GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus 2027, Section-Wise Topics

Sections In GATE ES Syllabus 2027

Sections

GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Subjects

Section 1

Mathematics Foundation

Section 2

Environmental Chemistry

Section 3

Environmental Microbiology

Section 4

Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics

Section 5

Water and Wastewater Treatment and Management

Section 6

Air and Noise Pollution

Section 7

Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

Section 8

Global and Regional Environmental Issues

Section 9

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

GATE ES Syllabus for General Aptitude

Topics

Sub-topics

Verbal Aptitude

• Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech.

• Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context.

• Reading and comprehension.

• Narrative sequencing.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2-and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables.

• Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series.

• Mensuration and geometry.

• Elementary statistics and probability.

Analytical Aptitude

• Logic: deduction and induction.

• Analogy.

• Numerical relations and reasoning.

Spatial Aptitude

• Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping.

• Paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions.

GATE ES Syllabus for Core Subjects

Section 1: Mathematics Foundation

Linear Algebra

Determinants and matrices, Systems of linear equations, Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Calculus

Functions, Limits, Continuity, Differentiability, Local maxima and minima, Taylor series, Tests for convergence, Definite and indefinite integrals, Application of definite integrals to obtain area and volume, Partial and total derivatives, Linear and non-linear first-order ordinary differential equations (ODE)

Numerical Methods

Approximation, errors, accuracy and precision in numerical methods; Numerical solutions (roots) of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Interpolation and curve fitting – Least square approximation, Newton's and Lagrange polynomials; Numerical differentiation and integration – Trapezoidal and Simpson's rule; Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations – Single and multi-step methods

Probability and Statistics

Descriptive statistics, Measurement of central tendency, Dispersion, Skewness and kurtosis, Probability concepts, Conditional probability, Bayes theorem, Risk and reliability, Probability distributions, Correlation, Single and multiple regression models, Hypothesis testing (t-test, F-test, chi-square test)

Section 2: Environmental Chemistry

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Covalent and ionic bonding; Chemical equations, concentration and activity; Structure and chemistry of organic molecules; Chemical equilibria; Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions

Principles of Water Chemistry

Water quality parameters and their measurement; Acid-base equilibria; Buffer solution; Carbonate equilibrium; Solubility of gases in water; Complexation, precipitation and redox reactions; Inorganic and organic contaminants

Soil Chemistry

Organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cation exchange capacity, base saturation and sodium absorption ratio

Atmospheric Chemistry

Composition of the atmosphere; Reactivity of trace substances in the atmosphere; Chemistry of ozone formation

Section 3: Environmental Microbiology

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microorganisms

Characteristics of diverse groups of microorganisms; Classification of microorganisms; Microbial diversity; Role of microorganisms in wastewater treatment, bioremediation and biogeochemical cycling

Cell Chemistry and Cell Biology

Structure of proteins, nucleic acid (DNA & RNA), lipids and polysaccharides; Structure of cell; Structure and function of cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall, outer membrane, glycocalyx; Antimicrobial resistance; Quorum sensing

Microbial Metabolism

Anabolism and catabolism; Phosphorylation; Glycolysis; TCA cycle; Electron transport chain; Fermentation; Anaerobic respiration; Energy balances; Enzymes and Enzyme kinetics

Growth and Control of Microorganisms

Bacterial nutrition and growth; Specific growth rate and doubling time; Monod's model; Types of culture media; Batch and continuous culture; Effects of environmental factors on growth; Control of microbes using physical and chemical methods

Microbiology and Health

Pathogens and modes of transmission; Indicator organisms; Quantification of coliforms using MPN and membrane filtration techniques

Section 4: Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics

Global Water Resources

Structure, properties and distribution of water; Threats to water resources; Water conservation

Surface Water Resources

Hydrological cycle and water balance – precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff; Flow hydrographs; Unit hydrographs; Stage-discharge relationship; Reservoir capacity; Surface water management; Rain water harvesting and storage

Groundwater Resources

Geologic formations as aquifers; Vadose and saturated zones; Confined and unconfined aquifers and their parameters – porosity, permeability, transmissivity and storage coefficient; Darcy's law and applications; Steady state well hydraulics

Environmental Hydraulics

Concepts of mechanics; Properties of fluids; Pressure measurement; Hydrostatic force on surfaces; Buoyancy and flotation; Laminar and turbulent flow; Flow through pipes; Pipe networks; Forces on immersed bodies; Flow measurement in channels and pipes; Kinematics of flow; Continuity, momentum and energy equations; Channel hydraulics – specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic jump, rapid and gradually varied flow; Design of lined channels

