Content Specialist | Updated On - Nov 12, 2024
GATE Environmental Science and Engineering comprises two sections. The first section is General Aptitude and the second section is the subject of Environmental Science and Engineering (ES).
| Section | Marks Weightage | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15% | 10 | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13% | 10 | 13 |
| Core ES Subjects | 72% | 45 | 72 |
| Total | 100% | 65 | 100 |
The GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Subjects include numerous topics such as Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry, Principles of Water Chemistry, Soil Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, and Environmental Microbiology. It is important to note that the GATE ES paper includes the majority of questions from the undergraduate subjects of aspirants.
Check: GATE 2025 Enviromental Science and Engineering Syllabus PDF
The GATE Environmental Science (ES) paper was introduced in the GATE 2020 examination by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. As environmental science emphasizes research, graduates have the option to either pursue a career in research or explore job opportunities. The GATE ES Exam Pattern for the upcoming year is going to include questions mainly from three sections: engineering mathematics, general aptitude, and core engineering sciences subjects. Applicants should prepare to answer 65 questions within a duration of 3 hours. Find further details about the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Exam Pattern in the table provided below.
| GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Exam Pattern | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Questions Types | Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) QuestionsMultiple Select Questions (MSQs) |
| Number of Sections | General AptitudeEngineering MathematicsEnvironmental Science and Engineering |
| Total Number of | 65 Questions |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | All questions are either going to carry 1 or 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | Yes, only applicable to multiple-choice questions. |
- GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Syllabus for General Aptitude
- GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Syllabus
2.1 Core Mathematics for Environmental Engineering
2.2 Environmental Chemistry Essentials
- Environmental Microbiology
3.1 Water Resources and Hydraulics
3.2 Air and Noise Pollution Control
3.3 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
3.4 Global and Regional Environmental Issues
3.5 Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
3.7 Engineering Principles in Environmental Applications
- GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Weightage
4.1 GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Topic Wise Weightage
- GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Score
5.1 GATE Environmental Engineering and Engineering Cut-Off
- GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Books
- GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Tips
GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Syllabus for General Aptitude
The GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus covers Verbal aptitude, Quantitative aptitude, Analytical aptitude, and Spatial aptitude. Questions in the examination are expected from these topics. The table below provides the detailed syllabus.
Check:
| Topics | Details |
|---|---|
| Verbal Aptitude |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| Analytical Aptitude | Logic: deduction and induction, Analogy, Numerical relations and reasoning |
| Spatial Aptitude | Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping Paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions |
GATE 2024 Environmental Science and Engineering Question Paper with Answer Key
| Exam Date | Session | Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|---|
| February 5, 2023 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| February 6, 2022 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| February 7, 2021 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Syllabus
In the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus, there are mainly 9 sections of topics that will be covered in the subject-related section. The topics are
- Mathematical Foundation
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Microbiology
- Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics
- Water and Wastewater treatment and management
- Air and Noise pollution
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
- Global and Regional Environmental Issues
- Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Students must align their preparation with these topics so that they can easily clear their exams. Refer to the table below for the detailed syllabus.
Core Mathematics for Environmental Engineering
Every candidate aspiring for an environmental engineering professional course is required to understand basic mathematics which assists them in arriving at decisions involving equations and data analysis.
- Linear Algebra The topics covered are matrices, and determinants systems of linear equations, which are fundamental in modeling and simulations of the environment.
- Calculus Mathematics includes functions, limits, derivatives, and integrals that are integral when studying the environment and modeling of pollutants.
- Probability and Statistics Pollution studies not only use but also require statistics for searching environmental trends, risk evaluations, and data analysis.
- Numerical Methods Numerical methods are used to support environmental modeling as it enable engineers to model real situations concerning the control of pollution, and the management of resources.
Environmental Chemistry Essentials
Environmental chemistry is a mandatory prerequisite for courses such as pollution, chemical reactions, and toxicological sciences.
