GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus 2023 PDF Download

GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus 2023

The GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 consists of nine sections. Understanding the syllabus for GATE 2023 is essential to strategize your preparation level to get through the exam. It consists of 65 questions worth 100 marks. The Mathematics foundation Section will be worth 13 marks, General Aptitude will be 15 marks, and core Environmental Science and Engineering topics have a weightage of 72 marks.

The nine sections included in the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) syllabus 2023 are as follows.

• Mathematics Foundation
• Water and Wastewater Treatment and Management
• Environmental Chemistry
• Environmental Microbiology
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
• Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics
• Air and Noise Pollution
• Global and Regional Environmental Issues
• Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

By understanding the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus, candidates can get clarity about the important topics and sections needed to cover for the examination. Let us now discuss in detail the topics included in these sections.

Section 1: Mathematics Foundation

The Mathematics foundation section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 has a weightage of 13 marks. It includes various important topics such as Cauchy’s theorem, probability, limit, etc. Let us further discuss the topics in detail.

• 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: Water and Wastewater Treatment and Management

The water and wastewater treatment and management section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as water distribution, water storage, desalination, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

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 nonpoint sources of wastewater; Population forecasting methods; Design of sewer and stormwater sewers; Sewer appurtenances;	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, Orde,r and rate of reactions, Batch reactors, Completely mixed flow reactors, plug flow reactors.	Preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary sewage treatment; Sludge generation, processing, and disposal methods; Sewage farming

Section 3: Environmental Chemistry

The environmental chemistry section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as covalent and ionic bonding, the solubility of gases, soil chemistry, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

• 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; Acid-base 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, phosphorus, 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 4: Environmental Microbiology

The environmental microbiology section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as anabolism, catabolism, fermentation etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

• 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 and RNA), lipids, and polysaccharides; Bonds in biomolecules; Stereoisomerism in biomolecules; Structure of cell; Structure and function of the 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 5: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

The solid and hazardous waste management section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as generation, waste generation, soil contamination, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

Integrated solid waste management; Waste hierarchy	Municipal solid waste management: Sources, generation, characteristics, collection, and transportation.
Management of biomedical waste, plastic waste, and E-waste: Sources, generation, and characteristics;	Hazardous waste management: Characteristics, generation, the fate of materials in the environment, treatment, and disposal.
Waste management practices, storage, collection, and transfer.	Soil contamination and leaching of contaminants into groundwater.
waste processing and disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery processes, and landfilling).	Rules and regulations for solid waste management in India.

Section 6: Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics

The water resources and environmental hydraulics section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 include various topics such as geologic, Darcy’s law, hydrological cycle, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

• 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; Rainwater 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 7: Air and Noise Pollution

The air and noise pollution section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as diffusion, fuel quality, inventory, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

• 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 sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons; Vapor-liquid and vapor-solid equilibria; Diffusion, Fick’s law, and interfacial mass transfer.
• Automotive emission controls, fuel quality, diesel particulate filters, catalytic converters.
• 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 8: Global and Regional Environmental Issues

The global and regional environmental issues section of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 includes various topics such as global effects of pollution, biodiversity, acid rain, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

Topics	Sub-Topics
Global effects of Air Pollution	Greenhouse gas Global warming Climate change Urban heat islands Acid rain Ozone hole
Ecology and various ecosystems	Biodiversity Factors influencing the increase in population, energy consumption, and environmental degradation

Section 9: Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

The environmental management and sustainable development section of the GATE syllabus for Environmental Science and Engineering include various topics such as sustainability, polluter pays principle, sustainable development, etc. Let us now discuss the topics in detail.

• 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.

GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus- Important Topics

There are various important topics in the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus 2023 which carry high weightage from the exam perspective such as the Mathematics Foundation, the Global effects of air pollution, etc. A list of some important topics which candidates must not miss before the final exam is provided below:

Mathematics Foundation	Environmental auditing
Energy and Environment	Global effects of air pollution
Hazardous waste management	Integrated solid waste management
Air quality management	Air pollution
Kinetics and reactor design	Water and wastewater quality parameters
Surface Water Resources: Environmental Hydraulics	Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry Soil chemistry
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms	Microbial metabolism