GEOGRAPHY (853)

Aims
1. To enable candidates to acquire knowledge consequences of natural hazards and suggest
(information) and to develop an understanding ways of coping with them through sustainable
of facts, terms, symbols concepts, principles, development.
generalizations, hypotheses, problems, trends,
3. To develop skills of drawing maps, surveying,
processes and methods of Geography at the
and drawing statistical diagrams and thematic
national and global level.
maps.
2. To apply the knowledge of the principles of
4. To develop an interest in Geography.
Physical Geography in explaining the causes and

CLASS XI

There will be two papers in the subject. Population and Settlement, Economic,
Political).
Paper I – Theory (3 hours) ….70 marks
– The conceptual and intellectual ideas of
Paper II – Practical and Project Work …30 marks a number of new approaches to
contemporary human geography should
PAPER I: THEORY (70 Marks) be examined to understand the strengths
There will be one Theory paper of three hours and limitations of each approach within
duration divided into two parts: the context of Human Geography and
Social Sciences.
Part I (30 marks) will be compulsory and will consist
of Section A and Section B. (ii) Regional approach: Regional/ Area Studies,
Regional Planning, Regional Development.
Section A will include compulsory short answer
questions testing knowledge, application and skills Future prospects of Geography to be discussed:
related to elementary/fundamental aspects of the • In the area of GPS, GIS, Remote Sensing for
entire syllabus. resource identification.
Section B will consist of one question on map work. • Applied geography in town and country
Part II (40 marks) will consist of seven questions. planning, environment management and law,
Candidates will be required to answer four out of cartography and mapping, geography
seven questions. Each question in this part shall education, map analysis, travel and tourism
carry 10 marks. (to be taught only for the sake of awareness,
not for testing).
GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
1. Geography - its interdisciplinary approach and
2. Earth’s Interior
future prospects
(i) Composition and structure.
Geography as an integrating discipline. Physical
Geography and Natural Sciences; Geography and Methods of measuring age of the earth: Tidal
Social Sciences. force, Sedimentation, Rate of Erosion, Salinity
of the Ocean, Radioactivity – a brief
Branches of Geography:
understanding.
(i) Systematic approach: Physical Geography
(Geomorphology, Climatology, Hydrology); Structure and composition of the earth’s
Human Geography (Historical, Social, interior: crust, mantle, core; their properties -
temperature, pressure, thickness.

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 (ii) Rocks. (iv) Vulcanicity – materials and processes. Major
volcanic forms.
Definition of rocks and minerals. The mineral
groups responsible for different rocks formed Explanation of how volcanoes are formed;
on the earth: Silicates, carbonates, sulphides, identification of the type of volcano;
metals. recognition of the properties of volcanic
materials; explanation of why volcanoes are
Classification of rocks by origin: igneous, more in the areas of converging plates.
metamorphic and sedimentary rocks – their
distribution in India; characteristics, types, (v) Earthquakes.
economic importance. Origin of earthquakes, waves and their
behaviour, hypocentre (focus), epicentre;
The rock cycle.
their causes and distribution; effects;
3. Changing Face of the Earth isoseismal and homoseismal lines, sea quakes,
Land forms and Processes of Gradation tsunamis; measuring earthquakes and their
intensity.
(i) Formation of the Earth. Studying the effects of earthquakes on a
Theories of formation of the earth: steady country like Japan.
state, Big Bang and the developments today. (vi) Exogenetic process and associated landforms.
(ii)Endogenous processes: theory of plate Weathering and gradation – difference
tectonics and the process of drifting between the two. Role of weathering in
continents, theory of Isostasy by Pratt and gradation. Different types of weathering.
A. Holmes. (vii) Soil.
Definition of endogenetic force, difference The factors affecting soil formation; soil
between slow and sudden forces, vertical and profile; physical and chemical properties,
horizontal forces and their effects. Sea floor distribution and characteristics of soils in the
spreading, continental drifting and isostacy. world - zonal, azonal and intrazonal– only
(iii) Landforms – mountains, plateaus and plains broad characteristics related to Indian soils
and their types. to be done (detailed distribution not
required).
Meaning and differentiation between the three
main land forms of the earth. Alluvial, red, yellow, black and laterite soils
in India and the problems related to their
Classification of mountains on the basis of management.
their origin or mode of formation: fold, block,
(viii) Fluvial processes and associated landforms.
volcanic and residual with examples from the
world. Work of rivers - concept of baselevel;
processes of erosion, transportation and
Classification of plateaus on the basis of their deposition. Types of erosion - headward,
situation: intermontane, piedmont and vertical, lateral; transportation mode and
continental with examples from the world. deposition.
Classification of Plains on the basis of Landforms made by the river - gorges, rapids,
formation: structural, erosional and waterfalls, alluvial fans, levees, floodplains,
depositional with examples from the world. meanders, braided channels, oxbow lakes,
(Candidates should be able to recognise, deltas – delta plains.
interpret and create models of the Earth’s Development of river valleys, drainage
common physical features in mapping patterns. Diagrams and examples from
representation including contour maps.) India with photographs.