- Environmental Chemistry for Non-science Majors Glycolysis and furthermore, osmosis is part of the concepts that help examine chemical change in air, water, and soil, including redox and acid-base reactions.
- Atmospheric Chemistry Discussed issues include gases in the atmosphere, effects of climate change, and gases that influence climate and weather.
- Water Chemistry Knowledge of the properties of water is very essential for the treatment of water, control of pollution, and compliance with the quality of water in the water supply systems.
- Soil Chemistry The content includes: Soil structure and pollution; control of pollution and conservation.
Environmental Microbiology
Microbiology includes the study of small organisms in their environmental context and their remedial applications in cleaning up oil spills.
- Microbiology Principles Learn about the microbial economy and the associated biodegradation mechanisms that form the basis of environmental remedial measures and integrated waste management systems.
- Microbial Use in Environment Microbial utilization in waste treatment is majorly aimed at mitigating pollution; where microbes help in the sequestration of pollutants.
Water Resources and Hydraulics
On the subject of water resources, environmental engineers must understand water distribution, water quality, and movement.
- Hydrology Issues covered comprise hydrologic cycle, surface and groundwater movement, and materials necessary for proper use of water which is now a limited commodity.
- Hydraulic Engineering Clearly, fluid dynamics and hydraulics are important in enabling engineers to provide solid solutions for water supply and distribution, flood control, and water purification.
- Water Quality and Treatment Describes purification processes of water, and regulation requirements in providing safe drinking water.
Check: List of top Questions asked in GATE Environmental Science and Engineering
Air and Noise Pollution Control
This exhaustive study shows that air and noise pollution pose serious threats to the health of the people hence there is a need to put in place measures to control such pollution.
- Air Pollution This contains descriptions of air pollutants, their sources, effects of air pollution on human health, and ways of air quality assessment and management.
- Air Pollution Control Covers methods for controlling air pollution and the emission of various types of pollutants such as absorption equipment, adsorption equipment, and combustion systems.
- Noise Pollution Investigates sources of noise and its impact on health, with methods of minimizing noises to match standards.
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
The rationale for waste management is to minimize pollution, a subject that includes both solid and hazardous wastes.
- Solid Waste Management Discusses garbage pick-up and disposal, and recycling and disposal of waste on the planet with the least adverse effects possible.
- Hazardous Waste Management Includes information on proper disposal of hazardous wastes, assessment of hazards, and measures to minimize environmental polluting effects.
Global and Regional Environmental Issues
Many environmental concerns such as climate change, loss of resources, and sustainability are inevitable and call for active management all over the world.
- Climate Change and Global Issues Covers the effects of climate change, sustainable and conservation measures, and ways of minimizing ‘carbon’ footprints.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) EIA assesses the effects of projects on the environment to assist engineers in developing efficiencies in creating development plans.
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Various recommendations that promote the better use of resources and care for the environment are relevant to global and corporate sustainability.
- Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Discussed topics are in relation to concerns such as ISO standards, life cycle assessment, and CSR which puts pressure on the companies to embrace the right environmental policies.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDGs related to renewable materials and green technology for sustainable and environmentally friendly cities.
Ecology and Evolution
Knowledge of ecological concepts together with evolutionary processes is a core factor in the maintenance of ecosystems and conservation.
- Ecology Stresses those factors such as structure, energy flow and interactions valuable for resource management of habitats and natural ecosystems.
- Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation Include basic concepts and approaches to the issue of preserving the variety of species and sheltering their habitat.
Engineering Principles in Environmental Applications
They design solutions to environmental problems based on main engineering concepts for remediation, energy, and sustaining.
- Material and Energy Balances Mass balance, thermodynamics, as well as other essential principles, are put to use to design efficient environmental solutions.
- Pollution Control Engineering Incorporates necessary aspects of pollution control and their general coverage in the form of engineering design for pollutant minimization.
