The Common University Entrance Test – Undergraduate (CUET UG) has become the primary gateway for admission into undergraduate programs offered by Central Universities and many State, Deemed, and Private Universities across India. Environmental Science is an important domain subject under CUET UG, especially for students aiming for B.Sc. Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Ecology, Sustainability, Geography, or interdisciplinary science programs.The CUET UG Environmental Science Exam 2026 evaluates a student’s understanding of environmental processes, ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, and sustainable development, largely based on the NCERT Class XII syllabus.

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CUET UG Environmental Science 2026: Overview

Feature	Details
Exam Name	CUET UG Environmental Science
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Level	Undergraduate
Mode of Exam	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Medium	English & Hindi
Duration	45 minutes
Question Type	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Questions	50 (40 to be attempted)

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Eligibility Criteria for CUET UG Environmental Science 2026

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent examination from a recognized board.
• Students appearing in Class 12 in 2026 are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Subject Requirements

• Environmental Science may be chosen by students from Science, Arts, or Commerce streams, depending on the university’s admission criteria.
• Some universities may prefer Biology, Geography, or Environmental Studies background.

Age Limit

• No upper age limit for appearing in CUET UG.
• Age criteria, if any, will be decided by the participating universities.

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CUET UG Environmental Science 2026 Syllabus (Detailed)

The syllabus is largely based on NCERT Class XII Environmental Studies/Environmental Science.

1. Human Beings and Nature

(i) Modern schools of ecological thought.

(ii) Definitions and basic understanding of Deep ecology (Gary Snyder, Earth First) vs. shallow ecology.

(iii) Stewardship of land (e.g. Wendell Berry).

(iv) Social ecology [Marxist environmentalism and socialist ecology (Barry Commoner)].

(v) Feminism.

(vi) Green Politics (e.g. Germany and England).

(vii) Sustainable Development: basic concepts, Brundtland Commission Report, Sustainable Development Goals, Mission LiFE.

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2. Population and Conservation Ecology

I.Population dynamics: Factors causing population change (birth, death, immigration
and emigration); relation between the factors; Age structure and its significance;
Population Pyramids –interpretation and implications. Rate of change of population –
the three general shapes of Survivorship Curves, r and K strategies and differences
between the two.
II.Human populations (Malthusian model and demographic transition): Definition of
Carrying Capacity; Malthusian view: concept of ‘over-population’ and shortage of
resources; Questioning Malthus. Population Growth vs. Disparate Consumption of
resources within and amongst nations. Definition and understanding of Demographic
Transition; Factors influencing demographic transition.
III. Population Regulation: Growth without regulation (exponential); simple population
regulation (logistic growth curve); factors regulating population size (space, food and
water, territories, predators, weather and climate, parasite and diseases, disasters and selfregulation). Basic understanding of the Exponential growth curve (J – shaped) and
Logistic growth curve (S – shaped); Factors regulating population size (space, food and
water, territories, predators, weather and climate, parasite and diseases, disasters and selfregulation).
IV.Threats to the ecosystem: habitat destruction; genetic erosion; Biodiversity loss;
expanding agriculture; impound water; waste from human societies; increasing human
consumption. Only a brief understanding of the causes and consequences of threats to
provisioning and regulatory functions of the ecosystem with suitable examples.
V.Conservation: importance, the critical state of Indian forests; conflicts surrounding
forested areas – populations and tribals and their rights – tourism – poaching – roads –
development projects – dams; scientific forestry and its limitations; social forestry; the
role of the forest department; NGOs; joint forestry management; wild life – sanctuaries,
conservation and management in India; Project Tiger as a case study in conservation.
Definition of Conservation in situ and ex situ conservation, Importance of Conservation.
VI.In-situ conservation: Wildlife sanctuaries, National parks, Biosphere reserves
(definition, objectives, features, advantages and disadvantages). Ex-situ conservation:
zoos, aquaria, plant collection (objectives, features, advantages and disadvantages).
VII.Conflicts in managing and conserving Forests: India’s forest cover, issues concerning
people living in and around forests with particular reference to tribal rights; threats to
forests: poaching, developmental projects like roads and dams, over exploitation of forest
resources (direct and indirect).The role of the forest department and NGOs in managing forests.
Some management measures: scientific forestry, social forestry (various types of social
forestry), Joint Forestry Management (JFM), ecotourism.
Case study in conservation for example Project Tiger: Origin, aims, and objectives,
successes, failures.Acts and rules related to ecology, forest and biodiversity conservation

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3. Environmental Pollution

Definition and concepts of pollutants, contaminant sources, sink, receptor; impacts of air, water and soil pollution on human health and ecosystem; different acts/rules related to prevention and control of air, water, soil and noise pollution in India.

