Approaches for Environmental Management: NBSE Class 12 Environment

Summary

People have caused great harm to nature because of greed. This has led to many serious problems in the environment. These problems are growing fast and must be managed quickly. Environmental management means using resources carefully so that nature stays strong for the future. It tries to balance development and protection of nature.

One method is to use good economic policies. These compare the cost of removing pollution with the benefits. But this is not easy. People have different opinions. Also, it is hard to measure the true costs and effects. In India, the government uses experts to decide in complex cases. These experts are part of the National Environmental Tribunal.

Environmental indicators help check how harmful a substance is. A substance in air or water does not harm people unless they are exposed to it. The effect depends on how long and how much a person is in contact with it. The risk is judged based on how toxic the substance is and how likely people are to come in contact with it.

India has fixed pollution limits. These are set by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Central Pollution Control Board. Limits are set for air, water, and food pollution. These are called standards. There are global standards too, like ISO 14001, that help industries reduce waste and save costs.

The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) was started to plant trees and restore damaged forests. It helps grow forests in dry and fragile areas and supports community-based projects. It also works with schools, groups, and villagers to care for forests.

The Ecomark was introduced to mark products that are less harmful to the environment. It helps people choose better products and gives rewards to companies that make cleaner goods.

The National River Conservation Directorate works to clean rivers like the Ganga. It stops dirty water from flowing into rivers and builds sewage plants. It also improves cremation methods to save wood and keep rivers clean.

India is also working with other countries to stop deserts from spreading. This includes helping people, managing drought, and raising awareness.

The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) collects and shares information about the environment. It supports research and training.

Children are taught to care for nature through Eco-clubs. They learn about the environment and take part in activities.

Awards like the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar are given to people who help the environment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) checks how a project might harm nature before it begins.

Surveys by the Forest and Botanical Surveys of India study and protect plant and animal life. They collect data, create maps, and support conservation work.

National Resource Accounting adds environmental values to economic records. Life Cycle Assessment looks at how a product affects the environment from start to end.

Textbook solutions

Short Answer Questions

1. List the goals of Environment Management.

Answer: Environmental management requires to achieve certain goals:

Economic policies that analyse cost effectiveness
Environmental indicators such as environmental monitoring and risk assesement.
Setting of proper standards
Information exchange and surveillance.

2. Write a brief note on Risk Assessment.

Answer: Risk assessment is linked with exposure to a particular pollutant. Risks are present due to a pollutant’s inherent poisoning ability and the presumption that people or other biota will come in contact with certain levels of the pollutants in their whole life. Mostly it is the excess risk that people are worried about. This is roughly assessed by various methods namely (i) Risk characterisation (ii) Exposure assessment (iii) Toxicity assessment (iv) Hazard identification.

3. Define Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Answer: National Ambient Air Quality Standards are defined as the level of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety, to protect the public health, vegetation and property……….

4. Why has ISO 14000 been introduced?

Answer: Global Environmental Standards like ISO 14000 are being introduced because they emphasise management systems which address environmental concerns, operations that consider energy and natural resource consumption, and systems for measuring, assessing and managing waste streams.

5. Give any one aim of Ecomark.

Answer: One aim of Ecomark is to provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce adverse environmental impact of products.

6. What do you know about River Action Plan?

Answer: River Action Plans were undertaken based on surveys conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which identified 27 grossly polluted stretches of major rivers of the country. The objective of the River Action Plans is to improve the water quality of the major rivers which are the major fresh water sources in the country. This is done through the implementation of pollution abatement schemes. The important works being taken up under the National River Action Plan include interception and diversion works to capture the raw sewage flowing into the river through open drains and divert them for treatment; Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treating the diverted sewage; Low Cost Sanitation works to prevent open defecation on river banks; electric crematoria and improved wood crematoria to conserve the use of wood and help in ensuring proper cremation of bodies brought to the burning ghats; and River Front Development works such as improvement of bathing ghats etc. These programmes are comprehensively monitored at the Centre and State levels. The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) functions under the Ministry of Environment and Forest and is in-charge of implementing the River Action Plans.

7. What are Eco-Clubs?

Answer: Eco-Clubs are clubs that are being set up in 100 schools of each district of the country. They are part of the National Green Corps (NGC) programme, through which the ‘National Green Corps’ is raised. This programme was launched during 2001-2002. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, decided to launch the National Green Corps programme (NGC) in all districts of our vast country, realising that the best way to attempt to bring about a change in the attitudes in the society is through children.

8. Give the full forms of
(i) FSI (ii) ZSI (iii) PVM (iv) SFR (v) NVM (vi) NRA

Answer: The full forms are:

(i) FSI stands for Forest Survey of India.
(ii) ZSI stands for Zoological Survey of India.
(iii) PVM stands for Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra, as in Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra (IPVM).
(iv) SFR stands for State of Forest Report.
(v) NVM stands for National Forest Vegetation Map.
(vi) NRA stands for National Resource Accounting.

Long Answer Questions

1. Write a note on economic policies as approach to Environmental Management.

Answer: Economic policies are an approach to environmental management. It has been learnt that control of pollution due to chemical contaminants in water, air and food is a rather costly process. At the end of these processes, there is always the complaint that there are health risks due to pollutants in the environment but the cost of their removal is too high. The economic analysis of pollution controlling processes tends to follow the traditional market demand and supply curves. Economic policies should be formulated in such a way that these must have long-term effect.