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(ix) Aeolian processes and associated landforms. 4. Atmosphere
Process of wind erosion – abrasion, attrition, (i) Composition and structure of atmosphere.
deflation. Ideal conditions for erosion in hot Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere,
deserts; landforms resulting from erosion - stratosphere, ozonosphere, mesosphere,
deflation hollows, pedestal rocks, yardangs, ionosphere; their height; composition; special
desert pavement; landforms resulting from characteristics of each layer; ozone depletion.
deposition - sand dunes and their types, loess. (ii) Atmospheric temperature.
Diagrams and examples from India and Asia. Heating and cooling of the atmosphere,
(x) Glacial processes and associated landforms. radiation, conduction, convection. Insolation
and factors influencing it – angle of sun’s
Continental and mountain or valley glaciers, rays, duration of day, transparency of
processes of glacial erosion – plucking, atmosphere. Heat budget, i.e. balance
abrasion, attrition; erosional features, e.g. between insolation and terrestrial radiation-
cirque and its components, U shaped and areas of surplus and deficit heat in different
hanging valleys, roche moutonnes, latitudes resulting in latitudinal heat balance.
depositional formations, moraines of various Factors controlling its horizontal and vertical
types. Some Indian glaciers - Siachen, distribution, temperature anomalies and
Gangotri, Baltoro. Diagrams and examples their nature. Isotherms: their characteristics;
from India. isotherm maps of the world in July and
(xi) Work of ground water and associated January. Reasons for the variations in
landforms. Water Conservation. temperature. Practical work on temperature
measurement and graphs to show variations
Definition of ground water, water table, in temperature of one or more cities of India.
aquifers, springs. Process of erosion by (iii) Atmospheric Pressure.
groundwater solution, corrasion. Features
Its horizontal and vertical distribution, factors
formed by underground water (karst
affecting the distribution, characteristics of
topography) – sink holes, dolines, caves,
isobars on world maps for July and January.
caverns, karst lakes, depositional features – Patterns and the causes for the distribution of
stalactites, stalagmites, cave pillars, isobars.
dripstones: their formation. Diagrams and
examples from India and Australia. Pressure belts and winds – types of winds, air
masses and atmospheric disturbances,
Emerging water problems and conservation of cyclones of temperate and tropical areas;
water resources. anticyclones – their types and associated
weather. World map showing major paths of
(xii) Marine processes and associated landforms. cyclones. Jet Streams – concepts to be
Erosional process of sea waves – abrasion, introduced with reference to India.
attrition, solution and hydraulic action; Practical work on pressure measurement.
coastline and shoreline, erosional features; (iv) Atmospheric Moisture.
sea cliffs, sea caves, stacks and depositional
landforms, e.g. - bays, bars and lagoons; Processes of evaporation, condensation and
Coral reefs: types – fringing, barrier and precipitation; relative and absolute humidity;
atolls; submerged and emergent coastlines. forms of condensation - cloud, fog, dew, frost;
precipitation – its forms: snow, hail, rain;
Diagrams and examples from India, Australia
types of rainfall: orographic, cyclonic,
and West Europe (wherever relevant). convectional. Monsoons – origin and factors
Note: For topics (viii) to (xii) only diagram or that affect. Examples from different parts of
photograph based questions will be asked. the world.
Photograph based information should be made Practical work on measuring rainfall and
use of to emphasize the different processes of use of bar graphs to show variations in
gradation. rainfall in one or more cities of India.

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5. The Realms of Water (iv) Loss of biodiversity - threatened, endangered
and extinct species.
(i) Submarine relief and deposits of the Atlantic,
Pacific and Indian Oceans. Understanding the implications of loss of
biodiversity.
The depth and the features. The sea floor
deposits and their characteristics, the Categorizing species in different groups like
importance of marine resources. Ocean - threatened, endangered and extinct.
pollution and ways to overcome them. Examples of plants and animals.
(ii) Ocean water - salinity, temperature, density. (v) Strategies for conservation of biodiversity –
in-situ and ex-situ.
Composition of seawater and factors that
control distribution of salinity and Looking at various in-situ and ex-situ
temperature. strategies for their efficacy and viability:
In-situ strategies - protected areas
(iii)Ocean water movements.
(biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife
Direct and indirect tides – origin, time, spring
sanctuaries).
and neap tides. Waves – parts,
characteristics, formation. Currents - factors Ex-situ strategies - captive breeding, zoo,
affecting currents, currents of Indian, Pacific botanical garden, gene banks and their use.
and Atlantic oceans. Role of currents in
modifying climates of coastal areas. 7. A. World Climatic types
Introduction to El Nino and El Nina as Low latitude / tropical climates
conditions that affect the intensity of the (i) Equatorial (ii) Monsoon and trade wind
monsoons over India. littoral (iii) Wet - dry tropical (iv) Dry
tropical (desert).
6. Biosphere – Life on the Earth
Mid latitude/temperate climates -
(i) Nature of Biosphere, concept of ecosystems, (i) Mediterranean (ii) Marine west coast
components of ecosystem. (iii) Dry sub-tropical (iv) Moist subtropical
Meaning, nature of interaction between the (v) Moist continental (vi) Dry mid latitude
different components of the biosphere. (cold deserts).
Understanding the concept of biodiversity. High latitude/polar climates - (i) Boreal
To appreciate various reasons for valuing and (ii) Tundra (iii) Ice sheet.
conserving biodiversity (ethical, moral,
economic, aesthetic). Highland climates.
(ii) Biodiversity for sustenance of mankind. For each of the above climatic types, the
following is to be studied:
The various roles played by biodiversity in
sustaining mankind - as a source of food, • Location, climatic conditions and areas;
medicine, pollution control, etc.
• Description of major human activities
(iii) India as a mega diversity nation. (both farming and forestry.)
A basic understanding that India with its B. Climate Change – causes/factors of climatic
varied climate and landscape is home to a changes in the recent past.
variety of unique ecosystems and endemic
species e.g. the largest mangrove forest in Natural and man-made factors, with special
the world - the Sundarbans, vast mountain reference to climatic changes in India.
forests in the Himalayas, tropical evergreen Measures taken to adapt to these changes in
forests in the Western Ghats and the North- urban and rural India.
East region, desert vegetation in Rajasthan,
thorn and scrub forests in the plateaus, etc.

