which promotes the bleaching action of hydrogen peroxide, is used.
PS

• hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used for the purpose of bleaching clothes

ENVIRONMENAL LEGISLATION
MP

• Our constitution, originally, did not contain any direct provision regarding the protection of
natural environment.
• However, after the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held
in Stockholm in 1972, Indian constitution was amended to include protection of
the environment as a constitutional mandate.
• Environment related legislation came very late in 1972 with Wild Life Protection Act 1971.
• The forty second amendment (Fundamental Duties) Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian
constitution made it a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment.
• Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian constitution states “It shall be the duty of every citizen
of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild
life and have compassion for living creatures.”
• There is a directive, given to the State as one of the Directive Principles of State
Policy regarding the protection and improvement of the environment.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Article 48A states “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”.
• Article 21 of the Indian Constitution assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy
environment.
• The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure a healthy
environment for the country. This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF) in 1985.
• The Environment Protection Act of 1986 (EPA) came into force soon after the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy and is considered umbrella legislation as it fills many lacunae in the existing
legislations.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and

Amendment, 1988
Some important provisions of this Act are given below:DA
AD
• The Act vests regulatory authority in State Pollution Control Boards to establish and enforce
effluent standards for factories.
• A Central Pollution Control Board performs the same functions for Union Territories and
C

formulate policies and coordinates activities of different State Boards.

PS

• The Act grants power to SPCB and CPCB to test equipment and to take the sample for the
purpose of analysis.
MP

• Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal
prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
• The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act of 1977

• The Water Cess Act was passed to generate financial resources to meet expenses of the Central
and State Pollution Boards.
• The Act creates economic incentives for pollution control and requires local authorities and
certain designated industries to pay a cess (tax) for water effluent discharge.
• The Central Government, after deducting the expenses of collection, pays the central and state
boards such sums, as it seems necessary.
• To encourage capital investment in pollution control, the Act gives a polluter a 70% rebate of
the applicable cess upon installing effluent treatment equipment.

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The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 and
amendment, 1987
• To implement the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment held at Stockholm in June 1972, Parliament enacted the nationwide Air Act.
• The main objectives of this Act are to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control and
abate air pollution in the country.

Important provisions of this Act are given below:

• The Air Act’s framework is similar to that of the Water Act of 1974.
• The Air Act expanded the authority of the central and state boards established under the
Water Act, to include air pollution control.
• States not having water pollution boards were required to set up air pollution boards.
•

•
DA
Under the Air Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution control areas must
obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after
AD
consulting the central board and noting its ambient air quality standards.
• The Act grants power to SPCB and to test equipment and to take the sample for the purpose of
analysis from any chimney, fly ash or dust or any other.
C

• Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement under the Act was achieved through criminal
PS

prosecutions initiated by the Boards.

• The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.
• Notably, the 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s suit provision into the Air Act and extended
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the Act to include noise pollution.

Environment (Protection) Act of 1986

• In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India enacted the Environment Act of
1986.
• The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on
the Human Environment of 1972.
• The decisions relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the
prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
• The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central
Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established
under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and
the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.

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• “Environmental pollution” is the presence of pollutant, defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous
substance present in such a concentration as may be or may tend to be injurious to the
environment.
• “Hazardous substances” include any substance or preparation, which may cause harm to
human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, property or the environment.
• Through this Act Central Government gets full power for the purpose of protecting and
improving the quality of the environment.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

This Act provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds, and plant species, in order
to ensure environmental and ecological security. Among other things, the Act lays down restrictions
on hunting many animal species. The Act was last amended in the year 2006. An Amendment bill
was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2013 and referred to a Standing Committee, but it was
withdrawn in 2015.
Constitutional Provisions for the Wildlife Act DA
AD
• Article 48A of the Constitution of India directs the State to protect and improve the environment
and safeguard wildlife and forests. This article was added to the Constitution by the 42nd
Amendment in 1976.
C

• Article 51A imposes certain fundamental duties for the people of India. One of them is to
PS

protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to
have compassion for living creatures.
MP

