CUET UG 2027 / Environmental Science syllabus

CUET UG 2027 · Paper 307

CUET Environmental Science Syllabus 2027: Units, Chapters and Books

The official CUET UG Environmental Science syllabus (paper 307), unit by unit, with the book chapter each unit comes from, what changed from 2025 to 2026, and where to practise.

Practise CUET Environmental Science in the Study OS Official NTA syllabus PDF

2027 status: NTA has not released the CUET UG 2027 syllabus. This page shows the official CUET UG 2026 Environmental Science syllabus, the latest available, and will be updated when NTA publishes the 2027 version.

CUET Environmental Science at a glance

Paper code: 307 (Environmental Science)
Questions: 50 multiple-choice questions, all compulsory
Time: 60 minutes
Marking: +5 for a correct answer, minus 1 for a wrong answer; 250 maximum
Syllabus: 7 units, 14 chapters in our chapter map

How the CUET Environmental Science paper is structured

CUET Environmental Science (paper 307) has seven units: human beings and nature, population and conservation ecology, environmental pollution, development and environment, sustainable agriculture in India, environmental and natural resource economics, and international relations and the environment.

Its wording and case studies come from the ISC (CISCE) Environmental Science course, and there is no NCERT textbook for it. NIOS Senior Secondary Environmental Science (course 333) covers most units; NCERT Biology class 12 ecology chapters and a few Geography, Economics and Political Science chapters fill the rest.

CUET Environmental Science syllabus, unit by unit

Unit titles and topics as printed in NTA’s CUET UG 2026 syllabus PDF.

Unit 1

Human Beings and Nature

(i) Modern schools of ecological thought.
(ii) Definitions and basic understanding of Deep ecology (Gary Snyder, Earth First) vs. shallow ecology.
(iii) Stewardship of land (e.g. Wendell Berry).
(iv) Social ecology [Marxist environmentalism and socialist ecology (Barry Commoner)].
(v) Feminism.
(vi) Green Politics (e.g. Germany and England).
(vii) Sustainable Development: basic concepts, Brundtland commission report, Sustainable development Goals, Mission LiFE.

Unit 2

Population and Conservation Ecology

I. Population dynamics: Factors causing population change (birth, death, immigration and emigration); relation between the factors; Age structure and its significance; Population Pyramids - interpretation and implications. Rate of change of population - the three general shapes of Survivorship Curves, r and K strategies and differences between the two.
II. Human populations (Malthusian model and demographic transition): Definition of Carrying Capacity; Malthusian view: concept of 'over-population' and shortage of resources; Questioning Malthus. Population Growth vs. Disparate Consumption of resources within and amongst nations. Definition and understanding of Demographic Transition; Factors influencing demographic transition.
III. Population Regulation: Growth without regulation (exponential); simple population regulation (logistic growth curve); factors regulating population size (space, food and water, territories, predators, weather and climate, parasite and diseases, disasters and self-regulation). Basic understanding of the Exponential growth curve (J - shaped) and Logistic growth curve (S - shaped).
IV. Threats to the ecosystem: habitat destruction; genetic erosion; Biodiversity loss; expanding agriculture; impound water; waste from human societies; increasing human consumption. Only a brief understanding of the causes and consequences of threats to provisioning and regulatory functions of the ecosystem with suitable examples.
V. Conservation: importance, the critical state of Indian forests; conflicts surrounding forested areas - populations and tribals and their rights - tourism - poaching - roads - development projects - dams; scientific forestry and its limitations; social forestry; the role of the forest department; NGOs; joint forestry management; wild life - sanctuaries, conservation and management in India; Project Tiger as a case study in conservation.
Definition of Conservation in situ and ex situ conservation, Importance of Conservation. In-situ conservation: Wildlife sanctuaries, National parks, Biosphere reserves (definition, objectives, features, advantages and disadvantages). Ex-situ conservation: zoos, aquaria, plant collection (objectives, features, advantages and disadvantages).
Conflicts in managing and conserving Forests: India's forest cover, issues concerning people living in and around forests with particular reference to tribal rights; threats to forests: poaching, developmental projects like roads and dams, over exploitation of forest resources (direct and indirect).
The role of the forest department and NGOs in managing forests.
Some management measures: scientific forestry, social forestry (various types of social forestry), Joint Forestry Management (JFM), ecotourism.
Case study in conservation for example Project Tiger: Origin, aims, and objectives, successes, failures.
Acts and rules related to ecology, forest and biodiversity conservation etc.

