Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SUBJECT
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
geography
geo.
science
geo.
sci.
geo
science
Geo.
sci.
geo(Physical)
geo (India)
economy
Biology
chemistry
8
1 to 6
7, 16 to 18
8
7 and 18
5
14
2
14 to 16
15 and 16
4 and 5
9 (Sustainable development)
13 to 16
14
Assuming that you re done with pre-requisite #1, 2 and 3 welcome back.
Overall Chapter 12 (Environment) and 23 (planning-subtopic Environment) give fol
lowing details
Various organizations, bodies
List of policies and laws.
Terms/ schemes.
Although in all three things, you ll have to do Followup by digging google. Because
the data given in the book alone is not sufficient to handle MCQ/Mains.
But you need to read the book, to prepare the base.
Ch1: Flora and Fauna
topic what to focus
Climate/Seasons (page 4)
Four official seasons
Six traditional seasons
Two seasonal winds
Flora Page 5(English) ; Page 4(Hindi)
Total number of plant species: 46,000
Vascular flora:15,000
8 distinct florist regions: what trees are found in which region?
Definition of Ethno-botanical study-MCQ
Red Data book-Published by BSI.
Fauna (page6)
Ascending Descending order of Amphebia, Mammalia, Reptilia etc.
Salt water crocodile is found in __?
Project crocodile __(Important for chronological order of various projects)
This section lists names of many wild life species-You need to find out the
places where they are found.
After this census related information starts. Ignore it for the moment we will g
et back to it during education, Health care, Welfare related chapters.
Mock MCQs related to this chapter, are given in the appendix of this article.
Ch12: Environment
What to Ignore
topic English
Hindi
Milestone achievement 291
261
Environment research
297
267
NNRMS 297
267
Education and awareness
298
268-69
National museum
298
269
Wildlife education and training
299
269
Centre of excellence
299
269
Sustainable development and international cooperation* 302
Climate change 302-03 273
272
*It deals with RIO+20, but same thing explains in detail in Mrunal.org/ENB
[High priority]: Organizations: main
ch.
topic English
Hindi
12
Ministry of environment and forest
285
255
12
National biodiversity authority NBA
288
258
12
National tiger conservation authority 290
260
12
Wildlife crime control bureau- statutory
290
261
12
Central pollution control board- CPCB 292
263
12
Central wetlands regulatory authority 295
265
12
Eco-development forces(IMP- They are under defence ministry and not unde
r environment ministry)
296
267
12
National green tribunal*
301
272
12
National environment assessment and monitory authority- NEAMA 301
272
23
National Ganga river basin authority
682
699
*better dig net for more.
[High priority]: Policies/Schemes/Projects
12
Forest management scheme
289
260
12
Project tiger, project elephant (insufficient info given, dig NET for mo
re)
291
261
12
Environment impact assessment- EIA, its amendment
291-92 262
12
Policy for abatement of pollution- 1992
292
262
12
National environment policy- 2006
292
262
12
E-waste rules- 2011
293
264
12
National river conservation plan
294
264
12
National wetlands conservation program 295
265
12
Biomedical waste management
294
264
12
National afforestation program 296
266
12
Awards and fellowships- only names and features
299-300
270-71
12
ENVIS- web portal
300
271
23
National costal management program
682
700
23
Biodiversity hotspots 684
702
23
National action plan for climate change- NAPCC (more details given in 12
th FYP)
685
702-03
23
Green India mission
685
703
[High priority]: Theory
12
Mangroves
286
257
12
Coral reef- Four major areas
287
257
12
Clean technology
294
264
12
Ozone layer protection 303
273-74
for more on the theory, refer to NIOS and NCERTs.
Laws
12
12
12
259
-
*Dig net
[Low priority] Miscellaneous organizations
as the name suggests- they re Miscellaneous, so don t spent lot of time in them- eve
n if an MCQ is asked, the cost:benefit is bad.
ch.
topic English
Hindi
12
Botanical survey of India
285
255
12
Zoological survey of India
286
256
12
Forest survey of India 286
256
12
Wildlife institute of India- WII
290
260
12
Central zoo authority 291
261
12
Animal welfare board
291
262
12
National river conservation directorate
294
264
12
National afforestation and eco-development board
296
266
12
GB pant institute
297
268
12
Four institutes given under forestry research 298
268
[Low priority] International treaties/Conventions
Topic is high priority, but from the given book s given chapter, its low priority
because data is outdated, and very brief overview given.
ch.
topic English
Hindi
12
Biosphere reserve
287
257
12
Biodiversity conservation- its two components: Biodiversity and bio-safe
ty
287
257
12
Convention on biodiversity CBD*
288
258
12
Cartagena biosafety protocol
289
259
12
Ramsar convention
295
266
*go through Mrunal.org/ENB
And for remaining conventions, dig NET.