History of wildlife protection legislation in India

• The first such law was passed by the British Indian Government in 1887 called the Wild Birds
Protection Act, 1887. The law sought to prohibit the possession and sale of specified wild birds
that were either killed or captured during a breeding session.
• A second law was enacted in 1912 called the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act. This was
amended in 1935 when the Wild Birds and Animals Protection (Amendment) Act 1935 was
passed.
• During the British Raj, wildlife protection was not accorded a priority. It was only in 1960 that the
issue of protection of wildlife and the prevention of certain species from becoming extinct came
into the fore.
Need for the Wildlife Protection Act
Wildlife is a part of ‘forests’ and this was a state subject until the Parliament passed this law in 1972.
Now it is Concurrent List. Reasons for a nationwide law in the domain of environment particularly
wildlife include the following:

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
1. A drastic decrease in the flora and fauna can cause ecological imbalance, which affects many
aspects of climate and the ecosystem.
2. The most recent Act passed during the British era in this regard was the Wild Birds and
Animals Protection, 1935. This needed to be upgraded as the punishments awarded to
poachers and traders of wildlife products were disproportionate to the huge financial benefits
that accrue to them.
3. There were only five national parks in India prior to the enactment of this Act.

Salient Features of Wildlife Protection Act

• This Act provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds, and plants, and also for
the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas in the country.

• The Act provides for the formation of wildlife advisory boards, wildlife wardens, specifies their
powers and duties, etc.
•
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
DA
It helped India become a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
AD
o CITES is a multilateral treaty with the objective of protecting endangered animals and plants.
o It is also known as the Washington Convention and was adopted as a result of a meeting
of IUCN members.
C

• For the first time, a comprehensive list of the endangered wildlife of the country was prepared.
PS

• The Act prohibited the hunting of endangered species.

• Scheduled animals are prohibited from being traded as per the Act’s provisions.
MP

• The Act provides for licenses for the sale, transfer, and possession of some wildlife species.
• It provides for the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, etc.
• Its provisions paved the way for the formation of the Central Zoo Authority. This is the central
body responsible for the oversight of zoos in India. It was established in 1992.
• The Act created six schedules which gave varying degrees of protection to classes of flora and
fauna.
o Schedule I and Schedule II (Part II) get absolute protection, and offences under these
schedules attract the maximum penalties.
o The schedules also include species that may be hunted.
• The National Board for Wildlife was constituted as a statutory organization under the
provisions of this Act.
o This is an advisory board that offers advice to the central government on issues of wildlife
conservation in India.
o It is also the apex body to review and approve all matters related to wildlife, projects of
national parks, sanctuaries, etc.

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o The chief function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife
and forests.
o It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
• The Act also provided for the establishment of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
o It is a statutory body of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with an
overall supervisory and coordination part, performing capacities as given in the Act.
o Its mandate is to strengthen tiger conservation in India.
o It gives statutory authority to Project Tiger which was launched in 1973 and has put the
endangered tiger on a guaranteed path of revival by protecting it from extinction.
Protected Areas under the Wildlife Protection Act
There are five types of protected areas as provided under the Act. They are described below.
1. Sanctuaries: “Sanctuary is a place of refuge where injured, abandoned, and abused wildlife is
DA
allowed to live in peace in their natural environment without any human intervention.”

1. They are naturally occurring areas where endangered species are protected from poaching,
AD
hunting, and predation.
2. Here, animals are not bred for commercial exploitation.
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3. The species are protected from any sort of disturbance.

