Geography Optional Syllabus

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UPSC Geography
Optional Syllabus
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PAPER - I
PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY
A
Section Physical Geography
1. Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development;
endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s
crusts; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the
earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics;
Recent views on mountain building; Volcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsu-
namis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Land scape development;
Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope devel-
opment; Applied Geomorphology; Geomorphology, economic geology and
environment.
2. Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat

budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric stability and
instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air
masses and front; Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of
precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s
classification of world climate; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change,
and role and response of man in climatic changes Applied climatology and
Urban climate.
3. Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and

Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt bud-
gets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources; biotic,
mineral and energy resources; Coral reefs coral bleaching; Sea-level chang-
es; Law of the sea and marine pollution.
4. Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils;

Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation; Factors influenc-
ing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and
conservation measures; Social forestry, agro-forestry; Wild life; Major gene
pool centres.
5. Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Human ecological
adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and re-
gional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management
and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conser-
vation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy;
Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education
and legislation.
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Section B Human Geography
6. Perspectives in Human Geography: Areal differentiation;
Regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative
revolution and locational analysis; Radical, behavioural, human and wel-
fare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions
of the world; Human development index.
7. Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement

and problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the
limits to growth; World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions;
Agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition’s problems; Food
security; famine: causes, effects and remedies; World industries: location
patterns and problems; Patterns of world trade.
8. Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution

of world population; Demographic attributes; Causes and consequences
of migration; Concepts of over-under-and optimum population; Popula-
tion theories, world population problems and policies, social well-being
and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural
settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban
settlements; Urban morphology; Concept of primate city and rank-size rule;
Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural-urban
fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable
development of cities.
9. Regional Planning: Concept of a region; Types of regions and

methods of regionalisation; Growth centres and growth poles; Region-
al imbalances; Regional development strategies; Environmental issues
in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.
10. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: System

analysis in Human geography; Malthusian, Marxian and demographic
transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch; Perroux
and Boudeville; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location; Weber’s mod-
el of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth. Heart-land and
Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.
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PAPER - II
GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA
1. Physical Setting: Space relationship of India with neighbouring
countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds;
Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall pat-
terns; Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts;
Climatic regions; Natural vegetation, Soil types and their distributions.
2. Resources: Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and
marine resources, Forest and wild life resources and their conservation;
Energy crisis.
3. Agriculture: Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power;

Institutional factors; land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping
pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination,
land capability; Agro and social-forestry; Green revolution and its socio-eco-
nomic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock
resources and white revolution; Aqua-culture; Sericulture, Agriculture and
poultry; Agricultural regionalisation; Agro-climatic zones; Agro-ecological
regions.
4. Industry: Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute,

textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertiliser, paper, chemical and
pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and ago-based industries;
Industrial houses and complexes including public sector underkings; Industrial
regionalisation; New industrial policy; Multinationals and liberalisation;
Special Economic Zones; Tourism including ecotourism.
5. Transport, Communication and Trade: Road, railway, waterway,

airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional
development; Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade;
Trade balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones; Developments in
communication and information technology and their impacts on economy
and society; Indian space programme.
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6. Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial

linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities; Major tribes, tribal
areas and their problems; Cultural regions; Growth, distribution and
density of population; Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age struc-
ture, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration
(inter-regional, interregional and international) and associated problems;
Population problems and policies; Health indicators.
7. Settlements: Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements;

Urban developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classifica-
tion of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions; Urban sprawl;
Slums and associated problems; Town planning; Problems of urbanisation
and remedies.
8. Regional Development and Planning: Experience of

regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development
programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning; Command area
development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area,
desert, drought-prone, hill tribal area development; multi-level planning;
Regional planning and development of island territories.
9. Political Aspects: Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State

reorganisation; Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and
inter-state issues; International boundary of India and related issues;
Cross-border terrorism; India’s role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South
Asia and Indian Ocean realm.
10. Contemporary Issues : Ecological issues: Environmental hazards:
landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics;
Issues related to environmental pollution; Changes in patterns of land use;
Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental
management; Population explosion and food security; Environmental
degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion; Prob-
lems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities in economic
development; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environ-
mental awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.
NOTE: Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map

question pertinent to subjects covered by this paper.
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Geography Optional
Foundation
by Prince Mishra Sir
Courses
Geography Optional
Test Series
by Prince Mishra Sir
Essay Guidance
Our Gems of UPSC CSE 2021
Yasharth Shekhar Ashu Pant, IPS Abhishek Ranjan Abhishek Meena

AIR-12 AIR-193 AIR-543 AIR-670
www.evolveias.com 7303881694

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1

2. Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat

3. Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and

4. Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils;

7. Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement

8. Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution

9. Regional Planning: Concept of a region; Types of regions and

10. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: System

3. Agriculture: Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power;

4. Industry: Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute,

5. Transport, Communication and Trade: Road, railway, waterway,

6. Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial

7. Settlements: Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements;

8. Regional Development and Planning: Experience of

9. Political Aspects: Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State

NOTE: Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map

Our Gems of UPSC CSE 2021

Yasharth Shekhar Ashu Pant, IPS Abhishek Ranjan Abhishek Meena

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