12th FYP plan: Ch4 and Ch7
So far you re done with Environment chapter of IYB. Now time to shift to 12th Five
year plan (FYP).
To download the free PDFs of 12th FYP (English | Hindi), CLICK ME
Vol1.Ch4: Sustainable Development
Relevance
Topic to focus PDF page#
MCQ/fodder
4.1 Definition of sustainable Development and who gave it?
146
fodder figure 4.1
147
fodder 4.6 definition of Eco-efficiency
147
MCQ
4.9 Green tax- meaning, utility and Indian example
147-48
fodder 4.10 why diesel-fertilizer subsidies are bad
148
fund
4.12 National clean energy fund
148
fund
4.13 Compensatory afforestation fund
148
fodder 4.15 benefit of PAT and REC
149
fodder 4.16 list of non-monetary incentives to protect environment
149
fodder 4.22 Eco Industrial hub
150
MCQ
4.26 coastal regulation zone classification
151
MCQ
4.27 fact that Swaminathan Committee is associated with coastal zone Ma
nagement
151
MCQ
4.29 Ecomark -label (last two sentences)
151
fodder box 4.1: focus areas in 12th FYP
152
MCQ
4.35: why supercritical powerplants are better than sub-critical
152
fodder box 4.2: that research in advanced coal technology = better cost:Benefit
than soal energy
153
MCQ
4.37: what s the benefit of coal gasification? 153
MCQ
4.39: which states have highest potential in wind energy?
153
fodder 4.41: the need for national wind energy mission?
154
MCQ
4.42: which states have off-shore wind potential?
154
MCQ
4.44: benefit of solar photovoltaic tech vs solar thermal tech 155
fodder 4.47 to 4.52: how to reform solar mission?
155
MCQ
4.52: crystalline silicon vs thin film system 155-56
MCQ
4.68: three types of cements produced in India (+ that BIS permits them
to add fly ash)
158
MCQ
Table 4.2: which sectors consume high amount of energy? ascending descen
ding order
160
MCQ/fodder
Table 4.3 the pro-cons of carbon tax vs. cap-n-trade schemes
162
MCQ
4.93: what are the negative consequences when freight is transported thr
ough trucks rather than via railways
164
fodder 4.94 to 96: how to improve the efficiency of rail/road/water transport
164-65
fodder 4.99: what are the benefits of using public transport? (five points)
166
fodder 4.99 (from page 167) + 4.100 + 4.101: what are the polity challenges that
impede reforms in urban transport?
167
MCQ
4.102: BEE energy labelling program
167
MCQ
4.105: Bachat lamp Yojana-features
168
MCQ
4.109: SEEP program
168
MCQ
fig.4.6: electricity consumption sector wise ascending-descending
169
fodder 4.118: green building code related points
170
MCQ
4.121: green building rating system (fact that its by IGBC and not BEE/g
overnment)
170
MCQ/fodder
4.128: national mission for green India
172
fodder Annex.4.2 how/why Low carbon strategy helps in inclusive growth?
175-76
This finishes ch4 of 12th FYP. Dig following topics through pib/net.
national environment policy
national policy for farmer
national electricity policy
integrated energy policy
Indian alpine initiative
vehicle labelling scheme
so far we are done with
IYB
ch1 land people
ch30 state UT and
ch12 Environment
12th FYP
moving on:
Vol1: Ch 7 Environment, Forestry and Wildlife
Relevance
Topic to Focus PDF page#
MCQ/fodder
7.4 (Polity) why environment needs to be included in concurrent
list
237
only
only
only
only
1
1 and 2
1 and 3
2 and 3
Sarada
Hemanta
Sisira
vasanta
Answer
code
a
b
c
d
choices
I
4
1
1
2
II
3
3
2
1
III
2
2
3
3
IV
1
4
4
4
Q3. Consider the following trees: silver fir, silver birch, juniper, blue pine.
Which of them are found in the Western Himalayas?
all
all
all
all
Q4. Arrange the following fauna in ascending order, according to the variety of
species found in India.
Mammals
Reptiles
Amphibians
Aves
Correct ascending order is:
1234
4321
3124
1324
Q5. Consider following statements about Thamin deer?
It is an endangered species as per IUCN classification.
It is an endemic species of Western Ghats.
It is also known as Dancing deer because of its peculiar style of walking
Find correct statement(s)
only 1 and 2
only 2 and 3
only 1 and 3
All three correct.
