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CSIR Syllabus 

 Earth Sciences

PAPER 1 – SECTION A

1. General information on science and its interface with society to test the candidate’s awareness of science, aptitude of scientific and quantitative reasonsing.

2. COMMON ELEMENTRY COMPUTER SCIENCE ( Applicable to all candidates offering subject areas ).

3. History of development of computers, Mainframe, Mini, Micro’s and Super Computer Systems.

4. General awareness of computer Hardware i..e. CPU and other peripheral devices       ( input / output and auxiliary storage devices ).

5. Basic knowledge of computer systems, software and programming languages i.e. Machine language, Assembly language and higher level language.

6. General awareness of popular commercial software packages like LOTUS, DBASE, WORDSTAR, other Scientific application packages.

PAPER I – SECTION B

1. About the Earth  :  The earth and the solar system; important physical parameters and properties of the planet earth; abundance of elements in the earth; primary differentiation of the earth and composition of its various zones; composition of meteorites and the solar photosphere; shape and internal structure of the earth.  Uniformitarianism; geological time scale; use of fossils and nuclear clocks in the subdivision of geological time.

2. Materials of the Earth  :  Gross composition and physical properties of important rocks and minerals; properties and processes responsible for mineral concentrations; nature and distribution of rocks and minerals in different units of the earth; deformation of rocks; folds and faults and their surface expressions.

3. Surface Features and Processes :  Physiography of the earth; landscape and seafloor; weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition of earth’s material; formation of soil, sediments and sedimentary rocks, energy balance of the earth’s surface processes.

4. Internal Features and Processes :  Elastic waves and fine structure of the earth ;  crust, mantle and core; thermal, gravitational and magnetic fields of the earth; origin of the main geomagnetic field; mantle convection and plate tectonics; earthquakes and volcanoes; lsostasy.

5. The Atmosphere  :  Companion of the atmosphere and its internal structure; prevailing and adiabatic lapse rates instability of dry and moist air;  cloud classification; condensation nuclei artificial precipitation.  Fundamental forces in the atmosphere.  Coriolls force and the geostrophic wind; basic structure and mechanism of atmospheric general circulation; monsoon systems; cyclones, anticyclones and tornadoes; jet streams; climate and climatic changes; natural and human induced factors.

6. The Hydrosphere  :  The hydrological cycle; inter-relationship of surface and ground water; seafloor spreading and hydrothermal vents; marine sediments, their composition and uses; distribution of temperature and salinity in the ocean; surface circulation, causes of ocean currents and important current systems; deep circulation.  Water masses – their formation and characteristics; convergence and upwelling of ocean waters; sea level changes; waves and tides; chemistry of sea water; biological controls on the composition of the oceans; oceanic modulation of climatic changes; estuary, bay and marine pollution.

7. Geology and Geography of India :  Land, biotic and mineral resources and their role in development; salient aspects of plant zoogeography; geologic setting; location and approximate reserves of minerals, fuel and water resources of the Indian territory.  Important geological features of the Precambrian shield, the Gondwanas, the Deccan Trap, Indo-Gangetic Plains, the Himalaya – their physiography, landforms, drainage systems.  Soils; their characteristics and distribution; climate and population; location of important natural resources and renewable sources of energy in relation to industrial centres.

8. Man and Environment  :  Ecology, ecosystem and biotic communities; carbon and nutrient cycling and food-chain; human impact on air, land, soil, water, climate and forest resources; conservation of resources; coping  with natural hazards; problems of pollution and waste; application of engineering geology to development and use of energy alternatives.

• Earth Sciences Part II
• Earth Sciences Paper II Cont.
• Earth Sciences Paper II cont.
• Earth Sciences Paper II con.
• Earth Sciences Part II Con.
• Earth Sciences part II cont.
• Earth Sciences part II Con.
• Earth Sciences Part II Conti.