ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET-1
POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA
IN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(PGDESD)
(Valid from January 01, 2011 to December 31, 2011)
Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA) for
MED-001
MED-002
MED-003 (Earlier MED-009)
MED-004
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
Maidan Garhi
New Delhi – 110 068
(For January, 2011 Cycle)
Dear Student,
This booklet contains the assignments for MED-001, MED-002, MED-003 and MED-004. Each course has one assignment, which you need to complete and send us on the given address.
There will be one assignment for each course. You have to complete the assignments in time. Assignment Submission Deadlines are as follows:
Cycle Course Deadlines
January MED-001 to MED-004 May 31 of the same year
MED-005 to MED-008 Nov. 30 of the same year
July MED-001 to MED-004 Nov. 30 of the same year
MED-005 to MED-008 May 31 of the next year
You will not be allowed to appear for the term-end examination for a course if you do not submit the assignment for each course within the deadlines given above. If you appear in the term-end examination of a course without submitting its assignment, the result of the term-end examination is liable to be cancelled/withheld.
The assignments constitute the continuous component of the evaluation process and have 30% weightage in the final grading. You need to score 40% marks in assignments for each course in order to clear the continuous evaluation component.
Instructions for Formatting Your Assignments
1. You should specify clearly on the first page of all your assignment responses the course code, course title, assignment code, your enrolment number, name and address in the given format:
ENROLMENT NO.: .…………………………………
NAME : ………………………………….
ADDRESS : ………………………………….
...………………………………..
……..……………………………
COURSE CODE: …………………………..
COURSE TITLE: …………………………..
ASSIGNMENT CODE: ……………………
STUDY CENTRE CODE: ……………. ….. DATE : …………………………….…..
PLEASE FOLLOW THE ABOVE FORMAT STRICTLY TO FACILITATE EVALUATION AND TO AVOID DELAY.
1. The Assignment Response should be hand-written. Use only A-4 or foolscap size writing paper (but not of very thin variety) for writing your answers.
2. Leave at least 4 cm margin on the left, top and bottom of your answer sheet for the evaluator’s comments.
3. Your answers should be brief, precise and in your own words. Please do not copy the answers from the study material.
4. Serious action will be taken if you copy the Assignment Response from any other student.
5. While answering the questions, clearly indicate the question number along with the part being answered. Recheck your work before submitting it.
We recommend that you retain a copy of your assignment response to avoid any unforeseen situation.
Send your completed assignments to: Coordinator of your Study Centre of the respective Regional Centre where you are enrolled
Please write on the envelope “Assignment Response of ……………” (Course code).
Wishing you all good luck!
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
MED-001: Understanding the Environment
Course Code: MED -001
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2011
Maximum Marks: 100
Note: * This assignment is based on the entire course.
* All questions are compulsory. Marks for the questions are shown within brackets on the right hand side.
* Please answer in your own words; do not copy from the course material.
1. / Write brief answers for the following questions: / (2x15)i) / Distinguish between natural and man-made environment. Give an example of each.
ii) / Define the terms ‘biosphere’ and ‘ecosystem’.
iii) / Mention the names of the elements that constitute the major mass of the Earth.
iv) / What processes enable the Earth to maintain its mean global surface temperature of 15ºC?
v) / Name the processes that maintain the amount of water in the air, land and oceans.
vi) / Give an example each from the five kingdoms of organisms.
vii) / Which of the biomes sustain the greatest and the lowest biomass of living material per unit land area respectively?
viii) / Compare the adaptations of animals living in the lentic and the lotic freshwater habitats.
ix) / Cite an example each of any two types of food chains.
x) / Explain the reasons of rare occurrence of more than four vertical links in a typical food chain.
xi) / Write the salient difference between geochemical and biogeochemical cycles.
xii) / Specify the factors that bring about a positive and a negative change in the density of an animal population.
xiii) / ‘There has been a rapid growth of Indian population during the Post-Independence Period, and a decline in it in the last few decades’. Give reasons for these contrasting trends.
xiv) / Why is the 3‘R’s strategy of management of household wastes considered to be highly effective?
xv) / In which units are the levels of the following expressed?
Ambient temperature, dissolved oxygen, noise, concentration of carbon dioxide
2. / Answer in 150-200 words any eight of the following questions: / (5x8)
i) / What makes the biosphere as the Earth’s integrated life supporting system?
ii) / List the major freshwater habitats of the world. Write a characteristic feature of each.
iii) / Prepare an account on the structure of and the life in coral reefs.
iv) / Explain the terms ‘bioaccumulation’ and ‘biomagnification’ citing appropriate examples.
v) / Make a clear and labelled diagram of the carbon cycle.
vi) / The studies of the following aspects of an ecosystem provide us what kind of details?
Density of population, age structure, pattern of distribution of a population, sex ratio and carrying capacity
vii) / Why do the biomes not form continuous belts around the world? Explain with the help of appropriate examples.
viii) / Describe the features of organisms that enable them to thrive in the estuarine ecosystems.
ix) / ‘The attitude and excessive growth of human population has a direct bearing on the availability of natural resources’. Explain.
x) / Discuss the impacts of deforestation and intensive cultivation on the environment.