Unit 3

Environmental Pollution

Definition and concepts of pollutants, contaminant sources, sink, receptor, Impacts of air/water/soil pollution on human health and ecosystem, Different acts/rules related to prevention and control of air/water/soil/noise pollution in India.
I. Air pollution and its monitoring: Structure, temperature profile and composition of atmosphere, Primary and secondary pollutants. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), Importance of monitoring of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (gaseous and particulate). Industrial and vehicular pollution and various steps taken to regulate pollution-emission standards, implementation of CNG programme, Acid rain formation and its impact, Smog, photochemical smog, Ozone in troposphere
Monitoring at emission source and of ambient air quality, criteria for monitoring stations, types of stations, number of stations, frequency of data collection, characteristics of ambient air sampling, basic consideration for sampling (to be dealt with in brief).
Classification of techniques- manual and instrumental. Manual-Passive samplers, High Volume Samplers and Bubbler Systems. Instrumental-photometric techniques-NDIR, Chemiluminescence - principle and use.
Ambient air quality index, National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) programme; the main functions of the Central Pollution Board and the State Pollution Control Board, National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and its objectives.
II. Water pollution and its monitoring: Distribution of water on the earth, Sources (quantitative/qualitative, Bio vs non-biodegradable, point vs non-point sources) of pollution in surface and ground water, ponds/lakes/rivers
Water quality Indicators: pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, salinity, alkalinity, hardness dissolved oxygen, temperature, hardness, nitrates and sulphates, metals and pesticides, B.O.D. and C.O.D.
Lake stratification, Eutrophication,
III. Soil pollution and its monitoring: Sources to soil pollution such as industries, mining, agriculture run off, sewage water etc
Soil Characteristics: physical, chemical and biological attributes of soil, soil types, soil moisture, soil pH, soil acidity, Experimental details for assessing soil respiration, soil pH, soil aggregate, infiltration rate

Unit 4

Development and Environment

I. Urbanisation - push and pull factors; consequences on rural and urban sectors; future trends and projections.
II. A critical appraisal of conventional paradigm of development from the viewpoints of sustainability, environmental impact and equity. Definition of economic Development, natural resources Relationship between development and environment Overuse and exploitation of resources, Diversion of scarce resources; Disparate access to resources; Increasing wastes and pollution.
III. Gandhian approach to development and environment: Local self-governance - basic principles behind village policy, Antoday, Sarvoday, Panchayati Raj; local self-sufficiency, local markets and environmental sustainability. Village as the basis of development; promotion of cottage industries and intermediate technologies; focus on employment. India way of life and concerns for environment
IV. Urban environmental planning and management: Problems of sanitation; water management; transport; energy; air quality; housing; constraints (economic, political); Indigenous approach to urban environment: Rainwater harvesting, garbage segregation, composting, energy from solid and liquid wastes, sewage management (dry toilets, Decentralized Water Management System (DEWATS)
Features of new urbanism, goals of smart growth with examples of urban planning and management from the third world: Bogota - Bolivia (Traffic Management); Cuba (Urban agriculture using organic methods); Curitiba - Brazil (Traffic planning and urban renewal using innovative measures); Cochabamba - (Water management and protests against privatization of water supply).

Unit 5

Sustainable Agriculture in India

Crop varieties; techniques for maintaining soil fertility
I. Features of pre-colonial agriculture: Growing for sustenance rather than market; multi-cropping, management of soil health, diversity in seed. Colonial influence: Punitive taxation, commercial crops for export and British industry, devaluation of sustainable traditional practices. Bengal famine. Comparative study of pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial agriculture and their impact.
II. Irrigation systems, Macro vs micro irrigation systems - Canal irrigation/dam as compared to sprinkler/ drip/ trickle drip/dug wells. Basic features, advantages and disadvantages of each kind. Traditional rainwater harvesting- tankas, khadins, ahar, pynes, zings, johads and eris etc in different parts of India.
III. Green Revolution: Origin and Basic principles of Green Revolution- Development of High Yielding Varieties (HYV); introduction of fertilizers and pesticides; mono cropping, Environmental, social and economic impacts - advantages and disadvantages (from the viewpoints of agro-bio diversity; soil health; ecological impact of pesticides; energy use; input costs; benefits to small and medium farmers, community level and household level food security).
IV. Elements of sustainable agriculture: Mixed farming, mixed cropping, inter-cropping, crop rotation, use of sustainable practices of water soil and pest management for improving soil fertility (organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, green manure, with two examples) and pest control (bio pesticides). Integrated Pest Management (IPM); eating local foods. Traditional agriculture, natural farming, organic agriculture, modern agriculture (use of hybrid seeds, high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides), gene revolution (genetically modified seeds) and sustainable agriculture.
V. Management of agricultural produce: Storage; Food preservation-different methods like use of low temperatures, high temperatures, drying, canning, preservation by salt and sugar. packaging, grading, Transportation of Food. Food adulteration and Food additives- definitions; types and harmful effects of adulteration.
Quality Marks - ISI (Indian Standard Institute); AGMARK (Agricultural Marketing); FPO (Fruit Product Order).
VI. Food Security. Meaning and need, Issues related to food production, storage and access. Integrated and sustainable approach to food security for the Third World including working for environmental sustainability and social and economic sustainability through land reform, credit support to farmers, market support to farmers, inadequacies in the present marketing system, ways to improve marketing system, improving access to food, ownership of seeds. National level food security Act 2013