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 MAN- ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION Water Bodies (bays, gulfs, straits, sea, oceans):
Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
8. Natural hazards, their causes and management Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean, Beaufort Sea,
Hudson bay, Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico,
(i) Hazards of volcanic eruptions and Panama Canal, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Sea
earthquakes. of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea,
Yellow Sea, Timor Sea, Tasman Sea, Persian
Major volcanic areas and their problems; Gulf, Red Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea,
major earthquake prone areas - effects on Caspian Sea, Arabian sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea,
land and human life. Seismic zones of India Suez Canal, Strait of Magellan, Bay of Biscay,
and measures to reduce the fury of Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Lakshwadweep Sea.
earthquakes.
Rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Mackenzie,
(ii) Identification of major drought prone areas. Amazon, Orinoco, St. Francisco, Parana, Orange,
Nile, Zaire, Niger, Zambezi, Rhine, Rhone, Seine,
Characteristics of drought prone areas. Danube, Volga, Euphrates, Tigris, Dnieper,
Causes, problems and remedial measures Thames, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Amur, Hwang Ho,
(like rain water harvesting) adopted with Yangtze Kiang, Sikiang, Mekong, Irrawaddy,
special reference to India. Salween, Indus, Ganga, Godavari, Murray,
Darling.
(iii) Areas prone to floods / landslides - India.
Ocean Currents: North Pacific current, Alaska
Landslides - causes, effects and measures current, North Atlantic Drift, Gulf Stream,
adopted to check (Himalayan region). The Labrador current, North Equatorial current,
causes of flooding and checking floods (like South Equatorial current, Equatorial Counter
construction of dams and afforestation) current, Peru current, South Pacific current,
– with special reference to India. South Atlantic, Current, West wind drift, South
Indian current, Benguela Current, Brazilian
9. Map Work current, Southwest Monsoon current, Indian
counter current, Mozambique current, West
A question on map work will be set to identify, Australian current, KuroShio current, Oyashio
label and locate any of the following items current, East Australian current, Guinea current,
studied in topics from Principles of Physical Falkland current.
Geography and cities from Climatic Regions
only: Islands: Greenland, Hawaii, Aleutian, West
Indies, Tierra del Fuego, Galapagos, Baffin,
MAP LIST Newfoundland, Iceland, British Isles, Canaries,
Corsica, Sardinia, Crete, Cyprus, Sicily,
Mountains: Himalayas, Hindukush, Elburz, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Papua New
Zagros, Kirthar, Caucasus, Alps, Pyrenees, Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, New
Carpathians, Urals, Khingan, Kunlun, Altai, Zealand, Tasmania.
Drakensburg, Kjolen, Andes, Rockies,
Appalachian, Great Australian Alps, Climatic Regions: Equatorial, Monsoon, trade
Verkhoyansk, Great Dividing Range, Southern wind littoral, Wet - dry tropical, Dry tropical
Alps. (desert), Mediterranean, Marine west coast, Dry
sub-tropical, Moist subtropical, Moist continental,
Plateaus: Tibetan, West Australian, Iranian, Dry midlatitude (cold deserts), Boreal, Tundra,
Anatolian, Pamirs, Ethiopian, Bolivian, Deccan, Ice sheet, Highland climates.
Guiana, Colorado, Brazilian, Labrador, Arabian.

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 PAPER II: PRACTICAL WORK AND 2. Project Work (Assignment)
PROJECT WORK (30 Marks) Fieldwork to understand any physical phenomena in
Candidates will be required to undertake the following the local or selected area to illustrate the physical
Practical work and Project work: processes (Only one topic as an assignment of not
more than 10-12 pages of written text excluding
1. Practical Work pages for pictures and maps. No extra credit will be
given for computer output or special effects. Sketches
Any three of the following four topics to be
and drawings will be given credit).
undertaken.
(i) Take any physical feature in your immediate
(a) Surveying - elementary principles; preparing
locality:
plans of the school compound or a small area
with the help of chain and tape. (a) draw sketches or take photograhs to highlight
physical features.
(b) Statistical diagrams - line graphs (simple and
multiple), composite bars, pie diagram, flow (b) survey how these features have been used and
and star diagram, (the data used will be that prepare a report.
used in Paper I ). (c) suggest ways by which the area of study could
be better used keeping in view the needs of
(c) Map projections – uses, construction and
the people of the region.
properties of the following:
(ii) Choose any island area of the world or India and:
(i) Cylindrical equal area.
(a) trace the map of the area and show physical
(ii) Simple conical with one standard parallel.
features, towns and port cities.
(iii) Zenithal equidistant.
(b) prepare a project report using photographs
(d) Aerial photographs – Introduction; definition; and pictures from brochures and magazines to
difference between map and an aerial show:
photographs; uses of aerial photographs, - its origin and formation.
advantages of aerial photography.
- soil types, vegetation.
Types of Aerial Photographs:
- human occupations.
(i) Based on the position of the cameral axis
(iii) Any natural hazard like drought, flood, erosion,
– vertical photographs, low oblique, high
landslides, etc. in a local area.
oblique (only definition and explanation).
Choose a natural hazard in the local area.
(ii) Based on Scale – (a) Large scale
Describe the nature of damage by consulting
photographs (b) Small scale photographs.
newspaper reports, studies, interviews with local
Scale of Aerial Photograph – (a) by
people. Identify the nature of damage before and
establishing of relationship between photo
after – land, building, public property, soil,
distance and ground distance; (b) by
vegetation, animals, etc. What are the chances of
establishing relationship between photo
it occuring again and what precautions are being
distance and map distance.
taken?