A common approach is to view the estimate of cost controlling pollution with the foreseeable advantages from a certain pollution control process. This would be of maximum gain to the society. As there are many pollutants which are becoming part of the urban environment, such estimates need to be done for each and every pollutant individually to be able to sum up the actual effects, i.e., total control cost and total benefits. It is rather problematic to decide as opinions about this are varied, there is divergence in cost-benefit analysis and there is ambiguity in the cause effect relationship. This has become apparent by studying the Tehri Dam and Silent Valley Projects cases. In such situations, the Government of India turns to the National Environmental Tribunal, which it has appointed, constituted by legal, scientific, technological and administrative experts who deal with the problems concerned with wildlife and environment.

2. What is meant by setting of proper standard? Explain with one example.

Answer: Setting of proper standards is an approach for environmental management. In India, the environmental standards have been fixed. This has been done by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) New Delhi. The standard sets levels of pollution in two ways, namely: Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and Maximum Permissible Intake (MPI). These are referred to as Primary Standards which are applied to various products. When applied to products such as cooked and raw foods they are called Product Standards (PS). The standard limits for discharge and emission have also been fixed and are termed Emission and Discharge Standards. National Ambient Air Quality Standards, for example, define the level of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public health, vegetation, and property.

An example of setting proper standards is provided by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. For Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), the annual average standard is 80 µg/m³ for Industrial Areas, 60 µg/m³ for Residential, Rural & other Areas, and 15 µg/m³ for Sensitive Areas. For a 24-hour period, the standards for SO₂ are 120 µg/m³ in Industrial Areas, 80 µg/m³ in Residential, Rural & other Areas, and 30 µg/m³ in Sensitive Areas. The method of measurement for these standards includes the Improved West and Gaeke Method and Ultraviolet Fluorescence

3. What functions are performed by National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB)?

Answer: The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) was set up in August 1992 and is responsible for promoting afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country. It gives special attention to the degraded forest areas and lands adjoining the forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas as well as the ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravalis, Western Ghats, etc. The detailed role and functions of the NAEB are given below:

(i) Evolve mechanisms for ecological restoration of degraded forest areas and adjoining lands through systematic planning and implementation, in a cost effective manner;
(ii) Restore through natural regeneration or appropriate intervention of the forest cover in the country for ecological security and to meet the fuel-wood, fodder and other needs of the rural communities;
(iii) Restore fuel-wood, fodder, timber and other forest produce on the degraded forest and adjoining lands in order to meet the demands for these items;
(iv) Sponsor research and extension of research findings to disseminate new and proper technologies for the regeneration and development of degraded forest areas and adjoining lands;
(v) Create general awareness and help foster people’s movements for promoting afforestation and eco-development with the assistance of voluntary agencies, non-government organisations, Panchayati Raj institutions and others. They promote participatory and sustainable management of degraded forest areas and adjoining lands;
(vi) Coordinate and monitor the Action Plans and undertake all other measures for afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development of the country.
In order to achieve its objectives, NAEB implements a number of schemes, programmes, and other activities.

4. What is ENVIS? What is its importance?

Answer: Realising the importance of Environmental Information, the Government of India, in December 1982 began an Environmental Information System (ENVIS) as a plan programme. The focus of ENVIS since its inception has been on providing environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, workers, etc. all over the country. ENVIS is a decentralised system with a network of distributed subject oriented centres ensuring national efforts in environmental information collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination.

The importance of ENVIS is reflected in its objectives.
The long term objectives of the Environmental Information System are:

to build up a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and Engineering.
to gear up the modern technologies of acquisition, processing, storage retrieval and information of environmental nature; and
to support and promote research, development and innovation in environmental technology.

The short-term objectives are:

to provide national environmental information service relevant to present needs and development to meet the future needs of the users, originators, processors and disseminate information:
to build up storage, retrieval and dissemination capabilities with the ultimate goal of disseminating information speedily to the users;
to promote, national and international cooperation and liasion for exchange of environmental information;
to promote, support and assist education and personnel training programmes, design environmental information processing and utilisation capabilities;
to promote exchange of information amongst developing countries.

5. Why has National Green Corps been set up?

Answer: The National Green Corps (NGC) programme was set up because changing the attitude of 100 crore people towards the environment is not something that will happen overnight, and it is believed that the best way to attempt to bring about a change in societal attitudes is through children. Realising this, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, decided to launch the National Green Corps programme in all districts of the country. The main objectives for setting it up are to educate children about their interdependence and their need for survival, through visits and demonstrations, and to mobilise youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation. A programme of raising ‘National Green Corps’ through Eco-clubs was therefore launched during 2001-2002.

6. What are eligibilities for Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology and Indira Priyadarshani Vrikshamitra Awards?

Answer: For the Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology, the units eligible are those who have made a significant and measurable contribution towards the development of new or innovative modification of existing conditions, or units which adopt and use clean technologies and practices that substantially reduce, eliminate, or prevent environmental pollution. The activities can include new technologies that save energy, other resources, or produce reformulation or substitution to use fewer polluting materials.
For the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra (IPVM) Award, eligibility extends to individuals or institutions who have done pioneering and exemplary works in the field of afforestation and wasteland development. Nominations for the works are considered and assessed on the basis of criteria like replicability, innovativeness, and impact on target groups such as unreached or remote areas, women, rural populations, and the urban poor.

