Course in Environmental Studies Mandatory at Delhi University (DU)

It is now mandatory for students at Delhi University (DU) to take up Environmental Studies course either in the first or second semester of their undergraduate programmes.

The course has been made compulsory after the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a directive to DU to introduce the environmental science subject in its UG course curriculum this academic session onwards.  The session 2014-15 commenced from July 21.

The course in Environmental Studies has been introduced in the current academic session and DU says it shall be taken up by a student either in the first or second semester of his/her study as a qualifying course for 100 marks as per the scheme notified for the three-year undergraduate programme, according to PTI.

In a circular to the principals, Prof Rup Lal, the DU Dean of Examinations, said: "The evaluation for the course will be undertaken by the respective colleges who will later send the evaluated marks to the examination branch through the existing mechanism.”

MK Pandit, a professor in DU's Environmental Science department, says the course will be available in English only during the present session, but plans are on to have it Hindi as well from the next session.

The UGC had issued directives to colleges and universities across India in 2004 after Supreme Court's order to begin a six-month mandatory environmental science course.

However, the implementation of the course eventually got deferred due to lack of infrastructural needs, according to DU officials.

The directives had been issued due to the rise in the occurrence of climatic hazards.
Pandit said the course will not be completely theoretical but will include 25 per cent weightage for field work, including video presentations, field visits, excursions, project work, etc.

"The interdisciplinary course will be helpful in imparting knowledge to undergraduates from all educational backgrounds. It will not only give them a better understanding of environmental issues at the local, regional and global levels but also help them develop lateral thinking in this area," added Pandit.

Some of the topics that will be covered as part of the course will include ecosystems, renewable and non-renewable natural resources, biodiversity and conservation, pollution, environmental policies and practices, exploitation of mineral, land, water resources and deforestation.

Source: Ravi Gupta, click4college Specialist