GATE Syllabus 2024 for ES Paper: The Indian Institute of Science (gate.iisc.ac.in), Bangalore, the organising institute officially released complete syllabus of Environmental Science & Engineering (ES) Paper for GATE 2024 exams.
The syllabus of paper ES (Environmental Science & Engineering) has been divided into nine sections. The corresponding sections of the question paper contain different topics.
You may download GATE admit card and GATE exam schedule for paper Environmental Science & Engineering for appearing in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering for the year 2024.
GATE 2024 Paper Pattern for Environmental Science & Engineering:
| Paper | Environmental Science & Engineering |
|---|---|
| Paper Code | ES |
| Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Type of Questions | (a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ: 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For 2-mark MCQ: 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. NO negative marking for MSQ & NAT. |
| Number of Questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions |
| General Aptitude (GA) Marks | 15 Marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 Marks |
| Subject Questions | 72 Marks |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
Section-1: Mathematics Foundation
| Topics | GATE 2024 Syllabus of Mathematics Foundation |
|---|---|
| Linear Algebra | Determinants and matrices, Systems of linear equations, Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. |
| Calculus | Functions, Limit, Continuity, Differentiability, Local maxima and minima, Taylor series, Tests for convergence, Definite and indefinite integrals, Application of definite integral 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). |
Section-2: Environmental Chemistry
| Topics | GATE 2024 Syllabus of Environmental Chemistry |
|---|---|
| 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; Acidbase 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. |
Section-3: Environmental Microbiology
| Topics | GATE 2024 Syllabus of Environmental Microbiology |
|---|---|
| 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 acid (DNA & RNA), lipids and polysaccharides; Bonds in biomolecules; Stereoisomerism in biomolecules; Structure of cell; Structure and function of 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 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
| Topics | GATE 2024 Syllabus of Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics |
|---|---|
| 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, runoff; Flow hydrographs; Unit hydrographs; Stage-discharge relationship; Reservoir capacity; Reservoir and channel routing; Surface run-off models; 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; 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 |
Section-5: Water & Wastewater Treatment and Management
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 storm water 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 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 (Bag-house 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; Vapour-liquid and vapour-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.
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 and transportation, waste processing and disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery processes and landfilling).
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 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, 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.
Section-9: Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Environmental Management Systems; ISO14000 series; Environmental auditing: Environmental Impact Assessment; Life cycle assessment; Human health risk assessment Environmental Law and Policy – Objectives; 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.
You may download complete GATE syllabus 2024 for ES Environmental Science & Engineering in PDF. For more detail, please visit official website GATE2024.IISc.ac.in.