I. Air pollution and its monitoring

• Structure, temperature profile and composition of atmosphere; primary and secondary pollutants; National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); importance of monitoring of ambient air quality (gaseous and particulate).
• Industrial and vehicular pollution and various steps taken to regulate pollution – emission standards, implementation of CNG programme.
• Acid rain formation and its impact; smog; photochemical smog; ozone in troposphere.
• Monitoring at emission source and of ambient air quality; criteria for monitoring stations; types of stations; number of stations; frequency of data collection; characteristics of ambient air sampling; basic considerations for sampling (to be dealt with briefly).
• Classification of techniques – manual and instrumental.
  Manual: Passive samplers, High Volume Samplers, Bubbler systems.
  Instrumental: Photometric techniques – NDIR, Chemiluminescence (principle and use).
• Ambient Air Quality Index; National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) programme; main functions of the Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board; National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and its objectives.

II. Water pollution and its monitoring

• Distribution of water on earth; sources (quantitative/qualitative, biodegradable vs non-biodegradable, point vs non-point sources) of pollution in surface and ground water, ponds, lakes and rivers.
• Water quality indicators: pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, salinity, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrates, sulphates, metals and pesticides, BOD and COD.
• Lake stratification; eutrophication.

III. Soil pollution and its monitoring

• Sources of soil pollution such as industries, mining, agricultural runoff, sewage water, etc.
• Soil characteristics: physical, chemical and biological attributes of soil; soil types; soil moisture; soil pH; soil acidity.
  Experimental details for assessing soil respiration, soil pH, soil aggregate stability and infiltration rate.

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4. Development and Environment

I. Urbanisation:
Push and pull factors; consequences on rural and urban sectors; future trends and projections.

II. Conventional paradigm of development:
Critical appraisal from the viewpoints of sustainability, environmental impact and equity.
Definition of economic development and natural resources.
Relationship between development and environment.
Overuse and exploitation of resources; diversion of scarce resources; disparate access to resources; increasing wastes and pollution.

III. Gandhian approach to development and environment:
Local self-governance – basic principles behind village policy, Antyodaya, Sarvodaya, Panchayati Raj; local self-sufficiency, local markets and environmental sustainability.
Village as the basis of development; promotion of cottage industries and intermediate technologies; focus on employment; Indian way of life and concern for environment.

IV. Urban environmental planning and management:
Problems of sanitation, water management, transport, energy, air quality and housing; constraints (economic, political).

Indigenous approaches: rainwater harvesting, garbage segregation, composting, energy from solid and liquid wastes, sewage management (dry toilets, Decentralized Water Management System – DEWATS).

Features of new urbanism and goals of smart growth with examples from the Third World:
▪ Bogota – Bolivia (traffic management)
▪ Cuba (urban agriculture using organic methods)
▪ Curitiba – Brazil (traffic planning and urban renewal)
▪ Cochabamba – water management and protests against privatization of water supply

