UGC NET Paper 1 Notes – People and Environment + MCQs
Main Objective: Assess your understanding of environmental issues, pollution types, resource exploitation, and disaster management, with a focus on how these affect people and society.
Syllabus Breakdown & What to Focus On
| Subtopic | What to Study | Key Pointers |
| 1. People and Environment Interaction | – How human activity affects environment and vice versa
– Urbanisation, deforestation, industrialisation, agriculture – Climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable development |
Understand examples like: urban sprawl → loss of green cover, or industrial emissions → air pollution. Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| 2. Sources of Pollution | – Air: Vehicle emissions, industry, burning biomass
– Water: Industrial waste, sewage, agricultural runoff – Soil: Chemicals, plastics, waste dumping – Noise & Radiation: Traffic, machines, mobile towers |
Focus on pollution classification, sources, and their origin points. Match them with examples. |
| 3. Pollutants and Their Impact on Human Life | – Air pollutants: PM2.5, CO2, SOx, NOx → asthma, cancer
– Water pollutants: Fluoride, arsenic, heavy metals → diseases – Soil pollutants: Lead, pesticide residues → infertility, food toxicity |
Learn cause-effect relationships. E.g., high PM levels → respiratory illness. Link pollutants to diseases. |
| 4. Exploitation of Natural and Energy Resources | – Overuse of fossil fuels, water, forests, minerals
– Non-renewable vs Renewable energy – E-waste, mining, hydroelectric projects |
Know examples of resource overuse (e.g., groundwater depletion) and clean energy alternatives (e.g., solar, wind). |
| 5. Natural Hazards and Mitigation | – Types: Earthquake, flood, drought, cyclone, landslide
– Causes, effects, mitigation steps – Disaster management strategies |
Study NDMA guidelines, early warning systems, and community-based mitigation practices. Use case studies like Kedarnath floods, Kerala floods, etc. |
Environmental Concepts to Remember
| Concept | Description | Example |
| Carrying Capacity | Maximum population an environment can support | Overcrowding in cities leads to collapse of services |
| Biomagnification | Pollutants increasing in concentration up the food chain | Mercury in fish due to water pollution |
| Sustainable Development | Meeting present needs without compromising the future | Using solar panels instead of coal |
Smart Study Tips
- Prepare mind maps for pollution types, pollutants, and health effects.
- Make a cause-effect table: Source → Pollutant → Impact → Solution.
- Use current affairs for real-world examples (e.g., Ganga pollution, Delhi air quality)
- Revise India’s key environmental legislations and policies: Air Act, Water Act, Environment Protection Act.