Physics Wallah

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026, Download PDF

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026 covers biodiversity, conservation, climate change, pollution, sustainable development, and environmental laws. Find out the detailed UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology syllabus 2026 here.
authorImageAnil Solonki24 Sept, 2025
Share

Share

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology syllabus covers fundamental concepts related to the environment, biodiversity, and ecological systems. It includes topics such as ecosystems, conservation, climate change, and environmental laws. Understanding these concepts is crucial for candidates aiming to qualify for the Civil Services Examination 2026  conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Keep reading to learn the syllabus for Environment and Ecology and download the PDF!

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus does not provide detailed topics of the Environment and Ecology Syllabus. A general overview of the UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus based on the previous year's theme is as follows:
  • Ecology: Understanding of the ecosystem, its components, and their interactions, including bIotic and abiotic factors.
  • Biodiversity: Knowledge about biodiversity hotspots, conservation efforts, endangered species, and international agreements related to biodiversity conservation.
  • Climate Change: Understanding the causes and impacts of climate change, mitigation, adaptation strategies, and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.
  • Environmental Pollution: Awareness of different types of pollution (air, water, soil, noise), their sources, effects, and measures to control pollution.
  • Environmental Degradation: Understanding various forms of environmental degradation such as deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, and their consequences.
  • Conservation: Knowledge about conservation techniques, protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and their significance in biodiversity conservation.
  • Environmental Laws and Policies: Familiarity with environmental laws, policies, and regulatory bodies at national and international levels.
  • Sustainable Development: Understanding the concept of sustainable development, its principles, and the role of various stakeholders in achieving sustainability.
  • Environmental Movements: Awareness of significant environmental movements, their objectives, leaders, and outcomes, both nationally and internationally.
  • Current Affairs: Keeping abreast of recent developments, reports, initiatives, and events related to environment and ecology, especially focusing on contemporary issues and debates.

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026 PDF

The UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology syllabus for 2026 covers a wide range of topics. It includes themes like environmental ecology, biodiversity conservation, environmental pollution, environmental impact assessment, and sustainable development. Candidates are expected to have knowledge of current environmental issues, government policies, and international environmental agreements. UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24 May, 2026 (Sunday), while the Mains 2026 will commence from 21 August, 2026 onwards. To streamline your preparation download UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026 PDF from here:

Topic Wise UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026

The table below contains the detailed UPSC Environment and Ecology Syllabus to prepare for 2026:
Part I: Environment and Ecology
1. Basics  of Environment and Ecology
  • Categories of Environment
  • Features of Environment
  • Components of Environment
  • Ecology Basics
  • Types of Environment
2. Ecosystem
  • Definition of an Ecosystem, Dynamics Within Ecosystems, Elements Comprising Ecosystems, Interconnections Within Food Chains and Webs, Population Pyramids, and Influences of Living and Non-Living Factors.
  • Variations in Ecosystem Types, Strategies for Preserving Ecosystems, Alterations Observed in Ecosystems, Examples Like Eutrophication, Coral Reefs, Initiatives Such as The Namami Ganga Program, and Recent Actions Taken.
3. Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Gaseous Cycle, Sedimentary Cycle, Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle, and Nutrient Cycle
4. Pollution and Degradation
  • Degradation of Land, Methods For Preserving Soil Integrity, Erosion of Soil, Practices For Managing Land Sustainably, Expansion of Deserts, Contamination of The Air,
  • Disturbances Caused by Noise, Presence of Plastic Waste, Radiation Contamination, Increase in Temperature of Water Bodies Due to Human Activities, Deterioration of Water Quality And Pollution of Oceans,
  • Negative Impacts of Mining on The Environment, Strategies Like Bioremediation for Restoring Ecological Balance, Connections Between Environmental Pollution and Human Health, Phenomenon of Acid Precipitation.
5. Environmental Issues
  • Indian Himalayan
  • Sand Mining
  • Palm Oil
  • Wildlife Deaths
  • Human Animal Conflict
  • Genetically Engineered Trees
  • Cost of Environmental Degradation
6. Environment Impact Assessment
  • Environmental Impact Assessment:
  • Need for EIA, EIA Cycle and procedure
7. Population Ecology
  • Characteristics of Populations, Models Explaining Population Growth, Various Species and The Dangers They Face, and The Maximum Population Earth can Support.
8. Waste Management
  • Biomedical Waste
  • E-Waste Management
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Solid Waste Management
Part II: Biodiversity
1. Basics of Biodiversity
  • Types of Biodiversity, Scales At Which Biodiversity Is Assessed, Methods For Quantifying Biodiversity, Different Types of Services Provided by Biodiversity
  • Approaches to Safeguarding Biodiversity, Red Data Book, Factors Posing Risks to Biodiversity
  • Disappearance of Species, Categories and Reasons Behind Species Disappearance, Repercussions Of Species Loss, Endangered Species Native to India
  • Efforts To Conserve Biodiversity Within India, International Agreements And Guidelines Aimed At Safeguarding Biodiversity.
2. Indian Biodiversity
  • Indian Bio-Geographical Classification, Fauna and  Flora Diversity
  • Animal Diversity of India:
  • Mammals
    • Critically Endangered Animals,
    • Mammals,
    • Birds,
    • Fishes,
    • Corals,
    • Man- Animal Conflict.
  • Plant Diversity of India:
    • Plant Classification
    • Insectivorous Plants
    • Invasive Alien Flora
    • Medicinal Plants
    • Tree Characteristics
  • Schedule Animals of WPA, 1972
  • Marine Organism: Plankton and Its Types, Seagrass and Seaweed
3. Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives
  • National Initiatives: Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves, Coastal Protected Areas, Sacred Groves of India, Export Prohibited Items.
  • Global Initiatives: Man And Biosphere, Biosphere Reserves, National Biosphere Reserve Programme, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Biodiversity Hotspots, World Heritage Sites
4. Conservation Efforts
  • Project Tiger, Lion, Leopards, Elephant, Secure Himalaya, Hangul
  • Crocodile Conservation Project
  • Captive Breeding, and Other Government Measures
Part III: Climate Change
1. Basic Understandings
  • Greenhouse Gases and Greenhouse Effects;
  • Global warming and its potential
  • Ozone depletion;
  • Ocean Acidification and Rising Sea Level
  • India and Climate Change: Agriculture and Food Security, Water Stress, Sea Level, Rise, Ecosystem and Biodiversity, Health
2. India and Climate Change
  • Carbon Mitigation Strategies:  Carbon Sequestration Carbon Credit and Offsetting,  Carbon Tax, and Geo-Engineering.
  • Climate Change in India
  • Indian Network on Climate Change Assessment, NATCOM, India’s Policy Structure Relevant to GHG Mitigation, Green Building, Griha, NAFCC
3. Climate Change Organizations
  • IPCC and IPCC Reports;
  • UNFCCC and Important Conference of Parties.
  • Kyoto Protocol and Other Developments
  • REDD and REDD+ , Global Environment Facilities, Climate Smart Agriculture, and the National Green House Gas Inventories Programme.
  • Green Economy, Climate Finance, and Other Global Initiatives
Part IV: Agriculture
Agriculture
  • Crop and its Classification, Various Tillage Operations, Cropping Systems and Patterns, Types of Farming System, Sustainable Agriculture,  and its Components  Organic Farming and Natural Farming,  Integrated Farming System, Soil and its characteristics.
Part V: Miscellaneous
1. Acts and Policies
  • Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972
  • Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986
  • National Forest Policy, 1988
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • FRA 2006
  • CRZ
  • Wetland Rules 2010 National Green Tribunal,
  • The Ozone Depleting Substances Rules.
  • Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016,
  • E-Waste Management Rules, 2016,
  • Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016,
  • Wetland Rules 2010 National Green Tribunal,
2. Environmental Organisations
  • Organisations, their Origin, and various initiatives taken
  • Animal Welfare Board, Central Zoo Authority, National Biodiversity Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
3. Environmental Conventions:
  • UNCED, UNCCD, UNCBD, Ramsar Convention, CITES, TRAFFIC, CMS, IUCN, Stockholm, Basel, and Rotterdam Convention, Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol, Kigali Agreement, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, and Minamata Convention
4. Other Facts
  • State Animals and State Birds, Animal and Plant species in News, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Reserves, Elephant reserves, Lakes, Dams, India’s Biosphere Reserves, List of Sacred Groves, Mangrove sites, etc.