Unit 6

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

(i) Classification of natural resources - abiotic and biotic, renewable and non-renewable, stock, potential and actual, ubiquitous and localized; scarcity and growth, natural resource accounting. Definition, basic principles, advantages and disadvantages of Physical accounting.
(ii) GNP vs. other forms of measuring income. GDP, GNP - definitions, advantages and disadvantages of using them as tools for measuring growth.
(iii) A broad overview of the purpose of environmental economics. Definition and classification: Defensive expenditure (its classification); natural/ ecological capital, carbon footprint and carbon credit
(iv) Externalities: Definition and types (positive and negative) with examples, impacts.
(v) cost benefit analysis. - Definition, process, advantages and disadvantages. EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) -definition, examples, advantages.
(vi) Natural capital regeneration. Concept of natural capital, Ecosystem services and types with examples, causes of environmental degradation (forest/biodiversity loss), ecological footprint and man's disproportionate use of natural resources, importance of preserving and regenerating natural capital.

Unit 7

International Relations and the Environment

I. Global Impacts of pollution: Ozone depletion: Chapman's cycle, potential effects of ozone depletion, ozone depleting substances (halons, carbon tetrachloride, CFCs, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide and HCFCs); Ozone thinning over Antarctica and arctic, Steps taken to control ozone depletion.
waste dumping, persistent organic pollutants, Global warming, Greenhouse gases, Carbon footprint, Climate change: indicators and causes; Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol, Bamako convention, Paris agreement, Conference of parties, carbon credits system
Case study of Amazonia - causes for forest exploitation, reasons for acceleration of deforestation, effects of government policies, ecological value of rainforests and possible solutions to the problem.
Case study of ivory trade in Africa - reasons for flourishing trade of ivory in the past, steps taken to curb the trade and the consequences of ban in trade.
II. International trade: A theoretical perspective; free trade vs. protectionism; import barriers; domestic industry vs. free trade; transnational companies - a historical perspective; India's international trade - characteristics and terms of trade, major imports and exports - foreign exchange crises
The export imperative and its impact on the environment; the case study of aquaculture in India; diversion of scarce resource from production of subsistence needs to commercial products; toxic waste trade - extent and impact; Globalization - trade regimes (WTO, GATT, IPR, TRIPS, TRIMS) and their impact on third world.
Definition, advantages and disadvantages of globalization, free trade, protectionism. Transnational Companies (TNCs) - definition; TNCs and environment - conflict of interest.
Toxic waste trade - definition, origin, factors sustaining, impact on third world countries (example - health and environmental impacts) and Bamako and Basel Conventions.
GATT - the organization and its metamorphosis into WTO. Principles and functions of WTO: creating a level playing field for international trade through Most Favored Nation, tariff and non-tariff barriers and trading to comparative advantages.
Definition of IPR and its categories: copyrights, patents, trademarks, industrial design rights, geographical indicators and trade secrets. A brief understanding of how these agreements impacted India's trade, food security, economic well-being, environmental sustainability.
III. International aid: agencies; Types of Aid: Tied and Untied Aid, advantages and disadvantages of each

Chapter map

Each row is one chapter of study, with the book it comes from. Where a syllabus topic is missing from that book, the row says so.