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GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Weightage
Given below is a table with the distribution of each of the major topics of the GATE ES syllabus in light of the analysis of the five-year question papers. Furthermore, here are some frequently asked questions of each type of questions to help you organize your study.
| Topic | Weightage (%) | Important Sections | Common Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 10-12% | Linear Algebra (eigenvalues, eigenvectors)Calculus (differentiation, integration)Probability and Statistics (distributions, hypothesis testing) | Matrix operations, eigenvalues/eigenvectors, linear equationsProbability distributions and hypothesis testingNumerical integration, partial differentiation |
| Environmental Chemistry | 12-14% | Water Chemistry (pH, DO, BOD, COD)Atmospheric Chemistry (greenhouse gases, ozone layer)Soil Chemistry (nutrient cycles, pollution) | Redox reactions and water quality parameters (pH, BOD, COD)Greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutantsSoil chemistry and nutrient cycles |
| Environmental Microbiology | 8-10% | Microbial Processes (biodegradation, bioremediation)Microbial Growth and Classification | Microbial growth curves and types of microbesBiodegradation and microbial processes in wastewater treatmentBioremediation processes and ecological applications |
| Water Resources and Hydraulics | 12-15% | Hydrology (runoff, groundwater flow)Fluid Mechanics (Bernoulli's equation, open channel flow)Water Treatment (filtration, coagulation) | Hydrological cycle, groundwater flow, and runoff calculationFluid dynamics, Bernoulli’s equation, and open channel flowWater treatment plant design and filtration methods |
| Air and Noise Pollution | 10-12% | Air Pollutants and Sources (PM, SOx, NOx)Air Pollution Control (adsorption, scrubbing)Noise Pollution (measurement, control techniques) | Types and sources of air pollutants (e.g., particulate matter)Air pollution control methods (e.g., adsorption, scrubbing)Noise measurement, noise levels, and control techniques |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 10-12% | Waste Collection and Disposal (landfills, incineration)Hazardous Waste Handling (classification, disposal methods) | Types of solid and hazardous wastesWaste collection methods and disposal techniques (e.g., landfills)Hazardous waste treatment and risk assessment |
| Global and Regional Environmental Issues | 5-8% | Climate Change (greenhouse effect, carbon footprint)Biodiversity and Conservation (ecosystem stability) | Climate change impacts, greenhouse effect, and carbon footprintBiodiversity, ecosystem stability, and conservation practicesEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) steps |
| Environmental Management and Sustainable Development | 5-8% | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)ISO 14001, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and resource efficiencyEnvironmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO 14001Life cycle assessment and corporate social responsibility |
| Ecology and Evolution | 5-8% | Ecosystem Dynamics (food webs, trophic levels)Population Dynamics and Conservation | Ecosystem structure, food webs, and ecological successionBiodiversity conservation strategiesPopulation dynamics and species interactions |
| Engineering Principles | 10-12% | Mass and Energy Balances (material balance, energy conservation)Pollution Control Engineering (reactor design basics) | Mass and energy balance in environmental systemsThermodynamics and reactor design basicsUnit operations in pollution control |
Download GATE Books 2025 PDF for Preparation
GATE Environmental Science And Engineering Topic Wise Weightage
In the previous section, we have seen the overall structure of the GATE Environmental Science and Engineering syllabus. In this segment, we are going to explain the topics along with their marks weightage.
| Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 |
| Mathematics Foundation | 10 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| Air and Noise Pollution | 6 |
| Environmental Microbiology | 5 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 9 |
| Global and Regional Environmental Issues | 3 |
| Environmental Management and Sustainable Development | 6 |
| Water & Wastewater Treatment and Management | 8 |
| Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics | 4 |
GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Score
The scoring pattern for GATE Environmental Science and Engineering is similar to all other GAE subjects.
| Number of Questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions |
|---|---|
| Marks Distribution | General Aptitude (GA) = 15 marks + Subject Question = 85 marksTotal = 100 marks |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be a negative marking.
|
GATE Environmental Engineering and Engineering Cut-Off
The GATE Environmental Science Cut-Off marks are determined by the authorities based on various parameters, such as
- The difficulty level of the exam
- The number of test takers
- Previous year trends.
