General studies for civil services preliminary examination: geography and environmental ecology/ Edgar Thorpe, Showick Thorpe

paper 1

GEOGRAPHY
1 GENERAL GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
Branches of Geography
Methods of Studying Geography
Basic Knowledge About The Earth
Spheres of the Earth's Surface
Shape of the Earth
Structure of the Earth
Composition of the Earth
Geological History of the Earth
Earth's Movements
Eclipses and Phases of the Moon
Understanding the Globe
Earth and Moon
Time
Atmosphere
Introduction
Structure of the Atmosphere
Planetary and Celestial Atmosphere
. Important Phenomena of Atmosphere
Temperature
Air Pressure
Winds
Humidity and Precipitation
Air Masses and Fronts
Cyclones and Anticyclones
Weather and Climate
Principal Climates of the World
Hydrosphere
Introduction
Interception, Stemflow, Canopy Drip,
and Throughfall
Oceanography
Ocean Tides
Shipping Canals
Lithosphere
Introduction
The Earth's Crust
Plate Tectonics
Igneous Activity and the Continents
Oceanic Crust
Rocks
Mountains
Earthquakes
Volcanism
Physiography of the Earth's Tenrestrial Surface
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Services Questions
2 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
Countries
Continents
Important Cities of the World
Important Cities Situated on the Banks
of Rivers
Changed Names of Some Cities, States,
and Countries
Distinctive Names of Countries/Towns—
Geographical Epithets
Major Natural Resources
Industrial Towns
Regional Grouping of Countries
of the World
Economic Classification of Countries
of the World
People of the World
Multiple-choice Questions
Map-Book
Original UPSC Civil Sen'ices Questions
3 INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
Location, Dimensions, and Frontiers
Geological Structure of India
Physical Features
Geological Regions
Classification of The Himalayan System
Regional Division of the Himalayas
The Purvanchal (or the Eastern Hills)
The Peninsula
Peninsular Plateaus
Physiographic Sub-Units
The Drainage Systems of India
Lakes
Climate
Climatic Regions of India
Soils in India
Alluvial SoU
Black Soil
Red and Yellow Soil
Laterite Soil
Saline and Alkaline Soils
Peat and Marshy Soil
Arid Soil (Desert Soil)
Forest Soil
Agriculture
Performance of Agriculture
Crop Patterns
Performance of Foodgrain Crops
Performance of Commercial Crops
Performance of Plantation Crops
Fertilizers
Energy Scenario in India
Power
Multi-Purpose Projects in India
Coal
Petroleum and Natural Gases
Renewable Energy Sources and
Technologies
Atomic Energy
Mineral Resources of India
Distribution of Minerals
Other Minerals
Miscellaneous
Important Lines and Boundaries
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Sen'ices Questions
Miscellaneous Exercises
FMVTRnNMENTAL ECOLOGY
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Ecosystem and Biosphere
Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
The Biosphere
Important Phenomena in Biosphere
Ecosystems as Environmental Support
Systems
Pollution
Air, Water, Soil and Noise Pollution
Important Environmental Standards
in India
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Services Questions
2 CLIMATE CHANGE AND
RELATED ISSUES
Global Wanning and Sustainability
Speculative Impacts of Climate Change
Recent High Temperatures
The Phenomenon of Global Warming
Rising Sea Levels
Carbon Trading and Offsetting
Carbon Taxation
Carbon Sequestration
The Hague and Marrakesh Conferences
The Copenhagen Conference
The Global Perspective
El Nino
The World Summit in Johannesburg
The Stern Report
World Water Resources
The Background
Man's Need for Water
The Exhaustion of Current Supplies
Consequences of Water Shortages
International Water Disputes
Impacts of Climate Change
Climate Change: Background
and Approach
Greenhouse Gases, Radiative Forcing
and Global Warming
IPCC—AR4
IPCC - AR5
Global Cooperation to Reduce GHG
Emissions
Global Warming Potential
(100-year Time Horizon)
Carbon Footprint of Countries
Low-Carbon Inclusive Growth
National Mission for a Green India
Sequestration and Emission
Neutralisation
Mission Objectives
Mission Targets (Outputs)
Key Elements Of Mission Strategy
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Services Questions
3 BIODIVERSITY
Introduction
Understanding Biodiversity
Estimates of Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Agrobiodiversity
Endangered Species
Vulnerable Species
Causes of Extinction
Habitat Loss, Degradation or Alteration
Overexploitation
The Endangered Species
Convention (Cites)
The Options for Rare Species
Conservation
Ex situ Conservations
In Situ Conservation
Welfare Problems in Captivity
Habitats in Danger
Why are Habitats different?