4. Animals are not allowed to be captured or killed inside the sanctuaries.
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5. A wildlife sanctuary is declared by the State government by a Notification. Boundaries can be

altered by a Resolution of the State Legislature.
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6. Human activities such as timber harvesting, collecting minor forest products, and private
ownership rights are permitted as long as they do not interfere with the animals’ well-
being. Limited human activity is permitted.
7. They are open to the general public. But people are not allowed unescorted. There are
restrictions as to who can enter and/or reside within the limits of the sanctuary. Only public
servants (and his/her family), persons who own immovable property inside, etc. are allowed.
People using the highways which pass through sanctuaries are also allowed inside.
8. Boundaries of sanctuaries are not generally fixed and defined.
9. Biologists and researchers are permitted inside so that they can study the area and its
inhabitants.
10. The Chief Wildlife Warden (who is the authority to control, manage and maintain all
sanctuaries) may grant permission to persons for entry or residence in the sanctuary for the
study of wildlife, scientific research, photography, the transaction of any lawful business with
persons residing inside, and tourism.
11. Sanctuaries can be upgraded to the status of a ‘National Park’.
12. Examples: Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (Rann of Kutch, Gujarat); Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
in Tamil Nadu (oldest bird sanctuary in India); Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).

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2. National Parks: “National Parks are the areas that are set by the government to conserve the
natural environment.”

1. A national park has more restrictions as compared to a wildlife sanctuary.

2. National parks can be declared by the State government by Notification. No alteration of the
boundaries of a national park shall be made except on a resolution passed by the State
Legislature.
3. The main objective of a national park is to protect the natural environment of the area and
biodiversity conservation.
4. The landscape, fauna, and flora are present in their natural state in national parks.
5. Their boundaries are fixed and defined.
6. Here, no human activity is allowed.
7. Grazing of livestock and private tenurial rights are not permitted here.
8. Species mentioned in the Schedules of the Wildlife Act are not allowed to be hunted or
captured.
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9. No person shall destroy, remove, or exploit any wildlife from a National Park or destroy or
damage the habitat of any wild animal or deprive any wild animal of its habitat within a
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national park.
10. They cannot be downgraded to the status of a ‘sanctuary’.
11. Examples: Bandipur National Park in Karnataka; Hemis National Park in Jammu & Kashmir;
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Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

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3. Conservation Reserves: The State government may declare an area (particularly those adjacent
to sanctuaries or parks) as conservation reserves after consulting with local communities.
4. Community Reserves: The State government may declare any private or community land as a
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community reserve after consultation with the local community or an individual who has
volunteered to conserve the wildlife.
5. Tiger Reserves: These areas are reserved for the protection and conservation of tigers in India.
They are declared on the recommendations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• The amended Wildlife Act doesn’t allow any commercial exploitation of forest produce in
both wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, and local communities are allowed to collect
forest produce only for their bona fide requirements.

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Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act

There are six schedules provided in the Wildlife Protection Act. They are discussed in the table below.

Schedule I Schedule II

• This Schedule covers endangered • Animals under this list are also
species. accorded high protection.
• These species need rigorous protection • Their trade is prohibited.
and therefore, the harshest penalties for • They cannot be hunted except
violation of the law are under this under threat to human life.
Schedule. • Examples: Kohinoor (insect),
• Species under this Schedule are prohibited Assamese Macaque, Bengal

•
to be hunted throughout India, except
under threat to human life.
Absolute protection is accorded to species
DA Hanuman langur, Large Indian Civet,
Indian Fox, Larger Kashmir Flying
Squirrel, Kashmir Fox, etc.
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on this list.
• The Trade of these animals is prohibited.
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• Examples: tiger, blackbuck, Himalayan

Brown Bear, Brow-Antlered Deer, Blue
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whale, Common Dolphin, Cheetah,

Clouded Leopard, hornbills, Indian Gazelle,
etc.
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Schedule III & IV Schedule V

• This list is for species that are not • This schedule contains animals that
endangered. can be hunted.
• This includes protected species but the • Examples: mice, rat, common crow,
penalty for any violation is less compared fruit bats, etc.
to the first two schedules.
• Examples: hyena, Himalayan rat,
porcupine, flying fox, Malabar tree toad,
etc.

Schedule VI

• This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation.

• Examples: pitcher plant, blue vanda, red vanda, kuth, etc.