Section 5: Water and Wastewater Treatment and Management

Water and Wastewater Quality Parameters

Water and wastewater quality parameters; Eutrophication and thermal stratification in lakes; River pollution – Oxygen sag curve

Water Treatment Methods

Screening, sedimentation with and without coagulation, filtration, desalination, disinfection; Water distribution and storage

Point and Non-point Sources of Wastewater

Population forecasting methods; Design of sewer and stormwater sewers; Sewer appurtenances; Preliminary, primary, secondary and tertiary sewage treatment; Sludge generation, processing and disposal methods; Sewage farming

Sources and Characteristics of Industrial Effluents

Concept of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP); Wastewater recycling and zero liquid discharge

Kinetics and Reactor Design

Mass and energy balance, Order and rate of reactions, Batch reactors, Completely mixed flow reactors, Plug flow reactors

Section 6: Air and Noise Pollution

Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere

Sources (natural and anthropogenic); Atmospheric processes (emission, transformation, transport, removal); Indoor air pollution; Effects on health and environment; Air pollution: gases and particulate matter; Air quality standards; Primary and secondary pollutants; Criteria pollutants; Ambient and emission standards; Air quality indices; Visibility and radiative effects

Particulate Pollutants

Measurement and control methods; Control of particulate air pollutants using gravitational settling chambers, cyclone separators, wet scrubbers, fabric filters (Baghouse filter), electrostatic precipitators (ESP)

Gaseous Pollutants

Measurement and control methods; Control of gaseous contaminants using absorption, adsorption, condensation and combustion; Control of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons; Diffusion, Fick's law and interfacial mass transfer; Vehicular emission control systems including diesel particulate filters (DPFs), catalytic converters and fuel standards

Air Quality Management

Point, line and area sources; Inventory; Meteorology and dispersion; Atmospheric stability and inversion; Mixing height; Wind rose diagrams; Gaussian plume dispersion modelling; Topographic influences

Noise Pollution

Sources; Health effects; Standards; Measurement parameters (sound pressure level, equivalent continuous sound level (Leq), day-night level (Ldn)); Frequency analysis; Control and mitigation methods

Section 7: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

Integrated Solid Waste Management

Waste hierarchy; Rules and regulations for solid waste management in India

Municipal Solid Waste Management

Sources, generation, characteristics, collection, segregation and transportation; Waste processing and disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery processes and landfilling); Waste-to-energy technologies; Circular economy principles; Life-cycle energy analysis; Decentralized renewable systems; Urban metabolism

Hazardous Waste Management

Characteristics, generation, fate of materials in the environment, treatment and disposal; Soil contamination and leaching of contaminants into groundwater

Management of Biomedical Waste, Plastic Waste, Waste from Energy Sector, C&D Waste and E-waste

Sources, generation and characteristics; Waste management practices including storage, collection and transfer

Section 8: Global and Regional Environmental Issues

Global Effects of Air Pollution

Greenhouse gases; Radiative forcing and Global Warming Potential (GWP); Climate change; Urban heat islands; Acid rain; Ozone hole

Ecology and Various Ecosystems

Biodiversity; Factors influencing increase in population, energy consumption and environmental degradation

Section 9: Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

Environmental Management Systems

Environmental Management Systems; ISO 14000 series; Environmental Auditing; Environmental Impact Assessment; Life Cycle Assessment; Human Health Risk Assessment; Occupational Health and Hygiene; Physical and Chemical Hazards

Environmental Law and Policy

Objectives; Polluter Pays Principle; Precautionary Principle; The Water and Air Acts with amendments; The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; National Environment Policy; Principles of International Law and International Treaties

Energy and Environment

Energy Sources: Overview of resources and reserves; Renewable and non-renewable energy sources; Energy–Environment nexus

Sustainable Development

Definition and concepts of sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Hurdles to sustainability; Environment and economics; Carbon pricing; Emission trading; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks

GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Exam Pattern 2027

Particular

Details

Examination Mode

Computer-based Test

Exam Duration

3 Hours

Question Types 

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), Numerical Answer Type (NAT) 

Sections in GATE ES Paper

General Aptitude (GA) + Core Engineering Selected Subjects (Environmental Science and Engineering)

Distribution of Marks in GATE ES Paper

• General Aptitude: 15 marks

• Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks

• Core Engineering Subjects: 72 Marks

• Total Marks: 100 marks

Marking Scheme

Questions worth 1 mark or 2 marks

Negative Marking

• Applicable only to the wrong answer selected in an MCQ

• For a 1 Mark Wrong Answer, Deduction of 1/3 Marks Applicable

• For 2 Marks Wrong Answer, Deduction of 2/3 Marks Applicable

• No Negative Marking or Partial Marking for MSQ and NAT questions.