Environment Questions in UPSC Prelims

Environment and Ecology questions in the UPSC Prelims have been a significant part of the exam in recent years. Here are the number of Environment and Ecology questions in the past few years:
UPSC Prelims Year Number of Questions
2023 10
2022 12
2021 20
2020 22
2019 21
2018 17
2017 15

Important Books for UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026

To prepare the UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus well for the upcoming 2026 exam, it's essential to study from reliable and easy-to-understand books that cover topics like ecosystems, biodiversity, climate change, and environmental laws. Here are some recommended books to help you build a strong foundation for the UPSC exam 2026.
  1. Science NCERT: Class 6 to 10 (Environment Related Topics)
  2. Biology NCERT: Class 12 (Environment Related Topics)
  3. Geography NCERT: Class 6 to 11 (Environment Related Topics)
  4. Environment and Ecology – Biodiversity, Climate Change and Disaster Management by Majid Hussain
  5. UPSC UDAAN Environment Book
  6. PW ONLYIAS UPSC Wallah Environment
  7. UPSC Prelims Previous Years (2011-2023) Solved Question Papers book
  8. Prahaar booklets for UPSC Mains Current Affairs
To prepare the UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus 2026, consider enrolling in  Physics Wallah’s UPSC Courses for holistic support!

UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology Syllabus FAQs

What is the syllabus of environmental Ecology for UPSC?

The UPSC syllabus for Environmental Ecology covers topics such as ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, sustainable development, biodiversity, climate change, and environmental degradation. It also includes environmental laws, policies, and treaties. Candidates are expected to understand environmental issues and their implications for society and governance.

How to prepare environment and Ecology for UPSC Prelims?

Prepare for the UPSC Prelims in Environment and Ecology by grasping essential topics such as biodiversity, ecosystems, environmental issues, and conservation. Use NCERT textbooks, reference books, and stay updated with current affairs magazines. Practice previous years' question papers regularly to assess your readiness.

What is the weightage of environment and Ecology in UPSC prelims?

The weightage of Environment and Ecology in the UPSC Prelims can vary each year, but typically, it constitutes around 10-15% of the total paper.

Is environment and Ecology important for UPSC?

Yes, Environment and Ecology are vital for the UPSC exam, especially with today's focus on climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Mastering these subjects is key to tackling modern challenges and shaping impactful policies.

What is the difference between Ecology and Environment UPSC?

Ecology explores how organisms interact with their environment, while environment includes all factors surrounding an organism, both living and non-living. Ecology is a subset of biology, while the environment covers the broader context of ecological interactions.
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Point IconLive & recorded classes available at ease
Point IconDashboard for progress tracking
Point IconMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Download ButtonDownload Button
Banner Image
Banner Image
Free Learning Resources
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others

Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.