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 CLASS XII

There will be two papers in the subject. Peninsular Plateau and the Himalayas.
(The Geological rock formations of
Paper I – Theory (3 hours) ...70 marks India are not required).
Paper II – Practical and Project Work …30 marks (b) The three-fold physiographic divisions: the
Himalayan mountain complex, the
PAPER I: THEORY (70 Marks) Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains and the
There will be one Theory paper of three hours Peninsular Plateau.
duration divided into two parts: • Himalayan mountain complex:
Part I (30 marks) will be compulsory and will (orthoclinal structure)
consist of Section A and Section B. The three parallel ranges, the northwest
Section A will include compulsory short answer and northeast offshoots, comparison
questions testing knowledge, application and skills between Western and Eastern
related to elementary/fundamental aspects of the Himalayas.
entire syllabus. Regional divisions of the Himalayas
Section B will consist of one question on map work. (Kashmir/ Punjab Himalayas,
Himachal/ Uttranchal/ Kumaon
Part II (40 marks) will consist of seven questions. Himalayas, Nepal Himalayas, Assam
Candidates will be required to answer four out of Himalayas).
seven questions. Each question in this part shall
carry 10 marks. • Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains
The relief features – bhabar, tarai,
INDIA IN THE WORLD’S CONTEXT bhangar, khaddar, bhur, barind,
barkhans, khols, dhaya, bet, chos,
1. Physical Environment
doabs. Regional divisions of the
(i) Locational setting - India: size and area. plains: Rajasthan plain (the Great
Present importance of the location of India Indian desert), Punjab plain, Ganga
with reference to the Indian Ocean Rim plain, Brahamaputra/ Assam plain.).
countries and the Northern and Western
• The Peninsular Plateau
frontiers. Comparison with China and
Australia. The Malwa plateau, Chotanagpur
Plateau and Deccan Plateau: the relief
Extent, position with reference to latitude
features - badland, barkhans, Western
and longitude, length of coastline and
Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Aravalis.
frontiers with neighbouring countries. The
Comparison between the Western Ghats
locational advantages of India in the Indian
and the Eastern Ghats.
Ocean and as a subcontinent.
The above three physical divisions
(ii) Structure of India – Geological formation,
are to be studied with reference to their
relief and drainage; major physiographic
extent, altitude, slope and landform
divisions and their characteristics.
characteristics.
(a) Outline of the geological evolution and
• Coastal Plains
structure: basic definitions – geology,
era, periods, physiography, geological Comparison between Western and
structure, stratigraphy. Eastern Coastal Plains and their
divisions. The relief features: Lagoons,
Names of the main Standard and Indian
estuaries, deltas.
geological eras with reference to Indian
Geology. • Islands
Geological evolution of: the Peninsular Difference between Andaman and
Plateau, the Himalayas and the Great Nicobar and Lakshwadweep islands.
Plains. Difference between the

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 (c) Drainage (i.e. rivers) and drainage tree types and their adaptation to the
systems: Names and sources of the climate. Forest – area covered, importance,
main rivers and their major tributaries use, misuse and potential both for
(Extent of river basin area not exploitation and conservation. Present forest
required). policy.
Comparison of Himalayan and Distinction between vegetation, flora and
Peninsular rivers. forest, virgin vegetation; factors affecting
vegetation.
(iii) Climate: India - Factors affecting India’s
climate: Temperature - factors affecting Classification of vegetation types - tropical
temperature. Atmospheric pressure evergreen, monsoon forests, tropical dry
conditions during the year; origin and forests, arid forests, deltaic forests,
mechanism of the monsoon, Jet streams, mountain forests and their geographical
Southern Oscillations; wind and rainfall distribution and adaptation; importance of
distribution during the year; characteristics the trees in these forests.
of the four main seasons - hot and dry, hot Importance of forest to man; Impact of
and wet, cool and dry, cool and wet with human activity on vegetation. Forest area
reference to temperature distribution in and forest cover in India. Forest
north and south India, pressure, wind Conservation – need, Social Forestry (Agro
conditions – distribution of resultant forestry, community forestry, commercial
rainfall; variability of rainfall, incidence of farm forestry, non-commercial farm
droughts and floods. Temperature and forestry, urban forestry); Forest
rainfall graphs of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Conservation Movement: Van Mahotsav,
Chennai, Jaisalmer, Leh, and Hyderabad. Chipko Movement, Forest Conservation Act
(1980).
Role of various factors affecting Indian
climate – latitudinal extent, distance from National Forest Policy (1988): objectives of
the sea, northern mountain ranges, the Forest Policy; Integrated Forest
physiography, monsoon winds, upper air Protection Scheme.
circulation, western disturbances and
2. Population and Human settlements
tropical cyclones, southern oscillation, El
Nino; understanding of the concept and (i) Population of India compared to six
mechanism of monsoon; Indian Monsoonal countries - China, Australia, USA, Canada,
Regime – onset, rain bearing system, break Russia and Brazil.
in the monsoon, retreat of the monsoon; Population of India as compared to the
Seasons of India – with reference to other six countries with reference to
temperature, pressure distribution, wind percentage of world population and India’s
systems and local winds (loo, kalbaisaki/ position in the world.
Norwesters, Mango showers; explanation of (ii) National and State level patterns of
the variability of rainfall in different areas population distribution.
over different seasons. Definition of census. Index of concentration
Droughts and Floods – meaning, causes, (highest and lowest index of concentration
affected areas and mitigation programmes. as per the latest census), density of
Temperature and rainfall graphs of population – arithmetic and physiological.
Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Leh, Spatial distribution of population in India
Jaisalmer and Hyderabad. and explanation of the factors influencing it
(iv) Natural vegetation: Major vegetation types – landforms, climate, accessibility and level
of India, their geographical distribution with of development that result in this pattern.
reference to rainfall and temperature Comparison of the density at the State level
conditions – description of the important and factors influencing it.