7. Why is EIA necessary for the surveillance of natural resources?

Answer: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used for decision-making regarding developmental projects and programmes. Its aim is to point out and evaluate the potential impacts—positive or negative—of projects on the environment. This evaluation is necessary because, on the basis of how serious the environmental impacts are, planning of the project is done. For instance, if planning for a particular industry reveals a lot of potential water pollution, the industrialist can consider process changes or install water treatment facilities at the planning stage. If an EIA suggests very serious environmental consequences, the project may be shelved. Therefore, EIA is necessary for the surveillance of natural resources as it helps to assess and understand the potential effects of human activities on these resources before projects are implemented, allowing for mitigation measures or alternative approaches to protect the environment, which includes natural resources.

8. Discuss the objectives of BSI and ZSI.

Answer: The objectives of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) are divided into primary and secondary objectives. The primary objectives of BSI are:

(i) To survey the plant resources of the country.
(ii) To undertake and complete taxonomic studies of all the flora of the country.
(iii) To enlist endangered species, to undertake measures for effective conservation, and to collect and maintain germplasm and gene banks of endangered, patent, and vulnerable species.
(iv) To bring out volumes of National Flora and Flora of States/Union Territories.
(v) To identify, collect, and preserve specimens of plants which are economically and otherwise beneficial to human beings.
(vi) To prepare a National Database of Herbarium Collection including types, live collections, plant genetic resources, plant distribution, and nomenclature.

The secondary objectives of BSI are:

(i) To undertake studies on selected critical and fragile ecosystems.
(ii) To undertake assessment of flora relating to environment impact studies as and when called for.
(iii) To undertake ethnobotanical studies and evaluate plants of economic utility in specified areas.
(iv) To carry out geobotanical studies in specified areas.

The objectives of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) are also divided into primary and secondary objectives. The primary objectives of ZSI are:

(i) Exploration and Survey of Faunal Resources.
(ii) Taxonomic studies.
(iii) Status Survey of endangered species.
(iv) Publication of results through departmental journals.
(v) Publication of fauna of India.
(vi) Maintenance and development of national zoological collections.
(vii) Central Referral, Information Advisory, and Library Services.

The secondary objectives of ZSI are:

(i) Maintenance of Museum at Headquarters and Regional Stations.
(ii) Environmental Impact Studies wherever specially asked for by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

9. What is NRA? Why is it essential? How is it different from LCA?

Answer: National Resource Accounting (NRA) is described as a much broader form of income and welfare accounting than conventional accounting. An NRA incorporates environmental values into conventional accounting, linking them to economic activities and showing how these activities utilize natural resources and affect the environment. It is a satellite account designed on the principles of the System of National Accounts (SNA), but wider in scope.

NRA is essential because it has many policy benefits, as it clearly highlights important aspects such as environmental depletion. This makes it possible to determine what kind of policy action is required to rectify such situations.

NRA differs from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in its scope and focus. NRA is a macroeconomic accounting framework that assesses the value and depletion of a nation’s natural resources and links this to the national economic accounts. It provides a broader picture of how economic activities impact the overall environmental resource base. LCA, on the other hand, is a method that systematically describes and assesses all flows to and from nature for a specific product or service, from a cradle-to-grave perspective. LCA focuses on the environmental impacts associated with a particular product throughout its entire life cycle, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, use, and disposal. Thus, while NRA deals with national-level resource accounting and environmental-economic linkages, LCA is product-specific and analyses environmental burdens at a micro-level.

Think and Answer

Out of all the surveillance centres and teams mentioned in the lesson, which one is the most effective and essential one in your view.

Answer: In my view, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stands out as the most effective and essential surveillance centre among those mentioned.

The document highlights that key approaches to environmental management include the setting of standards and surveillance. The CPCB is explicitly credited with fixing environmental standards in India, such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This task of setting standards inherently requires ongoing surveillance and monitoring to assess compliance and the state of the environment.

Furthermore, the CPCB’s role in conducting surveys that form the basis of critical initiatives like the River Action Plans, which identified grossly polluted stretches of major rivers, underscores its direct and impactful surveillance activities. These activities are essential for understanding the extent of pollution, identifying problem areas, and guiding remedial actions.

The effectiveness of the CPCB lies in its direct mandate to monitor and help control pollution in vital environmental components like air and water. Its work provides the foundational data and benchmarks necessary for protecting public health and the environment from the adverse effects of pollution. While other bodies and systems contribute to environmental surveillance and information dissemination, the CPCB’s role in primary pollution monitoring, standard setting, and providing data for large-scale environmental improvement programs makes it exceptionally essential and effective in the realm of environmental surveillance.

Project Work & Activity

I. Make groups of five students each. For one month keep a record of pollution check reports in newspapers. Compare it with the standard set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in form of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Study your data and prepare a report based on your views about the extent of pollution. Present the report in your class.

Answer: Do it yourself. Here are the instructions:

First, get together with four other classmates to make a group of five.
Every day for one month, look for reports in newspapers about air pollution levels or pollution checks. Cut them out or make notes.
Find the “National Ambient Air Quality Standards” table. This table shows the safe levels for different pollutants like Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen, etc., in industrial, residential, and sensitive areas. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) sets these.
Now, take the pollution levels you found in the newspaper reports and compare them to the levels in the CPCB’s standards table. See if the reported pollution is higher or lower than the standard.
After collecting and comparing data for a month, discuss with your group what you found. Is the pollution generally high or low in the areas reported?
Write a report from your group. In the report, explain what data you collected, how it compares to the standards, and what your group thinks about how much pollution there is.
Finally, present this report to your class.

