Environment & Ecology पर्यावरण एवं पारिस्थितिकी
Complete UPSC-ready notes with latest census data (ISFR 2023, Tiger 2022, Lion 2025, Elephant DNA 2025), International Agreements, and India’s current & future climate plans including Net Zero 2070 and updated NDC. नवीनतम जनगणना डेटा, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय समझौतों और भारत की वर्तमान एवं भविष्य की जलवायु योजनाओं के साथ पूर्ण यूपीएससी-तैयार नोट्स।
1. UPSC Syllabus Mapping – Environment
GS Paper III – Official Extract:
- • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
- • Disaster and disaster management.
- • (Linked with GS-I Geography and Current Affairs)
High Weightage
- • Biodiversity & Protected Areas
- • Climate Change & International Conventions
- • Pollution & Control measures
- • India’s National Missions (NAPCC)
- • Latest Census / Status Reports
Prelims Focus
- • National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar sites
- • IUCN categories, CITES Appendices
- • Protocols (Kyoto, Montreal, Paris)
- • Species in news + Census numbers
2. Ecology Basics
Key Concepts
Functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and with the physical environment.
Transfer of energy through successive trophic levels. Food web is interconnected food chains.
Graphical representation of energy, biomass or number at each trophic level (usually upright for energy).
Large natural ecosystems identified by distinct climate & vegetation (e.g., Tropical Rainforest, Desert, Tundra).
Gradual change in species composition over time (Primary / Secondary succession).
Maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
3. Biodiversity & Conservation
Levels of Biodiversity
Variation within species
Variety of species in a region
Variety of ecosystems
Conservation Strategies
In-situ Conservation
- • National Parks
- • Wildlife Sanctuaries
- • Biosphere Reserves
- • Community Conserved Areas
- • Sacred Groves
Ex-situ Conservation
- • Zoological Parks
- • Botanical Gardens
- • Seed Banks / Gene Banks
- • Cryopreservation
- • Captive Breeding Programmes
India – Biodiversity Hotspots
India has 4 of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
4. Latest Census & Status Data (Must Memorise)
India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023
- • Mangrove cover: 4,992 km² (slight decrease of 7.43 km² from 2021)
- • Carbon stock increased by ~81.5 million tonnes
- • Important nuance: Overall cover increased, but quality (dense forest) faces pressure in some regions.
All India Tiger Estimation 2022
India holds ~75% of the world’s wild tigers. Growth rate ~6.1% per annum. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand are top states.
Asiatic Lion Census 2025 (16th Estimation)
• Up from 674 in 2020 → +32% growth
• Entire population confined to Gujarat (Gir landscape)
• Success of Project Lion, but concerns over genetic bottleneck & single habitat risk
Elephant Census – SAIEE 2021-25 (DNA-based, Oct 2025)
• First-ever nationwide DNA-based synchronous estimation
• Previous (2017) figure was ~29,964 — not directly comparable due to new methodology
• New scientific baseline for future monitoring
Top states: Karnataka (6,013) > Assam (4,159) > Tamil Nadu (3,136) > Kerala (2,785)
5. Climate Change
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
- • CO₂ – largest contribution
- • Methane (CH₄) – higher GWP
- • Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
- • Fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF₆)
Key Impacts
- • Global temperature rise
- • Sea-level rise & extreme weather
- • Melting glaciers & permafrost
- • Biodiversity loss & ocean acidification
6. Environmental Pollution
Air Pollution
PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SOx, Ozone. NCAP aims to reduce PM by 40% by 2026 in non-attainment cities.
Water Pollution
Industrial effluents, sewage, agricultural runoff. Namami Gange, National Water Mission.
Soil & Plastic
Plastic Waste Management Rules, Single-use plastic ban, soil contamination from chemicals.
Noise Pollution
Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules. Ambient standards for different zones.
7. International Agreements, Treaties & Organisations
Major Multilateral Environmental Agreements
| Agreement / Treaty | Year | Focus Area | Key Point for UPSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNFCCC | 1992 | Climate Change | Parent treaty; COPs held annually |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 | GHG reduction (Annex I) | Binding targets for developed countries |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 | Climate Action | NDCs, 1.5°C/2°C goal, Net Zero pathways |
| Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | 1992 | Biodiversity | 3 objectives: conservation, sustainable use, benefit sharing |
| CITES | 1973 | Wildlife Trade | Appendices I, II, III – trade regulation |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | Ozone Layer | Most successful environmental treaty; Kigali Amendment (HFCs) |
| Ramsar Convention | 1971 | Wetlands | India has 80+ Ramsar sites (as of recent) |
| Bonn Convention (CMS) | 1979 | Migratory Species | Conservation of migratory wild animals |
| Stockholm Convention | 2001 | POPs | Persistent Organic Pollutants |
| Basel Convention | 1989 | Hazardous Waste | Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes |
| Minamata Convention | 2013 | Mercury | Mercury pollution control |
| UNCCD | 1994 | Desertification | Combat desertification & land degradation |
Key Organisations
8. India’s Current & Future Plans
Net Zero & Updated NDC (2026)
- • Net Zero target: 2070 (announced at COP26)
- • Updated NDC (2031-2035 period, submitted 2026):
- → Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 47% by 2035 from 2005 levels (enhanced from 45% by 2030)
- → Raise non-fossil fuel based energy capacity share
- → Enhanced carbon sink target through additional forest & tree cover
- • Earlier achievement: Emissions intensity already reduced by ~36% (2005–2020)
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) – 8 Missions
National Green Hydrogen Mission
- • Target: 5 MMT green hydrogen production per annum by 2030
- • Associated renewable capacity: ~125 GW
- • Aim: Make India a global hub for green hydrogen production & export
Other Major Targets
- • 500 GW non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030
- • LiFE Mission (Lifestyle for Environment)
- • National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- • 33% forest & tree cover long-term goal (constitutional)
9. Key Environmental Acts & Policies (India)
10. High-Yield One-Liners
11. Practice MCQs
1. As per ISFR 2023, the total forest and tree cover of India is approximately:
2. The estimated average tiger population in India as per the 2022 estimation is closest to:
3. India’s Net Zero emissions target year is:
4. The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets production of green hydrogen by 2030 at the level of:
5. Which of the following is the most successful multilateral environmental agreement?
Master Environment for UPSC with CrackTarget
Keep revising the latest census numbers and international commitments — they are high-probability questions.
© 2026 CrackTarget • Data as of latest available reports (ISFR 2023, Tiger 2022, Lion 2025, Elephant 2025, NDC 2026)
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