5. Sustainable Agriculture in India

Crop varieties; techniques for maintaining soil fertility
I. Features of pre-colonial agriculture: Growing for sustenance rather than
market; multi-cropping, management of soil health, diversity in seed.
Colonial influence: Punitive taxation, commercial crops for export and British industry,
devaluation of sustainable traditional practices. Bengal famine. Comparative study of
pre-colonial, colonial and post- colonial agriculture and their impact.
II. Irrigation systems, Macro vs micro irrigation systems – Canal irrigation/dam as
compared to sprinkler/ drip/ trickle drip/dug wells. Basic features, advantages and
disadvantages of each kind. Traditional rainwater harvesting- tankas, khadins, ahar,
pynes, zings, johads and eris etc in different parts of India.
III. Green Revolution: Origin and Basic principles of Green RevolutionDevelopment of High Yielding Varieties (HYV); introduction of fertilizers and
pesticides; mono cropping, Environmental, social and economic impacts –
advantages and disadvantages (from the viewpoints of agro-bio diversity; soil
health; ecological impact of pesticides; energy use; input costs; benefits to small
and medium farmers, community level and household level food security).
IV. Elements of sustainable agriculture: Mixed farming, mixed cropping, intercropping, crop rotation, use of sustainable practices of water soil and pest
management for improving soil fertility (organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, green
manure, with two examples) and pest control (bio pesticides). Integrated Pest
Management (IPM); eating local foods. Traditional agriculture, natural farming,
organic agriculture, modern agriculture (use of hybrid seeds, high yielding
varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides), gene revolution (genetically
modified seeds) and sustainable agriculture.
V. Management of agricultural produce: Storage; Food preservation-different
methods like use of low temperatures, high temperatures, drying, canning,
preservation by salt and sugar. packaging, grading, Transportation of Food.
Food adulteration and Food additives- definitions; types and harmful effects of
adulteration.
Quality Marks – ISI (Indian Standard Institute); AGMARK (Agricultural
Marketing); FPO (Fruit Product Order).
VI. Food Security. Meaning and need, Issues related to food production, storage and
access. Integrated and sustainable approach to food security for the Third World
including working for environmental sustainability and social and economic
sustainability through land reform, credit support to farmers, market support to
farmers, inadequacies in the present marketing system, ways to improve
marketing system, improving access to food, ownership of seeds. National level
food security Act 2013

6. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

(i) Classification of natural resources – abiotic and biotic; renewable and non-renewable; stock, potential and actual; ubiquitous and localized; scarcity and growth; natural resource accounting.
Physical accounting – definition, principles, advantages and disadvantages.

(ii) GDP and GNP – definitions; advantages and disadvantages as measures of growth.

(iii) Environmental economics – purpose; defensive expenditure; natural/ecological capital; carbon footprint and carbon credit.

(iv) Externalities – definition, types (positive and negative), examples and impacts.

(v) Cost-benefit analysis – definition, process, advantages and disadvantages; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – definition, examples and advantages.

(vi) Natural capital regeneration – ecosystem services; causes of environmental degradation; ecological footprint; importance of conserving natural capital.

7. International Relations and the Environment

I. Global Impacts of pollution
Ozone depletion: Chapman’s cycle, potential effects of ozone depletion, ozone
depleting substances (halons, carbon tetrachloride, CFCs, methyl chloroform, methyl
bromide and HCFCs); Ozone thinning over Antarctica and arctic,
Steps taken to control ozone depletion. waste dumping, persistent organic pollutants,
Global warming, Greenhouse gases, Carbon footprint, Climate change: indicators and
causes;Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol, Bamako convention, Paris agreement, Conference of
parties, carbon credits system
Case study of Amazonia – causes for forest exploitation, reasons for acceleration of
deforestation, effects of government policies, ecological value of rainforests and
possible solutions to the problem.
Case study of ivory trade in Africa – reasons for flourishing trade of ivory in the past,
steps taken to curb the trade and the consequences of ban in trade.
II.International trade: A theoretical perspective; free trade vs. protectionism; import
barriers; domestic industry vs. free trade; transnational companies – a historical
perspective; India’s international trade – characteristics and terms of trade, major
imports and exports – foreign exchange crises
The export imperative and its impact on the environment; the case study of aquaculture
in India; diversion of scarce resource from production of subsistence needs to
commercial products; toxic waste trade – extent and impact; Globalization -trade regimes
(WTO, GATT, IPR, TRIPS, TRIMS) and their impact on third world.
Definition, advantages and disadvantages of globalization, free trade, protectionism.
Transnational Companies (TNCs) – definition; TNCs and environment – conflict of
interest.
Toxic waste trade – definition, origin, factors sustaining, impact on third world countries
(example – health and environmental impacts) and Bamako and Basel Conventions.
GATT – the organization and its metamorphosis into WTO.
Principles and functions of WTO: creating a level playing field for international trade
through Most Favored Nation, tariff and non-tariff barriers and trading to comparative
advantages.
Definition of IPR and its categories: copyrights, patents, trademarks, industrial design
rights, geographical indicators and trade secrets.
A brief understanding of how these agreements impacted India’s trade, food security,
economic well-being, environmental sustainability.
III. International aid: agencies; Types of Aid: Tied and Untied Aid, advantages and
disadvantages of each