II. Collect pictures of various pollution affected areas and pollutants. Paste on a chart and under each one write about the agency which would deal with control of that particular kind of pollution.

Answer: Do it yourself. Here are the instructions:

Look for pictures in old magazines, newspapers, or you can even draw them if you see something. The pictures should be of places affected by pollution (like a dirty river, smoky factory area, a place with lots of garbage, or a forest that’s been cut down) or pictures of things that cause pollution (pollutants).
Get a large chart paper.
Paste the pictures you collected onto the chart.
Now, for each picture, you need to think about which government agency or body would be responsible for trying to control or fix that kind of pollution or environmental problem.
For example:
- If it’s a picture of a polluted river, the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) or the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) might be involved.
- If it’s about air pollution from factories, the CPCB would be an agency.
- If it’s about cut-down forests or areas that need tree planting, the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) could be the one.
- If it’s about general pollution issues or setting standards, the CPCB is a key agency.
Write the name of the agency you think is responsible under each picture. You might find that sometimes more than one agency could be involved.

Extras

Additional Questions and Answers

1. What are the two facets involved in environmental management?

Answer: Environmental management involves socio-economic development of the society on the one hand and maintenance of the environmental quality on the other hand.

2. List the four steps involved in risk assessment.

Answer: Risk assessment is roughly assessed by various methods, namely:

(i) Risk characterisation
(ii) Exposure assessment
(iii) Toxicity assessment
(iv) Hazard identification.

3. In what two ways do environmental standards set levels of pollution?

Answer: Environmental standards set levels of pollution in two ways, namely:

(i) Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
(ii) Maximum Permissible Intake (MPI).

4. What measurement method is prescribed for carbon monoxide under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards?

Answer: Under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the measurement methods prescribed for Carbon Monoxide are Non Dispersive Infra-red (NDIR) and Spectroscopy.

5. Name two global environmental management standards besides ISO 14000.

Answer: Two global environmental management standards besides ISO 14000 are BS 7750 and EMAS.

6. In which month and year was the National Afforestation and Eco-development Board set up?

Answer: The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) was set up in August 1992.

7. What lifecycle approach is adopted by the Ecomark criteria?

Answer: The Ecomark criteria follows a cradle-to-grave approach, i.e. from raw material extraction, to manufacturing, and to disposal.

8. Name two pollution-abatement works undertaken under the River Action Plans.

Answer: Two important pollution abatement works being taken up under the National River Action Plan include:

(i) interception and diversion works to capture the raw sewage flowing into the river through open drains and divert them for treatment; and
(ii) Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treating the diverted sewage.

9. List any three objectives of the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification.

Answer: Three objectives of the Comprehensive National Action Programme (NAD) to Combat Desertification in the country are:

(i) a community based approach to development;
(ii) activities to improve the quality of life of the local communities; and
(iii) awareness raising.

10. When was the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) initiated?

Answer: The Government of India, in December 1982, began an Environmental Information System (ENVIS) as a plan programme.

11. How many Eco-clubs have been established under the National Green Corps programme so far?

Answer: Under the National Green Corps programme, 47,000 Eco-clubs have been set up so far in the country.

12. What was the theme of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign in 2004–2005?

Answer: The theme of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign in the year 2004-2005 was Solid Waste Management.

13. In which year was the Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology instituted?

Answer: The Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology was instituted in 1993.

14. Name two aspects examined in an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Answer: Two aspects into which an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) looks are air quality, and hydrology and water qualities.

15. When was the Forest Survey of India created?

Answer: The Forest Survey of India (FSI) was created in June, 1981.

16. How frequently is the State of Forest Report prepared by the FSI?

Answer: The State of Forest Report (SFR), including the National Forest Vegetation Map (NVM), is prepared by the FSI once in every two years.

17. When was the Botanical Survey of India formally constituted?

Answer: The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was formally constituted on 13th February 1890 at Kolkata.

18. When was the Zoological Survey of India established?

Answer: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1 July, 1916.

19. What are the two main steps in a Life Cycle Assessment?

Answer: The two main steps in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are:

(i) to describe which emissions will occur and which raw materials are used during the life of a product, which is referred to as the Inventory Step; and
(ii) to assess what the impacts of these emissions and raw material depletions are, which is referred to as the Impact Assessment Step.

20. Define environmental management.

Answer: Environmental management involves socio-economic development of the society on the one hand and maintenance of the environmental quality on the other hand. Environmental management must regulate the demands and activities of man in such a way that the ability of the environment to sustain future development remains unimpaired.

21. Why is cost–benefit analysis of pollution-control processes often problematic?

Answer: Cost–benefit analysis of pollution-control processes is often problematic because opinions about actual effects, i.e., total control cost and total benefits, are varied. There is divergence in cost-benefit analysis and there is ambiguity in the cause-effect relationship.

22. Differentiate between residuals and wastage in a manufacturing process.

Answer: In a manufacturing process, residuals are normally different from the input resources, while wastage is the superfluous resources, which could not be tapped into the transformation process.

23. On what criteria are nominations for the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award assessed?

Answer: Nominations for the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award are considered and assessed on the basis of criteria like replicability, innovativeness, target groups like unreached or remote areas, women, rural population, urban poor, etc.

24. On which principles is a National Resource Accounting satellite account designed?

Answer: A National Resource Accounting (NRA) satellite account is designed on the principles of the System of National Accounts (SNA), but is wider in scope.