Threats to Habitats
ShoH Notes on India's Biodiversity
India and Like-Minded Mega Diverse
Countries (LMMCs)
India and Convention On Biological
Diversity (CBD)
National Policy and Macro-Level Action
Strategy on Biodiversity
The National Environment
Policy (NEP), 2006
The National Forest Policy, 1988
Formulation of National Biodiversity
Action Plan (NBAP)
Environmental Protection in India
Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC)
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan (NBSAP)
Institutional Framework and Capacity
Building
Biodiversity Conservation
Habitat Destruction—Main Threat to
Biodiversity
Conservation of Medicinal Plants in India
Unsustainable Exploitation of
Biodiversity Resources
The Underground Biodiversity
Economic Valuation and Natural
Resource Accounting
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Services Questions
INDIA'S NATURAL VEGETATION
AND BIODIVERSITY
Natural Vegetation and Biodiversity
Forests
Marine Environments
India's Biodiversity
Protected Areas Network
Threats to Indian Biodiversity
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Services Questions
OTHER CURRENT
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Trends in World Population
Concerns Over Population Growth
Unsustainable Natural Resources
Disease and Poor Health
EU Population Projections
Agents of Population Growth
The Trend to Urbanization
Global Ocean Resources
Introduction
Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture
Maximum Sustainable Yield
Exploitation and Over-Exploitation
Aquaculture
Marine Biodiversity
Marine Habitats
Marine Mineral Wealth
Power from the Oceans
Thermal Power
Wind Power
Tidal Power
The Hungry Planet
The Background
The Paradox
The Distribution of Hunger
the political aspect: the example of Africa
The Colonial Inheritance
Charges and Counter-Charges
Africa's Poorest Nations
Global Hunger Index
Statistics on Hunger
Life-Expectancy Rates
Problems in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Searching for Solutions
Africa and the Developed World ^
Current Developments
Future Aid Requirements
Millennium Development Goals
Food Price Volatility
Changes in EU Agriculture
The Bio Fuel Factor
Global Food Riots
The Uncertain Future
Global Human Migration
Introduction
The Origins of Man
Tracking Migration
Physiology and Ethnicity
Waves of Invaders
The Causes of Migration; Economic
and Social
Migration and the Land
Migration and Military Strength
Contemporary Migration
Sustainable Development Goals
and Targets-2015
Multiple-choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Service Questions
6 AGROBIODIVERSITY
Agrobiodiversity in India
Indigenous Crops
Crops Introduced and Naturalised
Diversity in Crops
Diversity in Other Economic Plants
Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiveristy
Concern for Loss of Agro-biodiversity
Conservation and Management of
AGRO Biodiversity/Plant Genetic
Resource (PGR)
Conservation Approaches
Ex Situ Conservation
In Situ on Farm Conservation
Community Recognition and Reward
The Indian National Gene Bank
National Bureau of Plant Genetic
Resources (NBPGR)
Multiple Choice Questions
Original UPSC Civil Sen-ice Questions
7 INDIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL
efforts
Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Role of the Ministry
Allocation of Business—MoEF
National Environment Policy, 2006
Objectives of the National Environment
Policy
Governing Principles for National
Environmental Policy
Governing Principles for National
Environmental Policy
Short Notes on Other Environmental
Authorities and Related Programmes
National Aci ion Plan on Climate
Change (N 'CC)
National Missions
Environment Pollution (Prevention
Control) Authority for the National
Capital Region
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
National Water Quality Monitoring
(NWQM)
National River Conservation Plan
(NRCP)
Genetic Engineering Approval
Committee
National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme (NAMP)
ECOMARK Scheme
National Wetland Conservation
and Management Programme
(NWCMP)
Environmental Impact Assessment (ElA)
Genetic Engineering Clearances
Water Pollution Rules and Regulations
Air Pollution Rules and Regulations
Public Liability Insurance
National Environment Appellate
Authority (NEAA)
National Environment Tribunal
National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Animal Welfare
Wildlife
Forest Conservation
Biodiversity
The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management
and Handling) Rules, 2000
National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP)
Forest Certification
Carbon Neutrality
Ex-ante Versus Ex-post Credits
Gold Standard (GS)
Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007 (VCS)
The Climate, Community and
Biodiversity Standards (CCBS)
Social Carbon
National Food Security Mission
ISO 14000
Plastic Waste
Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage
Rules, 1999 (as amended, 2003)
E-Waste
Original UPSC Civil Seirices Questions