ENVIRONMENT For PT - COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY

Environment section for PT is an amalgamated section comprising Biology, Zoology, Botany, Geography and Economy. The section has been reframed from syllabus point of view because of close association between these subjects and the overlapping relationship between them. These sections have got many overlaps and preparing all of them simultaneously has its own advantages if the entire study of the syllabus is so synchronized.
Preparing this portion thoroughly gives you good score in PT. The section doesn’t end up helping your GS, it can immensely help the students in their Geography optional, the offshoots and applications of the knowledge gained by mastering this component are very rewarding for Geography optional. And not to talk about GS Mains, which will be covered more than half. Candidates can enhance their answering abilities on questions related to world biomes, distribution of flora and fauna, conservation measures, etc. asked in GS Paper I and III.
So, it means that the cost benefit analysis of this portion of the syllabus highly favors a comprehensive preparation of Bio-environmental Geography.

Focus Areas

The soul of the syllabus of Environment section lies in understanding the key concepts of ecosystems, biomes, Zoogeographical regions, and linking it with Biogeographical processes. The students have to be specially prepared with the terms and terminologies of the subject.
The whole section has to be divided into five broad sections-Ecosystem and its processes, Soils and vegetation, Role of Humans, Impact of Humans, a fifth component in the form of various issues, besides having a sixth component in the form of International Treaties and Convention. Moreover all the chapters have an Indian extension as well. This involves a parallel study of soil types in India; vegetation of India and it can save ones time and develop their understanding better.
In fact it is better to make it a rule to think of all the concepts in the Indian context. UPSC used to be asking such questions in the past.
The entire section is a bit factual sometimes particularly in topics of soil classification, biomes, floral and faunal distribution, etc. the other is completely conceptual and still another completely analytical.