25. Describe the role of global environmental management standards such as ISO 14001, BS 7750 and EMAS in shaping organisational environmental policies.

Answer: Several environmental management standards have been developed, and ISO 14001, BS 7750, and EMAS are some examples of these standards. Global Environmental Standards like ISO 14000 are being introduced that emphasise management systems which address environmental concerns, operations that consider energy and natural resource consumption, and systems for measuring, assessing, and managing waste streams. These standards guide organisations in developing and implementing policies that consider these crucial environmental aspects.

26. Explain how reduction of wastage minimises residuals and contributes to long-term cost savings in environmental management.

Answer: Reduction of wastage directly deals with the minimisation of residuals. Any manufacturing process produces residuals and/or generates wastage. Residuals are normally different from the input resources, while wastage is the superfluous resources, which could not be tapped into the transformation process. By reducing wastage, the generation of these residuals is minimised. Furthermore, reduction of wastage has also helped in the cost reduction in the long-term perspective, contributing to more economical environmental management.

27. Outline the key components of sewage treatment and sanitation works undertaken under the National River Action Plans to improve river water quality.

Answer: The important works being taken up under the National River Action Plan to improve river water quality include several key components. These are:

(i) interception and diversion works to capture the raw sewage flowing into the river through open drains and divert them for treatment;
(ii) Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treating the diverted sewage;
(iii) Low Cost Sanitation works to prevent open defecation on river banks;
(iv) electric crematoria and improved wood crematoria to conserve the use of wood and help in ensuring proper cremation of bodies brought to the burning ghats; and
(v) River Front Development works such as improvement of bathing ghats.

28. Explain the structure and objectives of the ENVIS network and its role in environmental information dissemination.

Answer: ENVIS, or the Environmental Information System, is a decentralised system with a network of distributed subject-oriented centres. This structure ensures national efforts in environmental information collection, collation, storage, retrieval, and dissemination. The focus of ENVIS since its inception has been on providing environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and engineers, workers, etc., all over the country.

The long-term objectives of ENVIS are:

(i) to build up a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and Engineering;
(ii) to gear up the modern technologies of acquisition, processing, storage retrieval and information of environmental nature; and
(iii) to support and promote research, development and innovation in environmental technology.

The short-term objectives include:

(i) to provide national environmental information service relevant to present needs and development to meet the future needs of the users, originators, processors and disseminate information;
(ii) to build up storage, retrieval and dissemination capabilities with the ultimate goal of disseminating information speedily to the users;
(iii) to promote, national and international cooperation and liaison for exchange of environmental information;
(iv) to promote, support and assist education and personnel training programmes, design environmental information processing and utilisation capabilities; and
(v) to promote exchange of information amongst developing countries.

29. Evaluate the achievements of the National Green Corps programme in fostering environmental awareness among school students.

Answer: The National Green Corps programme, launched during 2001-2002, has made significant strides in fostering environmental awareness among school students. A notable achievement is that Eco-clubs are being set up in 100 schools of each district of the country, and as of the information provided, 47,000 Eco-clubs have been set up so far in the country. This programme aims to educate children about their interdependence and their need for survival, through visits and demonstrations, and to mobilise youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation. The establishment of a large number of Eco-clubs indicates a substantial effort towards achieving these awareness goals.

30. Discuss the significance of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign and its impact on environmental education.

Answer: The National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC) is organised every year. For instance, in the year 2004-2005, the theme was Solid Waste Management. The significance of NEAC lies in its consistent, annual effort to bring specific environmental issues to public attention. By focusing on a particular theme each year, it contributes to environmental education by raising awareness and encouraging engagement with current environmental challenges across the country.

31. Assess the role of the Ecomark scheme in influencing consumer behaviour and promoting sustainable manufacturing practices.

Answer: The Ecomark scheme plays a role in influencing consumer behaviour by aiming to assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their daily lives. It does this by providing information to take account of environmental factors in their purchase decisions and by encouraging citizens to purchase products which have less harmful environmental impacts.

In promoting sustainable manufacturing practices, the Ecomark scheme aims to provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce the adverse environmental impact of products. It also seeks to reward genuine initiatives by companies to reduce the adverse environmental impact of their products. The criteria for the Ecomark label follow a cradle-to-grave approach, i.e., from raw material extraction, to manufacturing, and to disposal, which inherently promotes sustainability in the manufacturing process.

32. Examine how the Forest Survey of India contributes to national planning and conservation of forest resources.

Answer: The Forest Survey of India (FSI) contributes to national planning by presenting data for national planning, conservation and management of environmental preservation, and implementation of social forestry projects. One of its revised objectives is to collect, store, and retrieve necessary forestry and forestry-related data for national and state-level planning and to create a computer-based National Basic Forest Inventory System (NBFIS).

For the conservation of forest resources, FSI’s objectives include preparing a comprehensive State of Forest Report (SFR) including a National Forest Vegetation Map (NVM) once every two years. It will also prepare thematic maps through the use of remote sensing data with minimum essential ground truth verification on a 10-year cycle. This regular monitoring and reporting are crucial for the effective conservation and management of the country’s forest resources.