49
(iii) Pattern of population growth in the last population at the National level (highest
three decades; implications for and lowest figures for each of the above) in
development. the latest census. Implications for
development.
Meaning of terminologies such as
population, birth rate, death rate, (vi) Rural settlements – size and number of
population growth rate, natural growth rate villages as per the latest census. Types and
and absolute growth of population, patterns in hill areas, plains and coastal
migratory growth, positive and negative locations.
growth.
Distinction between Rural and Urban
Population growth of India at national level settlements; Rural and Urban Population.
– trends of 1921, 1951 and 1981 to the Classification of villages as per the latest
latest Census, of absolute growth rate of census.
population. Demographic characteristics of
Factors affecting the types (distinction
India at the National level- birth rate, death
between compact and dispersed) and
rate, and natural growth rate from 1991 to
patterns (linear, circular, star shaped,
the latest Census.
rectangular, shapeless) of rural settlements
Drawing general conclusions about the: in plains, coastal areas, mountains and
plateau areas.
Impact of rapid growth rate on economic
development, on environment; need for (vii) Urban settlements – size classification of
planned development (to maintain the towns as per the latest census. Study of
ecological balance). population growth in Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata and Chennai from1951 till the latest
(iv) Migration trends over the last 25 years.
census.
Explanation of the important terms –
Definition of an Urban area according to
migration, commutation, out migration, in
the latest census; Urban agglomeration,
migration, step-wise migration and migrant,
conurbation, urban sprawl, ribbon
push and pull factors.
settlement, infill, metropolis, megalopolis.
Types (National and International
Trends of urbanization only in Delhi,
migration, inter migration and intra
Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai from 1951
migration, urban migration and rural
till the latest census.
migration) and trends of migration.
Factors that influence the growth of urban
Streams of migration: (rural-rural, rural-
centres in India. Problems and advantages
urban, urban-urban and urban-rural).
of urban growth.
Causes for migration - natural, economic,
political and social. 3. Resources of India and their Utilisation

Comparing the consequences of each type (i) Need for environmental management vis-à-
of migration on cities and rural areas. vis development.

(v) Demographic attributes at National level - Understanding that from the development
trends and patterns of: 1. Rural urban point of view, environment may mistakenly
population 2. Age and sex composition be seen as a ‘resource’ to be exploited,
3. Literacy levels 4. Working and non- whereas, environment needs to be viewed as
working population; implications for a ‘capital’ that needs to be managed
development. carefully.

Study of the causes and trends of rural (ii) Land resources: Land use pattern in India –
urban composition, age and sex ratio, quality of cultivable land, size of land
literacy level, working and non-working holdings.

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 Defining the term land resource; its associated; problems of Indian
importance and problems. Land use pattern agriculture; Use of new technology –
– net sown area, area sown more than once, Green revolution: Need, impact and
forests, land not available for cultivation, problems, second green revolution -
permanent pastures and other grazing strategies for second green revolution.
lands, land under miscellaneous tree crops, Diversification of Indian agriculture –
culturable (cultivable) waste, fallow land, Animal Husbandry: meaning and its
quality and size of cultivable land holdings. importance in Indian Agriculture.
Methods to reduce fragmentation of land (b) Comparative study of:
holdings.
(i) Conditions of growth (soil,
(iii) Water resources and types of irrigation. temperature, rainfall requirements, crop
Water Resources: Their demand and seasons, secondary crops cultivated
utilization. Types of water resources: with them). (ii) World production and
surface and ground water. India’s position. (iii) Major producing
States in India and their rank as
Meaning, importance and need for
producers of the following crops:
irrigation in India.
Food grains - Rice (China/Japan),
Sources of irrigation:
Wheat (China/Pakistan), Coarse grains
Traditional Methods: wells, tanks, tube – Sorghum (Jowar, Maize), Pennisetum
wells - Advantages and disadvantages; (Bajra or Camboo), Eleusine (Ragi),
Study of two states where each of the above pulses. (India, inter-state).
types of irrigation is mainly prevalent.
Commercial and Industrial crops –
Modern methods: tube wells, multi-purpose Coffee (Nilgiris and N.E. India), Tea
projects, sprinkler irrigation, Perennial (Sri Lanka), Cotton (Pakistan),
canals - Advantages and disadvantages. Sugarcane (China), Jute (Bangladesh),
Names of two canals each in Uttar Pradesh, oilseed cultivation in India particularly
Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil of Groundnut, Coconut (Sri Lanka).
Nadu and Maharashtra.
Conditions of growth: For each crop,
Use and misuse of water for irrigation; the type of soil, temperature range,
study of alternative methods of irrigation. rainfall range, the crop seasons are to
Overwatering - reasons and regions be done.
affected by it; dangers of overwatering;
Main areas of growth of the above
Conservation of water resources including crops, in the countries specified, and
their management; rain water harvesting. reasons for growth are to be studied.
(iv) Agriculture: Types, development and Name of the leading producer (country)
problems. in the world for each of the above crops
(a) Wet and dry farming, crop rotation and (Food grains, commercial and
crop combination, intensity of cropping, industrial crops) and India’s position in
problems of Indian agriculture; use of the world.
technology in agriculture. Modern NOTE: Comparative study between
inputs, change over from subsistence to countries with regard to food grains,
commercial agriculture, need for Green commercial and industrial crops is not
Revolution. Diversifying Indian required.
agriculture – importance of animal
Importance of Market Gardening and
husbandry.
Orchard Farming – reasons and trends in
Wet and dry agriculture: Crop rotation development in recent years.
and crop combination. Intensity of
cropping – concept and crops Self-explanatory