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CUET UG Environmental Science Paper Analysis

Unit (Latest 7-Unit Syllabus)	Syllabus Focus	Exact No. of Questions (2022–2025)
Unit-1: Human Beings & Nature	Environmental ethics, ecological schools, thinkers, green politics, SDGs	32
Unit-2: Population & Conservation Ecology	Population growth, biodiversity, extinction, conservation strategies	38
Unit-3: Monitoring Pollution	Air, water, soil pollution, BOD, eutrophication, waste, biomagnification	46
Unit-4: Development & Environment	Sustainable development, urbanisation, industrial impact	27
Unit-5: Sustainable Agriculture & Resource Economics	Agriculture, food security, resource valuation, sustainability	19
Unit-6: Environmental Laws & Natural Resources	EPA, Wildlife Act, Forest Act, resource classification	24
Unit-7: International Relations & Environment	Montreal, Kyoto, Paris Agreement, global institutions	14
TOTAL		200 / 200

Exam Pattern of CUET UG Environmental Science 2026

Component	Details
Total Questions	50
Questions to Attempt	40
Marks per Question	+5
Negative Marking	−1 for each wrong answer
Maximum Marks	200
Time Duration	45 minutes

Important Note:
Only 40 questions are to be attempted out of 50. Attempting more than 40 may lead to evaluation of only the first 40 attempted responses.

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CUET UG Environmental Science 2026: Exam Pattern

The CUET UG examination is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

Key Features:

• Mode: Online (CBT)
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Duration: 60 minutes per subject
• Total Questions: 50 compulsory questions
• Medium: Multiple languages, including English and Hindi

Marking Scheme:

• Correct answer: +1 mark
• Incorrect answer: As per official notification (generally no negative marking, subject to change)

❓ Is the Language Test (Section I) mandatory if a student chooses CUET UG Environmental Science?

✅ YES — in most cases, the Language Test is MANDATORY.

For CUET UG admissions, universities generally require:

• At least ONE Language paper (Section I A or I B)
• PLUS the Domain subject(s) required for the course

🧮 Total Marks Table

Paper	Section	No. of Questions	Marks per Question	Maximum Marks
Language	Section I	40	+5	200
Domain Subject	Section II	40	+5	200
TOTAL	—	100	if attempt all	500 Marks

CUET UG Environmental Science 2026 Exam Date (Expected)

• CUET UG 2026 is expected to be conducted in May–June 2026.
• Environmental Science exam will be scheduled in multiple slots depending on the number of candidates.
• Exact dates will be announced in the official CUET UG notification.

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Seats Available for Environmental Science Through CUET UG

University	Programme	Approx. Seats
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	40–60
University of Delhi (DU) (select colleges)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	20–40 per college
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)	B.Sc. Environmental Science	30–50
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow	B.Sc. Environmental Science	40
Central University of Rajasthan	B.Sc. Environmental Science	30
Central University of Jharkhand	B.Sc. Environmental Science	30
Central University of South Bihar	B.Sc. Environmental Science	30
Central University of Kerala	B.Sc. Environmental Science	30

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B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science – Eligibility & CUET Subject Combination

Level	Programme	Language / Domain Requirement	CUET Subject Combination
Undergraduate	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	For Language/Domain subjects, kindly refer to List A and List B	Candidates must appear in CUET in any ONE of the following combinations: Combination I: Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry OR Combination II: Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics / Applied Mathematics Merit will be based on the best CUET scores obtained from the chosen combination. Candidates must appear in any one Language from List A in CUET.