| GATE Environmental Engineering Cut-Off | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| GATE ES Cut Off 2024 | |||
| GATE Paper Name | GEN | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | 37.9 | 34.1 | 25.2 |
| GATE ES Cut Off 2022 | |||
| GATE ES: Environmental Science and Engineering | 25.9 | 23.3 | 17.2 |
| GATE ES Cut Off 2021 | |||
| GATE ES: Environmental Science and Engineering | 25.9 | 23.3 | 17.2 |
GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Books
If you are wondering what books you should read to prepare for GATE Environmental Science and Engineering, you are at the right place. The list of most popular books are:
| Book Title | Author | Approximate Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Engineering: Principles and Practice | Mihelcic, J. R., and Zimmerman, J. B. | 800–1,000 |
| Environmental Engineering | Howard S. Peavy, Donald R. Rowe, and George Tchobanoglous | 700–900 |
| Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science | Gilbert M. Masters and Wendell P. Ela | 900–1,200 |
| Water Supply and Pollution Control | Warren Viessman Jr., Mark J. Hammer | 800–1,100 |
| Principles of Environmental Science and Engineering | P. Venugopala Rao | 500–700 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | M. Dutta and A. K. Dutta | 400–600 |
| Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future | Richard T. Wright and Dorothy F. Boorse | 1,000–1,300 |
| Air Pollution Control Engineering | Noel de Nevers | 900–1,200 |
| Environmental Chemistry | A. K. De | 400–600 |
| A Textbook of Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control | S. S. Dara | 300–500 |
| Water and Wastewater Engineering | Mackenzie L. Davis | 1,200–1,500 |
| Environmental Microbiology | Maier, M. T., Pepper, I. L., and Gerba, C. P. | 1,000–1,400 |
| Ecology: The Economy of Nature | Robert E. Ricklefs | 800 - 1,000 |
| GATE 2024: Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) Guide | Arihant Experts | 600–800 |
| GATE Tutor for Environmental Science and Engineering | R. Gupta | 500–700 |
GATE Environmental Science and Engineering Tips
| Topic | Representative Questions | Tips for Solving |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics |
| For matrix questions, it is necessary that you understand how to use determinants.Be able to use basic probability and distributions.Introduce methods of integration for environmental problems. |
| Environmental Chemistry |
| Memorize key formulas for BOD, COD, and pH calculations.Understand pollutant sources and impacts on climate change.Review nutrient cycles and their relevance to pollution control. |
| Environmental Microbiology |
| Learn important formulas for BOD, COD and pH.Pollutant sources and effects of climate change.Anti-pollution aspects as related to nutrient cycles should also be discussed. |
| Water Resources and Hydraulics |
| Two simple hydrological equations should be practiced – runoff and infiltration.This lesson is a quiz on Bernoulli’s equation; thus one should memorize it and know how it works.Beginning with the unit processes of water treatment such as coagulation, filtration etc. |
| Air and Noise Pollution |
| Readers are advised to use the Gaussian plume model for any dispersion issues.Acquaintance with simple ideas concerning adsorption/absorption processes.In this activity, practice noise level addition using the decibel formulas. |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management |
| It is time to gain basic knowledge of hazardous waste classification.Landfill concepts: density, volume.Learn about treatment processes for hazardous wastes such as; Treatment technologies for hazardous wastes |
| Global and Regional Environmental Issues |
| Target climate information (carbon footprint, emission information).Learn the EIA process and its impact assessment techniques.Investigate the approaches to conservation of the biological diversity. |
| Ecology and Evolution |
| Learn how energy flows, and which type of food web structures exist.Solve more problems involving population dynamics equations.Discuss methods of conservation practices of abiotic and biotic structures. |
| Engineering Principles |
| This paper will use the principles of mass balance to assess problems such as water and air pollution.Learn about reactor designs with an emphasis on batch and continuous reactors.Thermodynamic aspects should be targeted when dealing with energy transformations in closed systems. |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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