51
(v) Fishing in India, Japan and Bangladesh. (c) Non-conventional energy sources -
types of non-conventional sources (bio-
Methods, types of fish caught, fishing
mass, solar, wind, ocean, hydel,
grounds; factors affecting the importance
geothermal, nuclear), potential (Indian
and development, fishing ports and markets,
context) and limitations of each source,
need and methods of fish conservation.
methods of harnessing and their
Recent Indian Fisheries Policy – a brief
environmental consequences, need to
understanding only.
promote non-conventional energy
Understanding of marine and inland sources.
fisheries; deep sea and inshore fishing;
Advantages and limitations of each
pelagic and demersal fishing should be
non-conventional energy source.
done. Problems affecting fishing in India,
Japan and Bangladesh should be also taken Uses of these energy sources and
up. distribution.
Two ports and two types of fishes of each Understanding the need to promote
coastal State in India should be studied. non-conventional energy sources.
(vi) Sources of Energy (The study should include uses and the
distribution of the above energy
(a) Minerals and power resources.
resources).
Distinguishing between metallic and
non-metallic minerals; ferrous and 4. Infrastructural Resources (Development of
non-ferrous minerals. Transport and Communication).
Production and distribution (three (a) Railways, Roadways, Water transport
leading States and three leading (inland and coastal), Air transport,
centres in each State) of Iron ore, mica, Pipelines - these modes of transport are to
coal, manganese and petroleum; their be studied with regard to –
uses. Location and state wise distribution of air,
Iron ore, mica, coal: their types. road and rail routes; location of waterways
and pipelines; natural and economic factors
The main power resources - Nuclear that govern their distribution; density and
thermal, hydel; three main States for growth. Patterns in India.
generation of nuclear thermal and
The present position, areas well and poorly
hydel power in India.
served by each mode.
(b) Conventional energy sources - fossil Problems – comparative advantage of each
fuels and firewood, potential (Indian mode of transport, national goals to be
context) and limitations of each source, achieved in the development of modes of
methods of harnessing and transport (The Golden quadrilateral - its
environmental consequences of their north-south and east-west corridor).
use.
(i) Ports, their location and advantage;
Conventional energy sources: major exports and imports of different
Firewood – for heating and cooking ports. Nature and direction of trade
along with agricultural and animal from the ports. International trading
waste. patterns and products in the last five
years.
Coal, Petroleum, diesel, LPG - their
potential and limitations in India. Distinguishing between harbour and
Environmental concerns with regard to port; natural and artificial harbours.
their use (global warming, thermal Location of major ports in India and
pollution in waters, fly ash, atmospheric their advantage; main items of export
pollution, etc.). and import from different ports and the
patterns in the last five years.

52
 (b) Communication – importance of Cotton Textiles:
communication in rural development and its Maharashtra (Mumbai and Pune),
policy. Importance of infrastructure as key Gujarat (Ahmedabad and Surat), West
to the development of an industrial Bengal (Kolkata and Howrah), Tamil
economy. Nadu (Madurai and Chennai).
Modern means of communication - Ready-made garments:
satellites and remote sensing - Geographic
Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata
Information Systems (GIS), cellular
phones, radio, doordarshan, internet; (ii) Mineral based industries – Iron and
difference between mass communication steel, aluminium, cement, and transport
and tele communication. Prasar Bharti. equipment. Petrochemicals, including
Infrastructure as key to the development of refineries and fertilizers.
an industrial economy. The following industrial centres of each
5. Industries industry are to be studied.
Iron and Steel:
(a) Study of the location and distribution of
important industrial centres; a general TISCO (Jamshedpur), Vishweshvarya
comparison of disparities. Iron and Steel Plant (Bhadravati), Bhilai
Iron and Steel Plant (Bhilai), Rourkela
Self-explanatory.
Iron and Steel Plant (Rourkela),
(b) Major and minor industrial regions – factors Hindustan Steel Limited Plant
governing their growth. (Durgapur), Bokaro Iron and Steel
Reasons for the spread of industrial areas; Plant( Bokaro), Salem Iron and Steel
Understand how the distribution of heavy Plant (Salem), Vishakhapatnam Iron and
and consumer industries varies in the Steel Plant (Vishakhapatnam),
different regions; Understanding why POSCO(Paradwip).
certain industries are more in a particular (Integrated and mini steel plants:
region. meaning, advantages and disadvantages
Major Industrial regions: Mumbai-Pune, also to be studied.)
Hooghly, Bengaluru-Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Aluminium:
Chota Nagpur, Vishakhapatnam-Guntur,
INDAL (Hirakud), HINDALCO
Gurgaon-Delhi-Meerut.
(Renukoot).
Minor Industrial regions: Ambala-Amritsar,
Cement:
Saharanpur-Muzaffarnagar, Northern
Malabar. Katni Cement and Industrial Company
Limited (Katni), Andhra Pradesh
Factors governing the growth of the above
(Krishna, Vijaywada), Rajasthan (Savai
to be studied.
Madhavpur, Udaipur).
(c) Location, production and growth of the
Transport equipment:
following industries:
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
(i) Agro based industries – Sugar, cotton
(Chittaranjan), Diesel Locomotive Works
textile and ready-made garments.
(Varanasi), TELCO (Jamshedpur),
Sugar Industry: BHEL (Bhopal).
Maharashtra (Ahmednagar and Pune), Automobile Industry:
Uttar Pradesh (Muzaffarnagar and
Maruti Udyog (Gurgaon), Hindustan
Saharanpur), Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore
Motors (Kolkata) Premier Automobiles.
and North Arcot).
(Mumbai).

