The University Grants Commission has asked the universities to make Environmental Studies a compulsory subject for all the Undergraduate programmes. As per the decree of the apex court, environmental studies have to be incorporated in all the branches of higher education in the country.
The UGC earlier passed the instruction through various letters to all the universities and institutions to incorporate a six-month core module syllabus on environmental studies for all the undergraduate programmes.
The letter issued by the UGC on May 14, 2019, stated that the UGC has asked the universities to make sure that the six-month core module syllabus of environmental studies is added to the undergraduate programmes in the different universities and its affiliated colleges and institutions in case it has not been done until now.
The UGC has also asked the universities to raise awareness regarding the preservation of the environment among the students which will further help in providing a safe and healthy environment for the future generations to come.
About the Programme
The UGC has also given a recommendation regarding the module syllabus. As per this, there will be seven units for the course. Unit one will be an introduction to environmental studies. Unit two and three will be about the ecosystem and natural resources (both renewable and non-renewable). Unit four will be details about biodiversity and conservation. Unit five and six will have topics on environmental pollution, environmental policies, and practices. Finally, unit seven will focus on human communities and the environment.
Principal of Dr. Nayapalli College, Bhubaneshwar, Rajani Rajan Das said that they have made environmental studies compulsory for certain streams in the college. He also added that the college is taking the necessary steps to make the subject compulsory for all the programmes, while a senior university professor of the opinion that several colleges are yet to implement the order passed.