33. Explain the importance of Life Cycle Assessment in product and process improvement within environmental management.

Answer: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is important because it systematically describes and assesses all flows to and from nature, from a cradle-to-grave perspective, dealing with the complex interaction between a product and the environment. Governments and customers expect companies to pay attention to the environmental properties of all products. Standards like EMAS, BS, and ISO 14000 series demand continuous improvement in the environmental management system. LCA and its utilization for product/process improvement is the way to meet this demand. By describing emissions and raw materials used (Inventory Step) and assessing the impacts of these (Impact Assessment Step), LCA provides the necessary information for companies to make informed decisions for continuous product and process improvement within their environmental management systems.

34. Analyse the community-based approach of the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification and its impact on local communities.

Answer: India is a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCCD), and the Ministry of Environment and Forest serves as the National Coordinating Agency for the implementation of the UNCCCD in the country. As an affected party, a 20-year Comprehensive National Action Programme (NAD) to Combat Desertification has been prepared.

The objectives of this programme highlight its community-based approach and its intended impact on local communities. These objectives are:

(i) A community-based approach to development, which inherently involves local people in the planning and execution of desertification control measures.
(ii) Activities specifically designed to improve the quality of life of the local communities, directly addressing their well-being and living standards.
(iii) Awareness raising, which helps educate local communities about the issues of desertification and the measures they can take, fostering a sense of ownership and participation.
(iv) Drought management preparedness and mitigation, which is crucial for communities in arid and semi-arid regions, helping them cope with and reduce the impacts of drought.
(v) R & D initiatives and interventions which are locally suited, ensuring that solutions are appropriate for the specific environmental and social contexts of the communities.
(vi) Strengthening self-governance, leading to the empowerment of local communities, which allows them to take control of their resources and development processes.

Through these objectives, the National Action Programme aims to combat desertification by directly involving and benefiting local communities, improving their resilience, enhancing their living conditions, and empowering them to manage their environment sustainably.

Additional MCQs (Knowledge Based)

1. In which year was the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board set up?

A. 1990
B. 1991
C. 1992
D. 1993

Answer: C. 1992

2. Which global standard series emphasises environmental management systems?

A. ISO 9001
B. ISO 14000
C. ISO 18000
D. ISO 26000

Answer: B. ISO 14000

3. Alongside the Bureau of Indian Standards, which organisation sets environmental standards in India?

A. NAEB
B. CPCB
C. FSI
D. BSI

Answer: B. CPCB

4. What does ADI stand for?

A. Annual Daily Index
B. Average Daily Intake
C. Acceptable Daily Intake
D. Actual Daily Intake

Answer: C. Acceptable Daily Intake

5. What does MPI stand for?

A. Maximum Pollution Index
B. Mean Pollution Intake
C. Maximum Permissible Intake
D. Minimum Permissible Index

Answer: C. Maximum Permissible Intake

6. Which organisation is responsible for fixing ambient air quality standards in India?

A. Ministry of Environment
B. National Green Corps
C. Central Pollution Control Board
D. National Environmental Tribunal

Answer: C. Central Pollution Control Board

7. Which pollutant’s annual average concentration limit in industrial areas is 360 µg/m³?

A. SO₂
B. NOx
C. SPM
D. RPM

Answer: C. SPM

8. What does ENVIS stand for?

A. Environmental Information Service
B. Environmental Investigation System
C. Environmental Information System
D. Environmental Innovation Summit

Answer: C. Environmental Information System

9. Which step is NOT part of the risk assessment process?

A. Hazard identification
B. Exposure assessment
C. Toxicity assessment
D. Process optimisation

Answer: D. Process optimisation

10. Which eco-labelling scheme was launched in 1991?

A. GreenMark
B. EcoLabel
C. Ecomark
D. EnviroSeal

Answer: C. Ecomark

11. Under which convention was a 20-year action programme to combat desertification prepared?

A. UNFCCC
B. CBD
C. Ramsar
D. UNCCD

Answer: D. UNCCD

12. Which agency implements River Action Plans in India?

A. NAEB
B. NRCD
C. NEAC
D. ENVIS

Answer: B. NRCD

13. How many grossly polluted river stretches were identified for action plans?

A. 17
B. 27
C. 37
D. 47

Answer: B. 27

14. What is the primary unit set up in schools under the National Green Corps programme?

A. Nature clubs
B. Eco-cells
C. Green teams
D. Eco-clubs

Answer: D. Eco-clubs

15. In which academic year were Eco-clubs launched under the National Green Corps programme?

A. 2000–01
B. 2001–02
C. 2002–03
D. 2003–04

Answer: B. 2001–02

16. Which annual campaign theme for 2004–2005 focused on solid waste issues?

A. Water Conservation
B. Air Quality
C. Solid Waste Management
D. Afforestation

Answer: C. Solid Waste Management

17. Which award recognises clean technology innovations?

A. Indira Gandhi Puraskar
B. Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology
C. Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award
D. National Green Corps Award

Answer: B. Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology

18. Which award is given for pioneering afforestation and wasteland development?

A. Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award
B. Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award
C. Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
D. NEAC Award

Answer: B. Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award

19. Which prize is awarded annually for significant environmental contributions?

A. Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award
B. Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award
C. Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
D. NAEB Medal

Answer: C. Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar

20. What is the purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

A. Label environment-friendly products
B. Manage afforestation
C. Evaluate potential impacts of projects
D. Monitor air quality

