| 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 |
| Differential Equations |
Linear and non-linear first-order ordinary differential equations (ODE), Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients, Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations, Laplace transform and its application in solving linear ODEs |
| 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) |
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Section 2: Environmental Chemistry
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| Fundamentals of environmental chemistry: |
Covalent and ionic bonding; Chemical equations, concentration, and activity; Structure and chemistry of organic molecules; Radioactivity of elements; Chemical equilibria; Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions |
| Principles of water chemistry |
Water quality parameters and their measurement; Acid-base equilibria; Buffer solution; Carbonate system; Solubility of gases in water; Complexation, precipitation, and redox reactions; Inorganic and organic contaminants in water and their speciation |
| Soil chemistry |
Organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and sodium absorption ratio |
| Atmospheric chemistry |
Composition of the atmosphere; Reactivity of trace substances in the atmosphere; Urban atmosphere: smog and particulate pollution; Chemistry of ozone formation; Chemistry of stratosphere |
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Section 3: Environmental Microbiology
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| Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms |
Characteristics of diverse groups of microorganisms; Classification of microorganisms; Microbial diversity; Plant-microbe and soil microbe interactions; Role of microorganisms in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and biogeochemical cycling |
| Cell chemistry and cell biology |
Structure of proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), lipids, and polysaccharides; Bonds in biomolecules; Stereoisomerism in biomolecules; Structure of cell; Structure and function of the cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall, outer membrane, glycocalyx, chromosomes, endospores, storage products, mitochondria, and chloroplasts |
| 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 cultural 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 |
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Section 4: Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics
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| Global Water Resources |
Structure, properties, and distribution of water; Water quality; Threats to water resources; Water conservation |
| Surface Water Resources |
Hydrological cycle and water balance - precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and runoff; Flow hydrographs; Unit hydrographs; Stage-discharge relationship; Reservoir capacity; Reservoir and channel routing; Surface run-off models; Surface water management; Rainwater 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; Boundary layer theory; 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 and unlined channels |
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Section 5: Water and Wastewater Treatment and Management
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| 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 |
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Section 6: Air and Noise Pollution
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| Structure of the atmosphere |
Natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution; Atmospheric sources, sinks, transport; 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 source standards, air quality indices, visibility |
| Particulate pollutants |
Measurement and control methods; Control of particulate air pollutants using gravitational settling chambers, cyclone separators, wet collectors, fabric filters (Baghouse filter), electrostatic precipitators (ESP) |
| Gaseous pollutants |
Measurement and control methods; Control of gaseous contaminants: absorption, adsorption, condensation, and combustion; Control of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons; vapor-liquid and vapor-solid equilibria; Diffusion, Fick’s law, and interfacial mass transfer |
| Automotive emission controls |
fuel quality, diesel particulate filters, catalytic convertors |
| Air quality management |
Point, line and area sources; Inventory; Influence of meteorology - wind rose diagrams, stability, mixing height, topography, dispersion modelling, monitoring |
| Noise pollution |
Sources; Health effects; Standards; Measurement and control methods |
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Section 7: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
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| Integrated solid waste management |
Waste hierarchy; Rules and regulations for solid waste management in India |
| Municipal solid waste management |
Sources, generation, characteristics, collection and transportation, waste processing and disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery processes and landfilling) |
| Hazardous waste management |
Characteristics, generation, and fate of materials in the environment, treatment and disposal |
| Soil |
Soil contamination and leaching of contaminants into groundwater |
| Management of biomedical waste |
Plastic waste and E-waste: Sources, generation and characteristics; Waste management practices including storage, collection and transfer |
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Section 8: Global and Regional Environmental Issues
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| Global effects of air pollution |
Greenhouse gases, global warming, climate change, urban heat islands, acid rain, ozone hole |
| Ecology and various ecosystems |
Biodiversity; Factors influencing increase in population, energy consumption, and environmental degradation |
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Section 9: Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
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| Environmental management systems |
ISO14000 series; Environmental auditing: Environmental Impact Assessment; Life cycle assessment; Human health risk assessment |
| Environmental Law and Policy |
Polluter pays principle, Precautionary principle; The Water and Air Acts with amendments; The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) 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; Hurdles to sustainability; Environment and economics |
