6-month environment module to be part of UG courses

The course would cover the multi-disciplinary nature of environmental studies including components of environment, various ecosystems apart from helping the students to get in-depth knowledge about natural resources such as renewable and non-renewable sources.

The curriculum also has topics like threats to biodiversity, habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological invasions, conservation of biodiversity, use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts over water (international and inter-State).

At the end of the course, students will visit an area to document environmental assets such as river, flora and fauna. They will also visit identified local polluted sites in urban, rural, industrial and agricultural areas. A diploma certificate in environmental studies will be given after the field visits. The UGC is also planning to create job opportunities to the students, who pursue environmental studies, by tying up with various environment departments and NGOs.

During the next academic session, the UGC is planning to increase the duration of the course from six months to one year.