IGNOU FREE BEVAE-181 Environmental Studies Solved Guess Paper 2025

Q1. Define Environment and explain its components.

Environment refers to the sum total of all external conditions, influences, and forces that affect living organisms. It includes both natural and human-made surroundings. The environment determines how organisms survive, interact, and evolve. It consists of four major components — Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, and Biosphere.

The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth. It protects organisms from harmful ultraviolet radiation, regulates temperature, and enables life through oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen cycles. The hydrosphere includes all water bodies—oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers, and water vapour. Water is essential for survival, agriculture, climate regulation, and biodiversity.

The lithosphere refers to Earth’s solid crust, including rocks, minerals, and soil. It supports agriculture, settlements, and natural resources like fossil fuels and metals. The biosphere is the zone where life exists. It includes plants, animals, humans, and microorganisms interacting with each other through ecosystems and food chains.

The environment also includes biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. Biotic components involve producers, consumers, and decomposers, while abiotic components include sunlight, temperature, air, water, and soil.

Human-made environment includes buildings, technology, industries, transportation systems, and institutions. As human population grows, human influence over natural processes increases, creating environmental challenges such as pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

Understanding environment is important because it helps us recognize the interdependence between humans and nature. It promotes sustainable living, conservation, and responsible resource use. Environmental studies create awareness about climate change, global warming, pollution, and the need for conservation.

Thus, environment is a complex, interconnected system that supports life and must be protected for future generations.

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Q2. What is Environmental Studies? Explain its scope and importance. 

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationship between humans and the natural world. It integrates knowledge from science, social science, economics, geography, ecology, and policy studies to understand environmental problems and explore solutions.

The scope of Environmental Studies is broad. It includes the study of ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, natural resources, population dynamics, environmental ethics, environmental laws, disaster management, climate change, and sustainable development. The subject explains physical processes like water cycle, carbon cycle, energy flow, and ecological balance.

Its importance lies in creating awareness about environmental degradation. As pollution increases due to industrialization, resource exploitation, deforestation, and urbanization, environmental studies help humans adopt responsible behavior. It encourages conservation of water, forests, soils, wildlife, and energy resources.

Environmental Studies teaches sustainable practices such as waste management, recycling, renewable energy use, and eco-friendly lifestyle. It also guides policymakers in designing environmental laws and international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement and Kyoto Protocol.

Thus, Environmental Studies promotes understanding, responsibility, and sustainable actions for protecting the environment.

Q3. Explain different types of Natural Resources.

Natural resources are materials and components that occur naturally on Earth and are essential for human survival and economic development. They are classified into renewable, non-renewable, biotic, and abiotic resources.

Renewable resources are replenished naturally, such as sunlight, wind, water, forests, and wildlife. These resources, if used wisely, can last indefinitely. Non-renewable resources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, and minerals like iron, copper, and gold. These form over millions of years and deplete with excessive use.

Resources are also biotic (living)—plants, animals, forests, fisheries—and abiotic (non-living)—water, air, minerals, and land.

Energy resources include solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass. Forest resources provide timber, fuelwood, medicinal plants, and habitat for biodiversity. Water resources support agriculture, drinking, power generation, and ecosystems.

As population grows, pressure on natural resources increases. Overexploitation causes deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, mineral depletion, and loss of biodiversity.

Conservation through sustainable practices—rainwater harvesting, afforestation, recycling, renewable energy—helps protect resources.

Thus, natural resources form the foundation of life and development, and must be managed sustainably.

Q4. Discuss the importance of Forest Resources.

Forests are one of Earth’s most valuable natural resources. They support biodiversity, regulate climate, prevent soil erosion, and sustain millions of people.

Forests provide ecological benefits. They release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and act as carbon sinks, thereby reducing global warming. Forests moderate temperature, maintain rainfall patterns, and protect watersheds. Their roots bind soil, preventing erosion, landslides, and floods.

Forests are home to more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. They provide habitat for plants, birds, insects, mammals, and microorganisms, contributing to ecological balance.

Their economic importance includes timber, fuelwood, paper, latex, resin, fruits, bamboo, and medicinal plants. Many industries—furniture, paper, pharmaceuticals—depend on forest products.

Forests also provide livelihood to tribal communities through minor forest produce, grazing, honey, and traditional medicine. They hold cultural and spiritual importance for many indigenous cultures.

Despite their importance, forests face threats like deforestation, illegal logging, forest fires, mining, and encroachment. This leads to biodiversity loss, climate change, and soil degradation.

Conservation methods include afforestation, community forest management (JFM), protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and promoting sustainable resource use.

Thus, forests play a vital role in ecological stability and must be conserved for future generations.

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Q5. Explain Water Resources and the causes of Water Scarcity.

Water is the most essential natural resource on Earth. Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and less than 1% is available for human use. Water resources include surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater, glaciers, and rainwater.

Water scarcity occurs when demand exceeds availability or when water becomes polluted. Major causes include population growth, overuse in agriculture, industrial pollution, urbanization, climate change, deforestation, and poor water management.

Agriculture consumes nearly 70% of freshwater. Inefficient irrigation, groundwater over-extraction, and overdependence on monsoon worsen scarcity. Industries release chemicals into rivers, making water unsafe. Urban expansion reduces natural recharge zones, causing groundwater depletion.

Climate change alters rainfall patterns, causing droughts and floods. Deforestation reduces water retention and rainfall. Contaminated water from sewage and plastics further reduces usable water.

Solutions include rainwater harvesting, watershed management, drip irrigation, wastewater recycling, groundwater recharge, afforestation, and strict pollution control.

Thus, sustainable management of water resources is necessary for long-term survival.

Q6. Discuss Air Pollution: its types, causes, and impacts.