Answer: C. Evaluate potential impacts of projects

21. What is the first step in a Life Cycle Assessment?

A. Impact assessment
B. Inventory
C. Hazard identification
D. Risk characterisation

Answer: B. Inventory

22. What is the second step in a Life Cycle Assessment?

A. Toxicity assessment
B. Impact assessment
C. Exposure assessment
D. Hazard identification

Answer: B. Impact assessment

23. Which institution was created in June 1981 to monitor forest resources?

A. BSI
B. CPCB
C. FSI
D. ZSI

Answer: C. FSI

24. How often does the Forest Survey of India prepare the State of Forest Report?

A. Annually
B. Biennially
C. Every five years
D. Every ten years

Answer: B. Biennially

25. Under which project does the Botanical Survey of India prepare comprehensive flora?

A. Flora of India
B. Plant Inventory Scheme
C. National Herbarium Project
D. Flora Atlas Initiative

Answer: A. Flora of India

26. In which year was the Botanical Survey of India formally constituted?

A. 1880
B. 1890
C. 1900
D. 1910

Answer: B. 1890

27. In which year was the Zoological Survey of India established?

A. 1875
B. 1890
C. 1916
D. 1930

Answer: C. 1916

28. What is National Resource Accounting (NRA)?

A. A habitat restoration plan
B. A monitoring network
C. A satellite account on SNA principles to incorporate environmental values
D. A waste-management standard

Answer: C. A satellite account on SNA principles to incorporate environmental values

29. Which process in manufacturing refers to unnecessary resources not used in transformation?

A. Residuals
B. Emissions
C. Wastage
D. Discharges

Answer: C. Wastage

30. Which method is used to measure carbon monoxide in ambient air standards?

A. Ultraviolet fluorescence
B. Gas phase chemiluminescence
C. NDIR spectroscopy
D. High volume sampling

Answer: C. NDIR spectroscopy

31. Which of these is NOT one of the goals of environmental management?

A. Economic policies
B. Environmental indicators
C. Military defence
D. Information surveillance

Answer: C. Military defence

32. Which goal of environmental management involves analysing cost effectiveness?

A. Setting of proper standards
B. Economic policies
C. Information exchange
D. Risk assessment

Answer: B. Economic policies

33. Which goal involves monitoring and assessment of environmental conditions?

A. Economic policies
B. Environmental indicators
C. Setting standards
D. Surveillance

Answer: B. Environmental indicators

34. Which involves setting limits such as ADI and MPI?

A. Information exchange
B. Setting of proper standards
C. Economic policies
D. Risk characterisation

Answer: B. Setting of proper standards

35. Which goal involves sharing and dissemination of environmental data?

A. Economic policies
B. Environmental indicators
C. Information exchange and surveillance
D. Standard setting

Answer: C. Information exchange and surveillance

36. Which projects illustrate ambiguity in cost–benefit analysis of pollution control?

A. Bhakra Nangal and Hirakud
B. Tehri Dam and Silent Valley
C. Narmada and Mettur
D. Hirakud and Silent Valley

Answer: B. Tehri Dam and Silent Valley

37. Who constitutes the National Environmental Tribunal in India?

A. Industry leaders
B. Legal, scientific, technological and administrative experts
C. Elected representatives
D. Forest officers

Answer: B. Legal, scientific, technological and administrative experts

38. Which factor determines harm caused by a pollutant beyond its mere presence?

A. Colour
B. Exposure duration
C. Price
D. Odour intensity

Answer: B. Exposure duration

39. Which step assesses the ability of a pollutant to cause harm?

A. Exposure assessment
B. Risk characterisation
C. Toxicity assessment
D. Hazard identification

Answer: C. Toxicity assessment

40. Which step identifies the inherent dangers of a pollutant?

A. Hazard identification
B. Exposure assessment
C. Risk characterisation
D. Impact assessment

Answer: A. Hazard identification

41. Which step characterises the types and levels of risk from pollutants?

A. Hazard identification
B. Toxicity assessment
C. Risk characterisation
D. Exposure assessment

Answer: C. Risk characterisation

42. Which strategy emphasises minimisation of residuals in production?

A. Waste reduction
B. Emission control
C. Surveillance
D. Standard setting

Answer: A. Waste reduction

43. Which term describes by-products different from input resources?

A. Wastage
B. Residuals
C. Emissions
D. Discharges

Answer: B. Residuals

44. Which of the following is a global environmental management standard?

A. ISO 9001
B. ISO 14001
C. ISO 20000
D. ISO 50001

Answer: B. ISO 14001

45. What does CPCB stand for?

A. Central Pollution Commission Board
B. Central Public Control Bureau
C. Central Pollution Control Board
D. Combined Pollution Control Board

Answer: C. Central Pollution Control Board

46. What does NAEB stand for?

A. National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board
B. National Air Emission Board
C. National Agricultural Extension Board
D. National Aquatic Ecosystems Board

Answer: A. National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board

47. What does NRCD stand for?

A. National River Conservation Directorate
B. National Resource Coordination Dept
C. National Rapid Control Directorate
D. National Renewable Conservation Dept

Answer: A. National River Conservation Directorate

48. What does BSI stand for?

A. Botanical Surveillance of India
B. Botanical Survey of India
C. Biodiversity Survey of India
D. Biodiversity Surveillance of India

Answer: B. Botanical Survey of India

49. What does ZSI stand for?

A. Zoological Surveillance of India
B. Zoological Survey of India
C. Zoology Society of India
D. Zoology Study Institute

Answer: B. Zoological Survey of India

50. Which board sets product standards when applied to cooked and raw foods?

A. CPCB
B. NAEB
C. BIS
D. FSI

Answer: C. BIS

51. What are product standards in environmental quality?

A. Limits for emissions
B. Primary standards applied to raw and cooked foods
C. Risk thresholds
D. Surveillance guidelines