Q6. Consider following sanctuaries: Ichagarh, Tenughat and Chandrapura. Which of
the following are correct statements about them?
all of them are bird sanctuaries
all of them are located in Jharkhand
Both A and B
Neither A nor B
Q7. In which of the following places, can we find Mangrove forest, swamp forest,
moist-deciduous forest and tropical wet-evergreen forest?
Tamilandu
West Bengal
Andra Pradesh
Andaman and Nicobar islands
Q8. Which of the following statements are correct about Andaman-Nicobar islands?
Their eastern coast has fringing type of coral reefs while western coast has
barrier type of coral reefs.
Padauk and Gurjan- two endemic species of Mangroves, are found only in Nicob
ar group of islands but not in Andaman group of islands.
both A and B
Neither A nor B.
Q9. Which of the following statements are correct about Andaman Nicobar?
It receives rainfall from South East Monsoon but not from North East monsoon
.
These islands have Mangrove forest but no littoral forest.
Both A and B
Neither A nor B
Q10. Correct statements about Argali Sheep
Their natural habitat is alpine grasslands.
They re found in Khangchengzonga National Park of Sikkim.
They re poached mainly for horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medici
ne.
They ve became extinct in China and Mongolia.
Answer choices
only
only
only
only
1 and 2
1, 2 and 3
1, 2 and 4
3 and 4
only
only
only
only
1 and 2
2 and 3
1
3
Correct answers
Correct seasons as per IMD= only 2 and 3. Because for Winter- months are giv
en wrong
Early autumn-Sarada, Late-Hementa, Winter-sisira, Spring-Vasanta
all of them found in Western Himalaya
Amphi<< Mam <<Rep <<Ave
C. The Answer Not given in IYB. But in IYB page6- Swamp deer mentioned, and
UPSC did ask MCQ about it in CSAT 2013. So on the same logic, one should prepare
all the species given in IYB, including Thamin deer. Anyways, statement #2 is w
rong because Thamin deer is mainly found in Manipur, Myanmar Vietnam. So, going
by elimination process, we are left with (C)
C. all correct
C. Andaman-Nicobar
A. only 1st statement right
C. both are wrong.
B. This sheep mentioned in Sikkim section of Ch.30, hence PH.D becomes neces
sary as per unwritten rule of UPSC MCQs. As per IUCN redlist- first three statem
ents right.
D. Black necked crane lives in Sikkim, Snow leopard largest population is in
China; third statement is right- military activities have led to habitat destru
ction, poverty=>illegal poaching for quick cash etc. hence third statement right
. (Ref. iucn)
Mock MCQs: IYB Ch12, 12th FYP ch4 and 7
Q1. Consider following statements about Mangroves
They can survive in Aerobic soil but not in Anaerobic soil
They form a commensalist link between terrestrial and marine ecosystem.
In India, maximum mangrove cover is found in West Bengal, followed by Gujara
t and Andaman-Nicobar.
Choice
only
only
only
only
1 and 2
2 and 3
1 and 3
3
Q2. Which of the following are the major coral reef areas of India?
Mannar
Kutch
Lakshadweep
Andaman-Nicobar
Choice
all
all
all
All
except Mannar
except Kutch
except Lakshadweep
of them
forest policy
biodiversity authority
environment policy
Green Tribunal
Answer choices
4321
1324
2413
1234
Q4. Which of the following is a statutory body?
National biodiversity authority
Wildlife crime control bureau
both A and B
Neither A nor B
Q5. (A) Clean technology offer significant cost advantage to the producer. (R) C
lean technologies are less intensive on the use of raw material and energy
Both correct and R explains A
Both correct but R doesn t explain A
A right but R wrong
R right but A wrong.
Q6. Consider following statements about Eco-development forces
This force consists of volunteers from high schools and colleges
This force is setup by respective state governments, using the funding provi
ded by MoEF
both A and B
Neither A nor B
Q7. What is the utility of ENVIS portal?
It s a vigilance portal for gathering information related to economic offenses
It s an education portal for imparting English language knowledge to the women
and children in rural areas
It s a web portal for environment related information collection storage and p
rocessing.
None of Above
Q8. Ultra violate radiation can cause
Skin Cancer
Eye Cataract
Suppress body s immune system
Decrease crop yield
Answer choices
All except #4
Only 1, 2
Only 1 and 3
All of them
Only
Only
only
only
1 and 2
1 and 3
2 and 3
3
and 2
and 3
and 3
them
Correct Answers
D. As per IYB page 287
They can survive Anaerobic soil=#1 wrong
Commensalism= only one party benefits without damaging other. Symbiosis=
both benefit. Mangrove = Symbiosis link between Marine vs Terrestrial=> #2 wrong
#3 is right.