B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science – University of Delhi

✅ Total Colleges Offering the Programme

7 Colleges

🎓 List of DU Colleges

1. Miranda House (Women)
2. Hindu College
3. Daulat Ram College (Women)
4. Gargi College (Women)
5. Deshbandhu College
6. Ramanujan College
7. Dyal Singh College

University-wise Eligibility Table CUET-UG

Central University	UG Programme Name	Eligibility (Academic + CUET Subjects)
University of Delhi (DU)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	10+2 with Science stream. CUET subject combination: (i) Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biotechnology / Biochemistry OR (ii) Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics / Applied Mathematics. + Any one Language from List A.
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) (via CUET)	B.Sc. Environmental Science	10+2 (Science) with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST). CUET: English (Section IA) + any one Science domain + General Test.
Central University of Haryana (CUH)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	10+2 with PCB / PCM from a recognized board. CUET: Physics + Chemistry + Biology/Mathematics + Language.
Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	10+2 in Science stream (PCB/PCM). CUET subject tests in relevant science domains + Language.
Central University of South Bihar (CUSB)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	10+2 with Science subjects. CUET: Physics, Chemistry + Biology/Mathematics.
Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science	10+2 with PCB / PCM. CUET domain subjects in Science + Language.

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🔹 College-wise CUET Cut-off Scores Delhi University

College	UR	OBC	SC	ST
Ramanujan College	503	430	349	325
Ramjas College	503	430	349	325

Best Books for CUET UG Environmental Science 2026

Unit No.	Unit Name	Best Core Book	Why This Book is Important for CUET
Unit-1	Human Beings and Nature	NCERT Environmental Studies (Class 12)	Ecological schools, thinkers, SDGs, Deep vs Shallow ecology
Unit-2	Population & Conservation Ecology	NCERT Biology Class 12 (Ecology)	Population growth, r/K strategies, demographic transition
Unit-3	Monitoring Pollution	Environmental Studies – Anubha Kaushik	Pollution types, indices, monitoring methods
Unit-4	Development & Environment	Environmental Studies – Erach Bharucha	Sustainable development, urbanisation, ethics
Unit-5	Sustainable Agriculture & Resource Economics	Environmental Studies – Benny Joseph	Resource valuation, sustainable farming, economics
Unit-6	Environmental Laws & Natural Resources	Environmental Studies – Erach Bharucha	Indian environmental acts, governance, conservation
Unit-7	International Relations & Environment	Environmental Studies – Benny Joseph	UN bodies, global treaties, climate change agreements

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📌 CUET-UG Environmental Science 2026 – FAQs

Q1. How many questions are there in the Environmental Science paper?

👉 50 questions are given; you must attempt 40.

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Q2. How many marks is the Environmental Science paper?

👉 200 marks

• +5 for each correct answer
• −1 for each wrong answer

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Q3. Is Environmental Science compulsory for B.Sc. Environmental Science in DU/JNU?

👉 Yes.
You must appear in:

• Section IA – Language paper
• Section II – Environmental Science

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Q4. Is the General Test required for Environmental Science admission?

👉 No, not for DU & JNU B.Sc. Environmental Science (subject to university bulletin).

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Q5. How many chapters (units) are in CUET Environmental Science syllabus?

👉 7 units, as prescribed by NTA.

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Q6. Which unit has the highest weightage based on PYQs (2022–2025)?

👉 Unit-3: Monitoring Pollution
(Highest number of questions across all 4 years)

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Q7. Which 3 units should be prepared first for maximum score?

👉 Priority order (data-based):

1. Monitoring Pollution (Unit-3)
2. Population & Conservation Ecology (Unit-2)
3. Human Beings & Nature (Unit-1)

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Q8. Are passage-based questions asked?

👉 Yes.

• Usually 1 passage = 5 MCQs
• Common topics: water pollution, biodiversity, sustainability

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Q9. Are questions strictly from NCERT?

👉 Mostly yes (≈60–65%)
But thinkers, Acts, protocols, and applied questions go beyond NCERT.

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Q10. Are Environmental Acts and International Treaties important?

👉 Extremely important.

• At least 1–2 questions every year
• Examples: EPA 1986, Wildlife Act, Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol

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Q11. What difficulty level can be expected in CUET 2026?

👉 Moderate, but concept-based and analytical

• Direct facts + interpretation questions

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Q12. What is a safe score for DU B.Sc. Environmental Science?

👉 320–350+ / 400 (Language + Domain combined)

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Q13. How much time is given for Environmental Science paper?

👉 45 minutes
➡️ About 1 minute per question

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Q14. What is the biggest mistake students make?

❌ Ignoring:

• Environmental thinkers
• Acts & years
• Passage-based practice

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Q15. Best preparation combination?

✅ NCERT + Erach Bharucha + CUET MCQ Book + PYQs