Air pollution refers to the presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere that adversely affect human health, plants, animals, buildings, and the overall environment. Pollutants can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. They may originate from natural or human-made sources.

Air pollution is broadly classified into primary and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants are emitted directly from sources, such as carbon monoxide (from vehicles), sulfur dioxide (from industries), nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Secondary pollutants form in the atmosphere through chemical reactions, like ozone and smog.

Major causes include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, burning of fossil fuels, construction dust, biomass burning, agricultural residue burning, and household fuels in rural areas. Urbanization and increasing energy demands worsen the situation. Natural sources include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms.

Air pollution has severe health impacts. It causes respiratory diseases, asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing chronic diseases. Children and elderly people are most at risk. Indoor air pollution from biomass fuels also affects rural households.

Environmental impacts include acid rain, formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with moisture. Acid rain damages soil fertility, aquatic life, buildings, and monuments. Air pollution also contributes to global warming by increasing greenhouse gases, and to ozone depletion through chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Air quality can be improved through strict emission norms, cleaner fuels, renewable energy, public transportation, plantation drives, and awareness programs. Government initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS-VI) play significant roles.

Thus, air pollution is a critical environmental issue requiring urgent control measures for public health and ecological stability.

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Q7. Explain Climate Change and Global Warming.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, rainfall patterns, wind, and other climatic factors on Earth. Global warming specifically means the rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations.

The primary cause of global warming is the greenhouse effect, intensified by human activities. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons trap heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, excessive agriculture, and transportation contribute heavily to emissions.

Climate change results in rising global temperatures, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, droughts, floods, and cyclones. Polar ice caps are shrinking rapidly, affecting global ocean currents and weather systems. Coastal cities face increased flooding risks.

Agriculture suffers due to irregular rainfall, pests, reduced soil moisture, and crop failures. Biodiversity is threatened as species struggle to adapt to rapid climate changes. Many animals face extinction, and coral reefs are bleaching due to warmer oceans.

Human health is affected through heatwaves, vector-borne diseases (like malaria), water scarcity, and poor air quality. Economically, climate change leads to loss of livelihoods, increased disaster recovery costs, and reduced productivity.

Mitigation strategies include reducing fossil fuel use, adopting renewable energy (solar, wind), improving energy efficiency, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture. International agreements such as the Paris Agreement aim to limit global temperature rise below 1.5°C.

Adaptation measures include water conservation, climate-resilient crops, disaster preparedness, and climate-friendly infrastructure.

Climate change is a global challenge requiring coordinated efforts to ensure a sustainable future.

Q8. Explain Solid Waste Management and its steps. 

Solid waste management refers to the systematic handling of waste materials to reduce environmental and health hazards. Solid waste includes household garbage, plastics, paper, agricultural waste, biomedical waste, e-waste, and industrial waste.

The process includes segregation, collection, transportation, processing, treatment, and disposal.

Segregation at source is essential and involves separating waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, and hazardous categories. Proper segregation reduces landfill burden and improves recycling efficiency.

Waste is collected by municipal authorities and transported to processing units. Processing methods include composting, vermicomposting, biogas generation, and recycling. Organic waste is converted into manure, while plastics, metals, and paper are recycled.

Hazardous waste, such as biomedical waste, requires specialized treatment like incineration. E-waste is dismantled to recover valuable metals safely. Landfills, though common, must be scientifically designed to prevent groundwater contamination.

Modern methods include waste-to-energy plants, where waste is burned to generate electricity. However, this requires strict emission controls.

Public awareness and community participation are crucial. The 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—help minimize waste generation. Government programs like Swachh Bharat Mission promote cleanliness and waste segregation.

Thus, effective solid waste management ensures environmental safety, resource recovery, and cleaner urban living.

Q9. Discuss major Environmental Policies and Laws in India. 

India has several environmental policies and laws to protect natural resources and reduce pollution. These policies guide sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Key laws include the Environment Protection Act (1986), enacted after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It empowers the central government to regulate industrial pollution, set safety standards, and take action against polluters.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 aims to control air pollution through emission standards and monitoring by pollution control boards. Similarly, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 regulates water bodies and prohibits industrial discharge without treatment.

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 safeguards wildlife species and their habitats. It establishes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and prohibits hunting. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 restricts forest land diversion for non-forest purposes.

India also implements the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to protect biodiversity and regulate access to genetic resources. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, and E-Waste Rules improve waste handling.

Environmental policies include the National Environmental Policy (2006), which promotes sustainable resource use, cleaner production, and environmental governance. The National Forest Policy (1988) emphasizes forest conservation and participatory management.

International commitments include the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC, and Kyoto Protocol, guiding India’s climate actions.

These laws and policies collectively provide a framework for environmental protection, public awareness, pollution control, and ecological conservation.

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Q10. Explain Sustainable Development and its principles. 

Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It balances economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection.

The principles of sustainable development include:

1. Intergenerational Equity: Resources must be used carefully so future generations benefit equally.

2. Precautionary Principle: When environmental harm is uncertain, preventive action must be taken.

3. Polluter Pays Principle: Industries responsible for pollution must bear the cost of cleaning it.

4. Resource Conservation: Water, soil, forests, minerals, and energy resources must be used efficiently.

5. Biodiversity Protection: Diverse species must be protected for ecological stability.

6. Participation: Communities must be involved in decisions affecting their environment.

7. Environmental Justice: Benefits and burdens of development must be distributed fairly.

Sustainable development emphasizes renewable energy, organic farming, waste reduction, green buildings, environmental education, and conservation of ecosystems.

It promotes long-term planning instead of short-term exploitation. Global programs like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide countries toward sustainability.

Thus, sustainable development provides a balanced path for progress while safeguarding environmental and social well-being.

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