D. All of them major coral reef areas
D. forest-88, NBA-03,environment-06, NGT-10
C. both are statutory
A
D. both wrong. Ref page 296
C
D
D. All of them. Ref page 303
C. only 3
A only first statement right
C both right
D both wrong
only 3 (ref. table 4.3 of 12th FYP)
C. Both of them right (ref point 4.93 in 12th FYP)
C. both wrong. (same price as CFL, and not tubelights)
A.
D all of them
all wrong
D. all of them
[FAQ] Do I need to buy new edition IF I already have 2013?
A question asked by many readers,
edition?
NO because:
They did Compress a lot of topics, eliminated many outdated topics, but haven t u
pdated the topics much.
The way things are moving under UPSC s Backbreaking era, you ll have to dig net,
newspaper and magazines- for almost every term, scheme, policy, act, bill, irre
spective of how up-to-date your IYB is. Therefore, IYB s main use is base material,
and as the base material- it hasn t updated much between 2013 vs 2014's edition.
Census data updated- but you can easily get it from net. Those ten new pages
alone don t justify the need for dishing out another 250/- rupees.
In almost all chapters, the IR/HRD related data is still from 2012 s era one a
nd same. Even in above COP/UNFCC/Kyoto/RIO+20 etc. summits.
Whatever few things are newly added, you can dig through PIB/Net (as per the
list/tables given in above article).
I believe you already have used highlighter/ballpen/margin-notes on the 2013 s
edition for quick reading/revision. So If you get new 2014 s edition again= you ll
have to repeat the same exercise on those 1000+ pages again = not worth the cost
:benefit. (because data hardly new- only page numbers changed.)
In short, if you already have IYB-2013 then not much point in getting IYB-2014:
your 250-350 rupees are better spent buying in some other books or
stationary.
====================================
The India 2013 (also known as India yearbook) is made up of
Overview of topics (like cement industry, Animal husbandry etc.)
Organizations: structure function (like Competition Commission of India, NAB
ARD etc.)
Policies, laws Schemes, projects, missions. (like MNREGA, PMGSY, NRLM etc.)
Some facts, GK (mostly chapter 1, 2, 3, 30, 32).
Truckload of dates, numbers and tables (most of them useless from exam point
of view).
Anyways, India Yearbook has specific utility in each stage of UPSC civil service
exam.
Utility in Prelims (CSAT)
UPSC often asks MCQs based on
Any statement or table given in yearbook, is important only IF it gives you one
or more of the following information:
Some fact/ feature/reason that can be asked in MCQ, 2m or descriptive.
Some fancy name that can be asked in MCQ, 2m (e.g. Annapurna, Swadhar, Ujjwa
la etc.)
Some Fodder point that can be cited in descriptive answer, essay, interview
^if the statement doesn t contain any of these, then it s a useless statement.
Don t bother finishing the sentence, move to next sentence. Otherwise you cannot f
inish this 1200+ pages book in time, If you re going to read it line by
line, word by word.
some risk taking is also necessary.
#2: Organizations
In the introductory part of every chapter, the yearbook will tell you about the e
volution that xyz ministry was earlier known as abc ministry and then
it was renamed in 1989 and it was merged with def department and so on .skip evolut
ion , just find what functions are performed by the ministry right now?
The organization that affects more lives, is more important.
Small time organizations are not really important. E.g. Rajiv Gandhi flight trai
ning academy etc. (cost benefit is not good + gives diminishing rate of returns
+ you ve to take some risk, else you can t finish syllabus.)
Whenever you read about an organization
ask yourself
12
298
IFMS (Forest Management)
12
301
project tiger (dig net) + tables given on pg 301, 302 =important
for MCQs)
12
302
project elephant (dig net)
12
306
clean technology and hazard/waste Management (upto pg 310)
12
312
Wetland conservation + Ramsar
12
313-14 Afforestation + eco Development
12
316
Gadgil panel (already discussed click me)
12
321
ENVIS
23
744
National Action plan for climate change (dig net for more)
23
745
Green India mission +low carbon economy
EnB: Overview Topics
These are the topics that don t fall under conventional classification of organizat
ion / scheme , but nonetheless, they provide good facts and fodder points.
1
5
flora overview
1
6
fauna overview
4
73
climate change and agriculture
12
293
Mangrove protection + coral reefs + third para on page 317
12
323
climate change overview
25
888-892
Ocean science and tech
25
892-896
coastal and marine ecology+ coast Management program fr
om pg 741 planning
25
896
climate change research, cloud physics, disaster support
26
941
Sethusamudram project (dig more on net regarding SC orders)
23
740
12th FYP and environment + issues require attention @pg 742
27
962
flood Management
27
963
ground water Development upto pg 965: mostly fodder