Environment › Pollution

Chemicals, noise, light and soil pollution

Pollution that is not air, water or waste: hazardous chemicals and the conventions that govern them, pesticides, the ozone layer, noise, light and contaminated soil. Environmental pollution is part of the GS3 syllabus.

Showing 1 of 2 subjects, those that changed from 16 to 31 July 2026.Show all

Lead and toxic sites near schools

Prelims and Mains

Lead is a neurotoxin that lowers IQ and attention in children, and in Indian cities much of the exposure comes from informal recycling of lead batteries near where children live and study.

What changed

29 Jul 2026New subject
- A Center for Global Development report mapped 2.6 million schools against 11,301 documented toxic sites in 17 countries, and found over 90 per cent of New Delhi's private schools within 5 km of one, the highest of any capital.
- Much of the contamination comes from informal recycling of lead batteries. Lead is a neurotoxin that lowers IQ and attention in children.
The Hindu, 29 Jul 2026: Urban Indian private schools at risk of proximity to toxic lead sites: report (opens in a new tab)