53
 Ship Building Industry: multilevel planning and planning regions. These
Hindustan Shipyard Limited case studies will be undertaken with reference to
(Vishakhapatnam), Cochin Shipyard the advantages and disadvantages that have
Limited (Kochi), Mazgon Dock (Mumbai) accrued to the people and area - aspects covered
Garden Reach Workshop(Kolkata). will be their geographical location, resource
base, developmental history, present trends of
Aircraft Industry:
population, occupations, agriculture and
HAL-Hindustan Aeronautics limited industrial activities, issues of development.
(Nasik, Koraput, Bengaluru).
1. Area development in Chattisgarh region –
Petro Chemicals: mining, silk industry and farming.
UDEX (Koyali), IPCL (Vadodara).
2. Electronics industry in Bengaluru– reasons
Oil refineries: for its development, extent, national and
IOCL (Barauni, Haldia and Digboi), international linkages and problems.
HPCL (Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam). 3. Growth of Haldia port, its industries and
Fertilizers: hinterland.
FCI (Sindri), HFCL (Barauni), IFFCO
(Kandla). 7. Map Work
NOTE: Factors responsible for the A question on map work will be set to identify, label
location, development and present status and locate any of the following items studied in
of the Agro and Mineral based topics 1-6:
industries mentioned above, as well as
the distribution centres are to be MAP LIST:
studied.
Locational setting of India:
Difference between key and footloose
industry; industrial clusters and indices 804’N-3706’N, 6807’E- 97025’E (Latitudinal and
to identify industrial clusters; industrial longitudinal extent of India); 23.5 0 N (Central
inertia. latitude) and 82.5 0 E (Central longitude); Indira
Col and Cape Comorin (Northern and Southern
Maps and sketches of Industrial regions
point of mainland India).
and centres (location of agro based and
mineral based industries) should be the Mountains:
basis for explaining the pattern of
3 parallel ranges of Himalayas, Trans Himalayan
industrial development.
range – Karakoram, Pir Panjal, Ladakh, Zaskar.
(d) Tourism industry – Major natural and Aravallis, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Eastern
cultural tourist areas in India. Their special Ghats, Nilgiris, Cardamom hills, Garo, Khasi,
features and level of development - impact Jaintia hills, Patkoi hills, Naga hills, Mizo hills.
on environment and local economy. Tourist
flows. Peaks:
Definition of tourism, growth of tourism, Mount Everest, Godwin Austin, Kanchenjunga,
advantages of tourism, important places – Gurushikhar, Dodabetta, Anaimudi, Mahendragiri,
both natural and cultural. Positive and Plains:
negative impact of tourism, problems of Indus-Ganga-Brahmapurtra region, Konkan,
tourism and measures for developing eco- Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Circars.
tourism.
Plateaus:
6. Regional Economic Development Malwa, Chota Nagpur, Deccan, Meghalaya.
(Case studies) Peninsula:
Case studies will be preceded by a brief Kathiawar, Kachchh.
understanding of the meaning of development,

