What: The Maharashra government will make environmental science compulsory in secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges in the state and would introduce the subject in Class V and VI from the coming academic year.

"The subject will be first introduced in Class V and VI from the coming academic year," School Education Secretary Sumit Malick said.

The subject will be introduced in Class VII to Class XI from next year. It will also be made compulsory in colleges in the science, arts and commerce streams.

The government will come out with booklets on the subject this year as textbooks are not ready. Textbooks will be available from next year. 

The subject's syllabus would emphasise the importance of protecting the environment through theory and field trips.

The Maharashtra government's decision to introduce environment science subject comes in the wake of a Supreme
Court order making it compulsory for schools and colleges to inculde environmental studies in education.