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DA
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PS
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7. NATURAL CALAMITIES & MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS DISASTER?
• A disaster is a result of natural or man-made causes that leads to sudden disruption in the
functioning of the community or a society causing widespread material, social, economic and
environment losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own
resources

Classification of Disaster
• Disasters are classified as per origin, into natural and man-made disasters.
• Natural disasters are sudden ecological disruptions or threats that exceed the adjustment

•
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capacity of the affected community and require external assistance
Natural disasters such as earthquake, volcanic eruptions, floods, tsunami, cyclones, landslides,
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heat and cold waves, droughts, epidemics., etc

Atmospheric Terrestrial biological

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Lighting Earthquakes Plants and animals as colonisers

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( locusts,)
Thunderstorm Volcanic eruptions
Insects infestation- fungal,
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Tropical cyclone Landslides

bacteria, and viral disease such
Drought Avalanches as bird flu, dengue’s, etc

Blizzards Soil erosion

Heat waves

Cold waves

Man Made disaster

Disaster caused by human action, negligence, error or involving the failure of a system are called
Man Made disaster. Man Made disaster are in turn categorized as technological or sociological.
Technological are the result of failure of technology such as engineering failures, transport disaster,
or environment disaster. Sociological have a strong human motive such as stampede, riots, war and
criminal acts.

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Vulnerability Profile of India
• India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of disasters
• Around 59% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity
• About 12% (over 40 million hectares) of its land is prone to floods and river erosion
• Close to 5,700 km, out of the 7,516 km long coastline is prone to cyclones and tsunamis
• 68% of its cultivable area is vulnerable to droughts; and, the hilly areas are at risk from landslides
and avalanches
• Moreover, India is also vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)
emergencies and other man-made disasters
• Disaster risks in India are further compounded by increasing vulnerabilities related to changing
demographics and socio-economic conditions, unplanned urbanization, and development within
high-risk zones, environmental degradation, climate change, geological hazards, epidemics and
pandemics
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Clearly, all these contribute to a situation where disasters seriously threaten India’s economy, its
population and sustainable development.
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Disaster Risk Management

The activities to mitigate effects of disasters and emergency situations, to provide a framework for
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helping people at risk, to avoid or recover from the impacts of the disaster is called disaster
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mangement. Disaster Management efforts are geared towards disaster risk management.

• Disaster Risk Management implies the systematic process of using administrative decisions,
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organisation, operational skills, and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping
capacities of the society and communities to lessen the impact of natural hazards and related
environmental and technological disasters
• These comprise all forms all activities including structural and non- structural measures to avoid
(prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) adverse effects of hazards
Stages in Disaster Mangement
• Before a disaster: to reduce the potential for human, material, or environmental losses caused
by hazards and to ensure that these losses are minimised when disaster strikes. It includes
prevention, mitigation and preparedness
• During a disaster: to ensure that the needs and provisions of victims are met to alleviate and
minimise suffering.. Activities taken under this stage are called emergency response activities
• After a disaster: to achieve rapid and durable recovery which does not reproduce the original
vulnerable conditions. It include relief, response, rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery.

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Organisations related to Disaster Management Framework at Global
level
• In 1994 the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction was held in Yokohama, Japan
• The conference adopted the Yokohama strategy and declared the decade 1990-2000 as the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is the successor to the secretariat of
IDNDR and was created in 1999 to implement UN Disaster Risk Reduction strategy
• The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) is a 10-year plan (2005-2015) to make the world safer
from natural hazards. Priorities such as, Disaster risk reduction, identification, assessment through
legal and policy frameworks, disaster preparedness and use of innovation was adopted
• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, is the successor instrument to the
Hyogo Framework. It is a non-binding agreement, which the signatory nations, including India,

•
will attempt to comply with on a voluntary basis
Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 DA
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Disaster Management Act, 2005
• The stated object and purpose of the DM Act is to manage disasters, including preparation of
mitigation strategies, capacity-building and more.
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• It came into force in India in January 2006.