Answer: B. Primary standards applied to raw and cooked foods

52. Which pollutant’s respirable fraction is measured for particles less than 10 microns?

A. SPM
B. RPM
C. SO₂
D. NOx

Answer: B. RPM

53. Which pollutant has an annual average limit of 1.0 µg/m³ in industrial areas?

A. Lead
B. Ammonia
C. Carbon monoxide
D. Sulphur dioxide

Answer: A. Lead

54. Which pollutant’s annual average limit is 0.1 mg/m³ in industrial areas?

A. Carbon monoxide
B. Ammonia
C. Lead
D. RPM

Answer: B. Ammonia

55. Which method is used for measuring sulphur dioxide in ambient air standards?

A. NDIR spectroscopy
B. Gas phase chemiluminescence
C. Ultraviolet fluorescence
D. High volume sampling

Answer: C. Ultraviolet fluorescence

56. What is the 24-hour average limit for Suspended Particulate Matter in industrial areas?

A. 360 µg/m³
B. 500 µg/m³
C. 140 µg/m³
D. 70 µg/m³

Answer: B. 500 µg/m³

57. What is the annual average limit for Oxides of Nitrogen in sensitive areas?

A. 80 µg/m³
B. 60 µg/m³
C. 15 µg/m³
D. 30 µg/m³

Answer: C. 15 µg/m³

58. What is the annual average limit for Respirable Particulate Matter in residential areas?

A. 120 µg/m³
B. 200 µg/m³
C. 100 µg/m³
D. 50 µg/m³

Answer: B. 200 µg/m³

59. What is the 24-hour average limit for Lead in rural and other areas?

A. 0.75 µg/m³
B. 1.5 µg/m³
C. 0.50 µg/m³
D. 1.0 µg/m³

Answer: A. 0.75 µg/m³

60. What is the 8-hour average limit for Carbon Monoxide in residential areas?

A. 1.0 mg/m³
B. 2.0 mg/m³
C. 4.0 mg/m³
D. 5.0 mg/m³

Answer: B. 2.0 mg/m³

61. What is the minimum flow rate required for high volume sampling of particulate matter?

A. 0.5 m³/minute
B. 1.1 m³/minute
C. 2.0 m³/minute
D. 1.5 m³/minute

Answer: B. 1.1 m³/minute

62. Which work is included in River Action Plans?

A. Desertification control
B. Salinity mitigation
C. Sewage Treatment Plants
D. Forest restoration

Answer: C. Sewage Treatment Plants

63. Which work is included in River Action Plans?

A. Electric crematoria
B. Eco-club formation
C. Botanical surveys
D. Wasteland development

Answer: A. Electric crematoria

64. Which of the following is NOT a component of the action programme to combat desertification?

A. Community-based approach
B. Space exploration
C. Awareness raising
D. Drought management preparedness

Answer: B. Space exploration

65. Which is a long-term objective of ENVIS?

A. Build a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and Engineering
B. Provide immediate pollution alerts
C. Construct treatment plants
D. Organise daily field visits

Answer: A. Build a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and Engineering

66. Which is a short-term objective of ENVIS?

A. Support R&D innovation
B. Provide national environmental information service relevant to present needs
C. Develop international afforestation
D. Design forest inventory

Answer: B. Provide national environmental information service relevant to present needs

67. Which map does the Forest Survey of India prepare every two years?

A. National Wildlife Map
B. National Forest Vegetation Map
C. National River Map
D. National Soil Map

Answer: B. National Forest Vegetation Map

68. Which activity is NOT a function of the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board?

A. Ecological restoration
B. Fuel-wood restoration
C. River Action implementations
D. Research sponsorship

Answer: C. River Action implementations

69. Which survey prioritises listing endangered plant species?

A. ZSI
B. FSI
C. BSI
D. CPCB

Answer: C. BSI

70. Which survey undertakes status surveys of endangered animal species?

A. BSI
B. ZSI
C. FSI
D. NAEB

Answer: B. ZSI

71. The Ecomark criteria follow which approach?

A. Farm-to-fork
B. Cradle-to-grave
C. Gate-to-gate
D. Door-to-door

Answer: B. Cradle-to-grave

72. What is the annual arithmetic mean requirement for ambient air quality measurements?

A. Minimum 52 measurements
B. Minimum 104 measurements
C. Minimum 200 measurements
D. Minimum 365 measurements

Answer: B. Minimum 104 measurements

73. What percentage of 24-hourly values should be met in a year according to the standards?

A. 90%
B. 95%
C. 98%
D. 100%

Answer: C. 98%

74. Which body organises the National Environmental Awareness Campaign annually?

A. Ministry of Information
B. Ministry of Environment and Forests
C. Central Pollution Control Board
D. National Green Corps

Answer: B. Ministry of Environment and Forests

75. Which of the following lists all four goals of environmental management?

A. Economic policies, military strategy, standard setting, afforestation
B. Economic policies, environmental indicators, setting of proper standards, information exchange and surveillance
C. Economic growth, health services, monitoring, product labelling
D. Cost analysis, risk characterisation, emission control, funding

Answer: B. Economic policies, environmental indicators, setting of proper standards, information exchange and surveillance

Additional MCQs (Competency Based)

1. Assertion (A): Numerous environmental problems have arisen in modern times.
Reason (R): Human activities, driven by an insatiable desire for resources, have led to the extensive exploitation of the natural world.