54
Lakes: Minerals:
Chilika, Pulicat. Iron Ore (Keonjhar, Bellary, Raigarh, Singhbhum),
Waterbodies: Coal (Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj), Petroleum
(Digboi, Mumbai High, Ankleshwar, Bassein),
Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Palk Strait, Gulf of Manganese (Sundergarh, Nagpur) Mica (Nellore,
Kachchh, Gulf of Khambat, Bhilwara).
Passes: Power resources:
Karakoram, Shipki La, Nathu La, Bomdi La, Nuclear Power (Kaiga, Kalpakkam, Tarapur,
Palghat, Bhorghat, Thalghat. Rawatbhata, Narora, Kakrapara), Thermal Power
Rivers: (Bongaigaon, Santaldih, Panipat, Ahmedabad,
Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Ganga, Chandrapur, Nevyelli, Trombay, Vijaywada);
Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Hydroelectric power stations (Bhakra Nangal,
Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Son, Damodar, Luni, Hirakud, Damodar, Nagarjunasagar, Tungabhadra,
Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Rihand).
Kaveri, Brahmaputra. Industries:
Climate of India: Sugar Industry: Ahmednagar, Pune and
Movement of Southwest and North east monsoon Coimbatore;
winds from season to season, area of low and high Cotton Textiles: Mumbai, Ahmedabad Surat and
pressure varying from season to season, direction Madurai.
of westerly and easterly jet streams, average Iron and Steel: TISCO(Jamshedpur), Bhilai Iron
annual rainfall distribution in India, Main drought and Steel Plant (Bhilai), Vishakhapatnam Iron and
prone and flood prone areas. Steel Plant (Vishakhapatnam);
Natural Vegetation: Aluminium: INDAL (Hirakud), HINDALCO
Main area of: Tropical Evergreen, Tropical (Renukoot);
Deciduous, Tropical dry, Deltaic and Arid forests. Cement: (Katni) and (Udaipur);
Population: Transport equipment: Chittaranjan Locomotive
The States of India (according to the latest Census) Works (Kolkata) and DLW (Diesel Locomotive
for the following: The Lowest density of population, Works - Varanasi).
highest density of population, highest level of Automobile Industry: Maruti Udyog (Gurgaon),
urbanization, lowest level of urbanisation, highest Hindustan Motors (Kolkata); Fiat industry-Mumbai.
Index of Concentration of population, the highest
sex ratio, the lowest sex ratio, the highest literacy, Ship Building Industry: Hindustan Shipyard Limited
the lowest literacy; (Vishakhapatnam), Cochin Shipyard Limited
(Kochi), Mazgon Dock (Mumbai); Garden Reach
Urban cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Workshop(Kolkata).
Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad,
Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, (metropolitan and capital Aircraft Industry: HAL - Hindustan Aeronautics
cities). Limited (Nasik, Bengaluru, Kanpur);
Resources of India: Petro Chemicals: UDEX (Koyali) and IPCL
(Vadodara);
Main region of intense cropping in India; Main
State/regions of India for: wells, tanks, tube wells, Oil refineries: IOCL (Digboi, Barauni and Haldia);
perennial canals. Fertilizers: FCI (Sindri), IFFCO (Kandla).
Agriculture: Transport:
Main producing States/regions of India for: Rice, Trace the route of: National Highway 1, National
Wheat, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Pulses, Coffee, Highway 2, National Highway 6, National highway
Tea, Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Coconut. 7, Golden Quadrilateral - 4 sides, North south
Corridor, East West Corridor; Kerala –the state

55
with the Highest Density of roads; Delhi - the Union sheets. It will include the description of
territory with highest density of roads. location, extent, relief features, drainage, land
Ports: use, settlement patterns, communications and
inferences about human occupations and stage
Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, New Mangalore, of economic development of the area.
Kochi, Tuticorin, Haldia, Chennai,
Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata. (v) Introduction to Geographic Information System:
Elements of visual interpretation of remote
Hinterland: sensing maps/ images.
Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai. Colour significance in the image and true colour
Case studies: (false colour composition): texture; size; shape;
shadow; association.
Tracing of the Chattisgarh region, city of Bengaluru
and its connectivity (road and rail ways) with the (Reference material – Wikipedia, Google.earth,
adjacent megacities & ports and hinterland of IIRS Hyderabad).
Haldia. (vi) Elementary principles of surveying an area:
preparing two plans of school compound and/or
SKETCH MAPS a small area using Plane table/ GPS.
Candidates should be able to draw, label,
understand and interpret the sketch maps related to 2. Project Work (Assignment):
the following topics:
Local field surveys on any one of the following will
• Locational setting of India; be submitted as Project Report. The length of
• Relief and drainage of India; project report will be 15-20 written pages, excluding
• Climate;
photographs, maps, diagrams and sketches. No extra
• Population;
credit will be given for computer based maps or
• Industries.
text. These surveys should be organized with a table
PAPER II: PRACTICAL WORK AND of contents, sample taken and statistical methods
PROJECT WORK (30 Marks) used, interview schedule. The report should be
organized systematically and the conclusions should
Candidates will be required to undertake the
be clearly stated.
following Practical work and Project work .
(i) Agricultural land use survey.
1. Practical Work:
Any four of the following topics to be undertaken: Choose a district or topographical map of an
area 1: 250000 and make a sketch map showing
(i) Drawing of scales: linear, graphic scales land use; compare the patterns of these.
showing primary and secondary divisions;
Alternatively, a local village could be chosen
representative fractions and statement of scale
methods. and the fields mapped from the cadastral map
with information on the crops grown in different
(ii) Drawing of cross-section or profiles of seasons and the location of the village, its roads
important contours, viz. ridge, plateau, and landmarks, if any.
escarpment, valley, conical hill, types of slope,
sea cliffs, waterfalls, spurs, by using vertical (ii) Household survey of about 30-60 households of
exaggeration and horizontal equivalent. a village or locality.
(iii) Understanding and illustrating location Family size, age structure, educational
references of SOI maps. background, occupation, involvement of men
(iv) Map reading and interpretation of survey of and women in economic activity, educational
India maps: Study will be based on service. Draw conclusions to reflect the
representative portions of any two topographical economic development of the households.

56
(iii) Amenity study. (v) Area development of a multipurpose river
valley project – impact on the region.
Study of hospitals in a city, schools (school
where you studied), post offices, municipal Self-explanatory.
zones within the city (blocks in a village study) –
reasons for travel (based on the importance and The Practical Work and the Project Work will be
demand for the place), travel time, travel assessed by the teacher and a Visiting Examiner
distance, mapping the hinterland of the service. appointed locally and approved by the Council.
No question paper for practical work and project
(iv) Study of a manufacturing industry or a self-
work will be set by the Council.
employed person.
Evaluation of Practical Work and Project Work will
Visit a manufacturing unit or self-employed
be as follows:
person – cycle or car repair shop, small
fabricating unit, factory if nearby and find out – Practical file (Sessional Record): 10 marks
source of raw material, supply routes, final Assignment (Project Report): 10 marks
product, areas where it is sent, manpower
strength and their organization. Viva voce: 10 marks

57