CUET PG Syllabus 2027: Expected December 2026, Subject Wise Topics and PDF Download

Composition and layers of the atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere). Atmospheric dynamics and pressure systems. Ozone layer structure and ozone depletion. Acid rain — formation, effects, and control. Particulate matter, aerosols, and their climatic effects.

Water cycle (hydrological cycle) — processes and reservoirs. Ocean circulation, currents, and thermohaline circulation. Groundwater — aquifer types, recharge, and depletion. Wetlands — types and ecological functions. Freshwater scarcity and water resource management.

Rock cycle and soil formation processes. Soil types — composition, texture, and structure. Mineral resources — types, extraction methods, and environmental impacts. Land degradation, desertification, and soil erosion. Soil conservation strategies.

Weather patterns, monsoon dynamics, and climatic zones. ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) and Indian Ocean Dipole. Cyclones, anticyclones, and atmospheric depressions. Climate models and prediction methods. Microclimate and urban heat island effect.

Greenhouse effect — natural vs enhanced. Greenhouse gases — CO2, CH4, N2O, water vapour. Global warming — causes, projections, and impacts. Carbon cycle and carbon sequestration methods. Sea level rise and its consequences. International climate agreements — Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.

Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and sulfur cycle. Human disruption of biogeochemical cycles — fossil fuels, fertilisers. Nutrient cycling in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Eutrophication as a consequence of excess nutrient input. Denitrification and its environmental significance.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis — causes and effects. Floods and droughts — types, causes, and management. Landslides and avalanches — triggering factors. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

Basics of remote sensing — active vs passive sensors. Satellite imagery and its environmental monitoring applications. GIS — data layers, spatial analysis, and map projections. Applications in land-use mapping, forest cover monitoring, and flood prediction. GPS and its role in environmental field surveys.

Composition of the atmosphere — major and trace gases. Photochemical smog — formation, components (PAN, NO2, ozone), and health effects. Stratospheric ozone chemistry — Chapman cycle and ozone depletion. CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Montreal Protocol. Indoor air pollution — sources and health effects.

pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Water hardness — temporary, permanent, and treatment. Heavy metal contamination in surface water and groundwater. Fluoride and arsenic in groundwater — causes and health impacts. Water quality standards — BIS and WHO guidelines. Water treatment methods.

Soil composition — minerals, organic matter, water, and air fractions. Macronutrients and micronutrients in soil. Soil pH and its effect on nutrient availability and plant growth. Soil contamination by pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals. Bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques.

12 principles of green chemistry (Anastas and Warner). Atom economy and waste minimisation. Safer solvents and auxiliary substances. Designing biodegradable chemicals. Renewable feedstocks and energy efficiency in chemical processes.

Toxicity of heavy metals — lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium (Minamata disease, itai-itai). Pesticide classes — organochlorines, organophosphates, and carbamates. Persistence and environmental fate of pesticides. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. Dose-response relationships, LD50, and threshold limit values (TLV).

Sources of noise pollution — industrial, transport, and construction. Decibel scale — measurement and interpretation. Health effects — hearing loss, stress, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects. Noise standards and permissible limits in India. Noise control methods — engineering controls and barriers.

Sampling methods for air, water, and soil. Spectroscopic methods — UV-Vis spectrophotometry and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Chromatographic techniques — Gas Chromatography (GC) and HPLC for pollutant detection. Electrochemical methods — Ion Selective Electrodes (ISE) and DO meters. ICP-MS for trace metal analysis.

Theories of origin of life — primordial soup hypothesis, hydrothermal vent hypothesis. Chemical evolution — Miller-Urey experiment. Biological evolution — natural selection, speciation, and genetic drift. Phylogenetics and evolutionary relationships. Mass extinction events and their environmental causes (Big Five extinctions).

DNA structure, replication, and gene expression basics. Mutations — types, causes (radiation, chemical mutagens), and environmental consequences. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their environmental concerns. DNA barcoding for biodiversity assessment. Environmental genomics and metagenomics in ecological research.

Major plant divisions and their ecological roles. Indicator plant species and their use in biomonitoring of pollution. Ethnobotany — traditional medicinal and cultural uses of plants. Plant responses to environmental stress — pollution, drought, and salinity. Mangroves, grasslands, and their conservation significance.

Classification of major animal phyla. Endangered and threatened species — IUCN Red List categories (CR, EN, VU). Wildlife ecology — population dynamics and migration patterns. Vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity in India. Biomagnification of pollutants (DDT, PCBs) through animal food chains.

Ecosystem types — terrestrial (forest, grassland, desert), aquatic (freshwater, marine), and wetland. Food chains, food webs, and trophic levels. Energy flow through ecosystems — 10% energy transfer rule. Ecological pyramids — number, biomass, and energy pyramids. Primary and secondary succession. Carrying capacity, population regulation, and r-K selection strategies.

Levels of biodiversity — genetic, species, and ecosystem. Global and Indian biodiversity hotspots. Threats to biodiversity — habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. In-situ conservation — national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves. Ex-situ conservation — zoos, botanical gardens, gene banks, and seed banks. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol.

Deforestation — causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Solid waste management — municipal solid waste, e-waste, and biomedical waste. Marine pollution — plastic debris, oil spills, and microplastics. Radioactive pollution — sources, health effects, and management. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) — process and key components. Environmental laws in India — Environment Protection Act (1986), Water Act (1974), Air Act (1981).

Concept and principles of sustainable development (Brundtland definition). UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — especially SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Circular economy vs linear economy. Renewable energy sources — solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower. Life cycle assessment (LCA). Green building concepts and LEED certification.