3. / Answer any three of the following questions in 300-400 words.
i) / Elucidate as to how the microorganisms and the organic matter help in improving soil fertility. / (10)
ii) / Enlist the various climate zones of the world and give the main features of each. / (10)
iii) / ‘The distribution and evolution of organisms has been profoundly influenced by the events in the geological time scale’. Justify this statement. / (10)
iv) / Discuss the concept of ‘energy efficiency in ecosystems’ highlighting its following aspects:
· types of energy efficiencies,
· use of ecological efficiency values of ecosystems for their management, and
· the reasons of the majority of ecosystems being inefficient with respect to their use of available energy. / (10)
v) / a) Give an example each of the biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants. / (2)
b) Differentiate between primary and secondary pollutants and give an example of each. / (4)
c) List the major sources of water pollution. / (2)
d) What are the impacts of eutrophication and oil spills on the environment? / (2)
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
MED-002: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Course Code: MED-002
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2011
Marks: 100
Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks.
SECTION -I
1. Explain the meaning and concept of sustainable development. What are the indicators of unsustainable development activities?
2. What do you understand by carrying capacity? Explain how equality of women is related to sustainable development?
3. Explain the Environmental Legislation and its implementation in India.
4. What are the issues and the major challenges confronting sustainable development?
5. Explain the following in about 250 words each:
a) Different parameters of sustainable development.
b) Patterns of industrialisation in the world.
SECTION-II
1. Examine the failures of economic development of developing countries. What are the initiatives taken to bridge the North-South divide?
2. Trace the growth of environmental legislation in India. Give a few corrective steps to address the ill-effects of global warming.
3. Discuss various global issues related to environment. Assess the initiatives taken towards environmental protection to achieve sustainable development.
4. Discuss the role of scientific and traditional knowledge for sustainable development.
5. Comment on the following in about 250 words each:
(a) The use of traditional and indigenous technologies for sustainable development.
(b) Initiatives of the South Asian countries towards the betterment of the environment.
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
MED-003: Energy and Environment
Course Code: MED-003
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2011
Marks: 100
Note: * This assignment is based on the entire course.
* All questions are compulsory. Marks for the questions are shown within brackets on the right hand side.
* Please answer in your own words; do not copy from the course material.
1. a) How is the demand for energy related to population growth and industrialization? (4)
b) Given the energy resource in India what option are available? (6)
c) Discuss the impact of energy use and energy production technologies on the
environment. (10)
2. a) What should the goals of a sustainable energy policy be? (10)
b) Discuss the concerns that underlie the formulation of energy policy in the SAARC
region. (10)
3. a) Discuss the measures that can be taken to improve energy use efficiency in various
sectors of our economy. (10)
b) What is home energy audit? Discuss the various ways in which energy conservation
can be carried out in urban homes and office. (10)
4. a) How can technology help in energy conservation in commercial, industrial and
transport sector? (10)
b) Describe a sustainable action plan for using renewable energy technologies in
your surroundings in not more than 250 words. (10)
5. a) Discuss the principles underlying solar photovoltaic cells. (5)
b) List at least 5 applications, (5)
c) Make a plan to use this technology in providing electricity to a remote village (10)
having 500 people in the foothills of Himalayas?
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
MED-004: Towards Participatory Management
Course Code: MED-004
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2011
Marks: 100
Note: * This assignment is based on the entire course.
* All questions are compulsory. Marks for the questions are shown within brackets on the right hand side.
* Please answer in your own words; do not copy from the course material.
1. Discuss the PRA as basic tools for participatory management and how are these tools
used in the development of participatory projects ? Support your answer with a successful
example of participatory management. (10)
2. What is good governance? List any six characteristics of good governance. How does
participatory management model helps in good governance? (3+3+4)
3. Examine various principles of Participation and also analyse its constraints. (3+2+5)
4. Discuss the role of women in environment and development. Describe a successful
example of a women’s movement in protecting the environment. (5+5)
5. Discuss the role and function of youth in development work. (5+5)
6. Discuss the following in your own words.
a) Aims and mission of SACEP
b) Function of SACEP
c) Ongoing projects by SACEP
d) SASP
e) SENRIC (2×5)
7. Describe how the model “Reversals in Learning” help farmers in sustainable and
equitable development. (10)
8. Discuss how Orangi Pilot Project can help to build a model urban developed unit in our
country. (10)
9. a) How can Participatory Forest Management help in the development of both, the people living on the edge of forest and the forest.
b) Describe how tourism and urbanization are destroying the mountain ecosystem.
Suggest what measures are to be taken for sustainable mountain development. (5×2)
10. a) Differentiate between PIM and IMT. (2)
b) How can coastal community’s participation help in ICM process? (3)
c) What is the importance of wetland in our country and how it should be conserved? (5)
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