Human Beings and Nature: Ecological Thought and Sustainable DevelopmentNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 19: Origin and concept of Sustainable DevelopmentNot covered in this source: (i) Modern schools of ecological thought.; (ii) Definitions and basic understanding of Deep ecology (Gary Snyder, Earth First) vs. shallow ecology.; (iii) Stewardship of land (e.g. Wendell Berry).; (iv) Social ecology [Marxist environmentalism and socialist ecology (Barry Commoner)].; (v) Feminism.; (vi) Green Politics (e.g. Germany and England).
Population Dynamics, Human Populations and Population RegulationNCERT Biology Class 12, chapter 11Not covered in this source: I. Population dynamics: Factors causing population change (birth, death, immigration and emigration); relation between the factors; Age structure and its significance; Population Pyramids - interpretation and implications. Rate of change of population - the three general shapes of Survivorship Curves, r and K strategies and differences between the two.
Threats to Ecosystems and Forest/Wildlife Conservation in IndiaNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 15: Biodiversity Conservation
Environmental Pollution: Air Pollution and its MonitoringNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 10: Environmental PollutionNot covered in this source: Monitoring at emission source and of ambient air quality, criteria for monitoring stations, types of stations, number of stations, frequency of data collection, characteristics of ambient air sampling, basic consideration for sampling (to be dealt with in brief).; Classification of techniques- manual and instrumental. Manual-Passive samplers, High Volume Samplers and Bubbler Systems. Instrumental-photometric techniques-NDIR, Chemiluminescence - principle and use.
Water Pollution and its MonitoringNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 10: Environmental Pollution
Soil Pollution and its MonitoringNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 17: Conservation of Soil and LandNot covered in this source: Soil Characteristics: physical, chemical and biological attributes of soil, soil types, soil moisture, soil pH, soil acidity, Experimental details for assessing soil respiration, soil pH, soil aggregate, infiltration rate
Urbanisation and the Development ParadigmNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 13: National Environmental Issues
Gandhian Approach and Urban Environmental PlanningNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 26: Environmental Ethics and Gandhian ApproachNot covered in this source: Features of new urbanism, goals of smart growth with examples of urban planning and management from the third world: Bogota - Bolivia (Traffic Management); Cuba (Urban agriculture using organic methods); Curitiba - Brazil (Traffic planning and urban renewal using innovative measures); Cochabamba - (Water management and protests against privatization of water supply).
Indian Agriculture: Pre-colonial to Post-colonial, and Irrigation SystemsNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 20: Modern AgricultureNot covered in this source: I. Features of pre-colonial agriculture: Growing for sustenance rather than market; multi-cropping, management of soil health, diversity in seed. Colonial influence: Punitive taxation, commercial crops for export and British industry, devaluation of sustainable traditional practices. Bengal famine. Comparative study of pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial agriculture and their impact.
Green Revolution and Sustainable AgricultureNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 21: Concept of Sustainable Agriculture
Management of Agricultural Produce and Food SecurityNIOS Krishi (383), Lesson 17: Types and Methods of Food ProcessingNot covered in this source: VI. Food Security. Meaning and need, Issues related to food production, storage and access. Integrated and sustainable approach to food security for the Third World including working for environmental sustainability and social and economic sustainability through land reform, credit support to farmers, market support to farmers, inadequacies in the present marketing system, ways to improve marketing system, improving access to food, ownership of seeds. National level food security Act 2013
Environmental and Natural Resource EconomicsNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 16: Conservation of other Natural ResourcesNot covered in this source: (i) Classification of natural resources - abiotic and biotic, renewable and non-renewable, stock, potential and actual, ubiquitous and localized; scarcity and growth, natural resource accounting. Definition, basic principles, advantages and disadvantages of Physical accounting.; (ii) GNP vs. other forms of measuring income. GDP, GNP - definitions, advantages and disadvantages of using them as tools for measuring growth.; (iii) A broad overview of the purpose of environmental economics. Definition and classification: Defensive expenditure (its classification); natural/ ecological capital, carbon footprint and carbon credit; (iv) Externalities: Definition and types (positive and negative) with examples, impacts.; (v) cost benefit analysis. - Definition, process, advantages and disadvantages. EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) -definition, examples, advantages.
Global Impacts of Pollution: Ozone, Climate Change and Case StudiesNIOS Environmental Science (333), Lesson 14: Global Environmental Issues
International Trade, Globalisation and AidNCERT Fundamentals of Human Geography Class 12, chapter 8Not covered in this source: The export imperative and its impact on the environment; the case study of aquaculture in India; diversion of scarce resource from production of subsistence needs to commercial products; toxic waste trade - extent and impact; Globalization - trade regimes (WTO, GATT, IPR, TRIPS, TRIMS) and their impact on third world.; Definition, advantages and disadvantages of globalization, free trade, protectionism. Transnational Companies (TNCs) - definition; TNCs and environment - conflict of interest.; Toxic waste trade - definition, origin, factors sustaining, impact on third world countries (example - health and environmental impacts) and Bamako and Basel Conventions.; Definition of IPR and its categories: copyrights, patents, trademarks, industrial design rights, geographical indicators and trade secrets. A brief understanding of how these agreements impacted India's trade, food security, economic well-being, environmental sustainability.; III. International aid: agencies; Types of Aid: Tied and Untied Aid, advantages and disadvantages of each

What changed from 2025 to 2026

Largest change among the science subjects: pollution was re-organised into its own unit with much more monitoring detail and Indian regulation, climate treaties added, NGO case studies and population-control content removed.

