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UPSC Geography optional syllabus

Both papers of the UPSC Geography optional. Here it is in 20 topics and 94 subtopics you can study and tick off one at a time.

Papers
two, both in Mains
Marks
250 each, 500 in all
Time
3 hours each

Contents

Paper I

  1. Geomorphology
  2. Climatology
  3. Oceanography
  4. Biogeography
  5. Environmental Geography
  6. Perspectives in Human Geography
  7. Economic Geography
  8. Population and Settlement Geography
  9. Regional Planning and Development
  10. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography

Paper II

  1. Physical Setting of India
  2. Resources of India
  3. Agriculture in India
  4. Industry in India
  5. Transport, Communication and Trade in India
  6. Cultural Setting of India
  7. Settlements in India
  8. Regional Development and Planning in India
  9. Political Aspects of Indian Geography
  10. Contemporary Issues in India

Paper I

Geomorphology

  1. Factors Controlling Landform Development; Endogenetic and Exogenetic Forces
  2. Origin and Evolution of the Earth's Crust; Geomagnetism; Earth's Interior
  3. Continental Drift, Isostasy and Plate Tectonics
  4. Mountain Building, Volcanicity, Earthquakes and Tsunamis
  5. Geomorphic Cycles, Landscape Development and Denudation Chronology
  6. Slope Development, Channel Morphology and Erosion Surfaces
  7. Applied Geomorphology, Geohydrology and Economic Geology

Climatology

  1. Atmospheric Processes
  2. Climate Classification

Oceanography

  1. Bottom Topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans
  2. Temperature, Salinity, Heat and Salt Budgets; Ocean Deposits
  3. Waves, Currents and Tides
  4. Marine Resources — Biotic, Mineral and Energy
  5. Coral Reefs, Coral Bleaching and Sea-Level Changes
  6. Law of the Sea and Marine Pollution

Biogeography

  1. Genesis, Classification and Distribution of Soils; Soil Profile
  2. Soil Erosion, Degradation and Conservation
  3. Factors Influencing World Distribution of Plants and Animals
  4. Deforestation, Conservation Measures, Social and Agro-Forestry
  5. Wildlife and Major Gene Pool Centres

Environmental Geography

  1. Ecosystem Concepts
  2. Degradation and Hazards

Perspectives in Human Geography

  1. Areal Differentiation, Regional Synthesis, Dichotomy and Dualism
  2. Environmentalism; Quantitative Revolution and Locational Analysis
  3. Radical, Behavioural, Human and Welfare Approaches
  4. Languages, Religions and Secularisation; Cultural Regions of the World
  5. Human Development Index

Economic Geography

  1. World Economic Development — Measurement and Problems
  2. World Resources, Distribution, Energy Crisis and the Limits to Growth
  3. World Agriculture — Typology of Agricultural Regions
  4. Agricultural Inputs and Productivity
  5. Food and Nutrition Problems, Food Security and Famine
  6. World Industries — Locational Patterns and Problems
  7. Patterns of World Trade

Population and Settlement Geography

  1. Growth, Distribution and Demographic Attributes of World Population
  2. Causes and Consequences of Migration
  3. Over-, Under- and Optimum Population; Population Theories and Policies
  4. Social Well-Being, Quality of Life and Population as Social Capital
  5. Rural Settlements — Types, Patterns and Environmental Issues
  6. Hierarchy of Urban Settlements and Urban Morphology
  7. Primate City and Rank-Size Rule; Functional Classification of Towns
  8. Rural-Urban Fringe, Satellite Towns and Sustainable Development of Cities

Regional Planning and Development

  1. Concept of a Region; Types of Regions and Methods of Regionalisation
  2. Growth Centres and Growth Poles
  3. Regional Imbalances and Regional Development Strategies
  4. Environmental Issues in Regional Planning
  5. Planning for Sustainable Development

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography

  1. Systems Analysis in Human Geography
  2. Malthusian, Marxian and Demographic Transition Models
  3. Central Place Theories — Christaller and Losch
  4. Perroux and Boudeville; Von Thunen's Model of Agricultural Location
  5. Weber's Model of Industrial Location; Rostow's Stages of Growth
  6. Heartland and Rimland Theories; Laws of International Boundaries and Frontiers

Paper II

Physical Setting of India

  1. Space Relationship of India with Neighbouring Countries
  2. Structure, Relief and Physiographic Regions
  3. Drainage System and Watersheds
  4. Mechanism of Indian Monsoons, Rainfall Patterns and Cyclones
  5. Floods, Droughts and Climatic Regions
  6. Natural Vegetation and Soil Types

Resources of India

  1. Land, Surface and Ground Water Resources
  2. Energy and Mineral Resources; Energy Crisis
  3. Biotic and Marine Resources
  4. Forest and Wildlife Resources and Their Conservation

Agriculture in India

  1. Cropping Patterns
  2. Agricultural Regions

Industry in India

  1. Location Factors
  2. Industrial Regions

Transport, Communication and Trade in India

  1. Road, Railway, Waterway, Airway and Pipeline Networks
  2. Ports and Their Role in National and Foreign Trade
  3. Trade Balance, Trade Policy and Export Processing Zones
  4. Communication and Information Technology — Economic and Social Impact
  5. Indian Space Programme

Cultural Setting of India

  1. Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial and Linguistic Diversity
  2. Religious Minorities; Major Tribes, Tribal Areas and Their Problems
  3. Cultural Regions of India
  4. Growth, Distribution and Density of Population
  5. Demographic Attributes — Sex Ratio, Age Structure, Literacy, Work-Force
  6. Migration and Associated Problems; Population Policies; Health Indicators

Settlements in India

  1. Types, Patterns and Morphology of Rural Settlements
  2. Urban Development and Morphology of Indian Cities
  3. Functional Classification of Indian Cities
  4. Conurbations, Metropolitan Regions and Urban Sprawl
  5. Slums and Associated Problems; Town Planning
  6. Problems of Urbanization and Remedies

Regional Development and Planning in India

  1. Experience of Regional Planning in India; Five Year Plans
  2. Integrated Rural Development Programmes
  3. Panchayati Raj and Decentralised Planning
  4. Command Area Development and Watershed Management
  5. Planning for Backward, Desert, Drought-Prone, Hill and Tribal Areas
  6. Multi-Level Planning; Development of Island Territories

Political Aspects of Indian Geography

  1. Boundary Issues
  2. Electoral Geography

Contemporary Issues in India

  1. Environmental Problems
  2. Regional Disparities

This is Mented's breakdown of the official UPSC syllabus into study-sized subtopics. For the syllabus as notified, see the Civil Services Examination notice on upsc.gov.in.

Other optional subjects

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