PS

• The Act provides for “the effective management of disasters and for matters connected therewith
or incidental thereto.”
MP

• The Act calls for the establishment of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with the
Prime Minister of India as chairperson.
• The Act enjoins the Central Government to Constitute a National Executive Committee (NEC) to
assist the National Authority.
• All State Governments are mandated to establish a State Disaster Management Authority
(SDMA).
Powers given to the Centre:
• Power bestowed by DM Act on Central Government and NDMA are extensive.
• The Central Government, irrespective of any law in force (including over-riding powers) can issue
any directions to any authority anywhere in India to facilitate or assist in the disaster
management.
• Importantly, any such directions issued by Central Government and NDMA must necessarily be
followed the Union Ministries, State Governments and State Disaster Management Authorities.
• In order to achieve all these, the prime minister can exercise all powers of NDMA (S 6(3)). This
ensures that there is adequate political and constitutional heft behind the decisions made.
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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
Administrative bodies related to disaster management
National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA)
• It was established in 2005, under the Disaster Management Act 2005
• The objective of NDMA is, to build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, proactive,
technology driven and sustainable development strategy
• The NDMA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and has a vice chairman with the status of
Cabinet Minister and eight members with the status of Ministers of State
• The NDMA Secretariat is headed by a Secretary and deals with mitigation, preparedness, plans,
reconstruction, community awareness and financial and administrative aspects
• Provide support to other countries
• Approve the national plans and plans prepared by various union ministries
• Lay down guidelines to be followed by states
•
•
Lay down policies on disaster management DA
Lay down policies and guidelines for the functioning of national institute of disaster management
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National executive committee (secretary level body)
• Act as national level coordinating and monitoring body for disaster management
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• Prepare the national plan to be approved by NDMA

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• Monitor and evaluate the preparedness level, the implementation of the national policy,
guidelines Laid down by NDMA
• Provide necessary Technical assistance to the states for preparing their disaster management
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plans and carry out other functions under this act

• Promote general education and organize special training programme in relation to disaster
management

National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR)

• The NPDRR is chaired by the Union Home Minister and Minister of State in- charge of Disaster
Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Vice-Chairman, National Disaster Management
Authority is Vice-Chairperson of NPDRR
• To advise regarding coordination between the Central and State Governments/UT
Administrations, local Governments and civil society organisations for development of Disaster
Risk Reduction
• To review the progress made in the field of disaster management from time to time
• To appraise the extent and manner in which the Disaster Management Policy has been
implemented by the Central and State Governments, and other concerned agencies, and to give
appropriate advice in the matter

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)
▪ It was released in 2016, it is the first ever national plan prepared in the country for disaster
management

▪ With National Disaster Management Plan (2016) India has aligned its National plan with the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to which India is a signatory

▪ The objective of the plan is to make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk
reduction. It aims to significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets in terms of
economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental. To maximize the ability to cope with
disasters at all levels of administration as well as among communities

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

• The National Institute of Disaster Management is the nodal agency responsible for human

•
in the field of disaster management DA
resource development, capacity building, training, research, documentation and policy advocacy

Provide support to state government and union territories

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Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
• Is the key committee involved in the top-level decision-making with regard to disaster
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management
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National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• The general superintendence , direction and control of the force shall vest in the NDMA
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State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

• At State level, State Disaster Management Authorities are established under Disaster
Management Act 2005
• SDMA is chaired by the Chief Minister of the State and has not more than eight members who
are appointed by the Chief Minister
• The SDMA prepares the state disaster management plan and implements the National Disaster
Management Plan

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)

• Under Disaster Management Act 2005, every State government shall establish a DDMA for every
district in the State

The DDM Authority shall consist of:

• Chairperson - the Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner act as Chairperson of
DDMA

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 MPPSC 2025 - PRELIMS NOTES – UNIT 7 SCIENCE TECH & ENVIRONMENT
• Co-Chairperson - is the elected representative of the local authority. In the Tribal Areas, the Chief
Executive Member of the district council of autonomous district is the co-chairperson
• It act as the district planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management and
takes all measure according to the guidelines laid down by NDMA and SDMA
• The Disaster Management Committee governed under District Magistrate will formulate village
level disaster management plans for concern villages
• The DDMA makes District Disaster Management Plan and implements the state Disaster
Management Plan

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Notes

DA
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