Added

Unit 1 rewritten as a numbered list; Sustainable Development now names the Brundtland report, SDGs and Mission LiFE
New Unit 3 'Environmental Pollution' opener: pollutant/source/sink/receptor concepts, health impacts, Indian pollution acts
Air: structure/temperature profile of atmosphere, NAAQS, acid rain, smog, photochemical smog, tropospheric ozone, AQI, NAMP objectives
Water: distribution of water, point vs non-point sources, salinity/alkalinity/metals/pesticides indicators, lake stratification, eutrophication
Soil: sources of soil pollution, soil characteristics, lab methods (respiration, pH, aggregate, infiltration)
Conservation: in-situ/ex-situ definitions with advantages/disadvantages; 'Acts and rules related to ecology, forest and biodiversity conservation'
Agriculture: macro vs micro irrigation, traditional rainwater harvesting (tankas, khadins, ahar-pynes, zings, johads, eris); natural farming, organic agriculture, gene revolution
Economics: carbon footprint and carbon credit; EPR
International: global warming, greenhouse gases, Kyoto protocol, Paris agreement, COPs, Bamako convention, POPs; TRIPS, TRIMS

Removed

WWF and Greenpeace (organisation, mission, strategy)
Human population control: family planning, education, status of women, women's empowerment strategies
Carbon trading in regulating emissions; inspection and maintenance of in-use vehicles; phasing out old commercial vehicles
WHO guidelines for air quality standards; faecal waste as water indicator; 'lab work not for testing' note
Indian agriculture at independence, land reform (need, successes, failures), dams in green revolution appraisal
Economic status and welfare (net economic welfare)
Impact of international politics and national sovereignty; history of third-world trade with developed countries; National Treatment; Agreement on Agriculture
International aid: need for re-orienting aid; aid vs self-reliance

Compared against NTA’s CUET UG 2025 syllabus PDF. When the 2027 syllabus is out, this section will compare 2027 with 2026.

Books to study from

NIOS Senior Secondary Environmental Science (course 333)
NCERT Biology class 12: Organisms and Populations, Ecosystem, Biodiversity and Conservation
NCERT Indian Economic Development class 11: Environment and Sustainable Development
NCERT Contemporary World Politics class 12: Environment and Natural Resources
NCERT Geography class 11 and 12 chapters on the atmosphere, climate, population and trade

NCERT books are on ncert.nic.in; NIOS course material is on nios.ac.in.

Practise CUET Environmental Science chapter by chapter

The Study OS CUET track follows the chapter map above. Choose Environmental Science as one of your papers, revise a chapter, then test it with exam-style questions and read the explanation after every answer.

Practise CUET Environmental Science

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam pattern of the CUET Environmental Science paper?

CUET UG Environmental Science (paper code 307) has 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes. A correct answer earns 5 marks and a wrong answer costs 1 mark, so the paper is out of 250. This is the CUET UG 2026 pattern; NTA has not announced any change for 2027.

Has NTA released the CUET Environmental Science syllabus for 2027?

Not yet. The syllabus on this page is the official CUET UG 2026 Environmental Science syllabus, which is the latest one NTA has published. This page will be updated when the 2027 syllabus is released.

Which books should I study for CUET Environmental Science?

Study from: NIOS Senior Secondary Environmental Science (course 333); NCERT Biology class 12: Organisms and Populations, Ecosystem, Biodiversity and Conservation; NCERT Indian Economic Development class 11: Environment and Sustainable Development; NCERT Contemporary World Politics class 12: Environment and Natural Resources; NCERT Geography class 11 and 12 chapters on the atmosphere, climate, population and trade.

What changed in the CUET Environmental Science syllabus?

The biggest rewrite of any science paper: pollution became its own unit with monitoring detail and Indian laws, climate treaties were added, and population-control content was removed. This compares the 2025 and 2026 syllabi; the 2027 syllabus is not out yet.

Is there an NCERT book for CUET Environmental Science?

No. The syllabus follows the ISC Environmental Science course. NIOS Environmental Science (course 333) is the closest complete official text, with NCERT Biology class 12 ecology chapters for Unit 2.

Which international agreements are in the CUET Environmental Science syllabus?

The 2026 syllabus names the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, the COPs, the Bamako Convention, persistent organic pollutants, and TRIPS and TRIMS.