UPSC Geography Optional Syllabus

UPSC Geography Optional syllabus

The Geography optional subject in the UPSC Mains examination consists of two papers, namely Paper I and Paper II. Each paper carries a weightage of 250 marks, resulting in a cumulative total of 500 marks for the Geography optional.

Geography holds significant importance in the UPSC civil services exam, featuring in both the preliminary and mains examinations. It is not only a compulsory subject but also a highly sought-after optional subject offered by the commission. Geography appeals to candidates from both science and arts backgrounds due to its logical nature and scoring potential. Even if one doesn’t choose Geography as an optional subject, it remains unavoidable in the preparation for the IAS exam. This article provides an in-depth understanding of the UPSC Geography optional syllabus for the exam, covering its aspects in the preliminary and mains examinations, as well as for those opting for it as an optional subject. The syllabus outlines the comprehensive topics that need to be studied to excel in the Geography section of the UPSC examination.

PAPER I

PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY

Physical Geography

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 Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Land scape development; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development; Applied Geomorphology; Geomorphology, economic geology and environment.
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 fronto; Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s Thornthwaite’s and Trewar Tha’s classification of world climate; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change, and role and response of man in climatic changes Applied climatology and Urban climate.
Oceanography : Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and
salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources; biotic, mineral and energy resources; Coral reefs coral bleaching; Sea-level changes; Law of the sea and marine pollution.
Biogeography : Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion,
Degradation and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry, agro-forestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.
Environmental Geography : Principle ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on
ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their
management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.

Human Geography :

Perspectives in Human Geography : Areal differentiation; Regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; Radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index.
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 nutritions problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies; World industries: location patterns and problems; Patterns of world trade.
Population and Settlement Geography : Growth and distribution of world population; Demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; Concepts of over-under-and optimum population; Population 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.
regional Planning : Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalisation; Growth
centres and growth poles; Regional imbalances; Regional development strategies; Environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.
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 model of industrial location; Ostov’s model of stages of growth. Heart-land and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.

PAPER II
GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA

NOTE : Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects
covered by this paper.

Physical Setting : Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns; Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts; Climatic regions; Natural vegetation, Soil types and their distributions.
Resources : Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources, Forest
and wild life resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.
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-economic 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.
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.
Transport, Communication and Trade : Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline net works
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.
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 structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration (inter-regional, interaregional and international) and associated problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators.
Settlements : Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; Urban developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions; Urban sprawl; Slums and asssociated problems; Town planning; Problems of urbanisation and remedies.
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.
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.
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; Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities in economic development; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.

Embarking on the journey of Geography optional for the UPSC Mains calls for a comprehensive and meticulous preparation strategy. To excel in this subject, aspiring candidates should devote time to studying previous years’ question papers and consulting relevant books specifically tailored for Geography in the UPSC context. A unique aspect of Geography is the inclusion of mapping questions, which are consistently present in the question paper. Therefore, it is essential for candidates to hone their mapping skills as an integral part of their preparation.

Moreover, IAS aspirants can enhance their chances of success by integrating their upsc Geography optional syllabus preparation with their General Studies studies for both the preliminary and mains exams. The syllabus of these subjects often overlaps, providing an opportunity to strengthen their overall understanding and grasp of key concepts. By synergizing the preparation for Geography optional and General Studies, candidates can build a solid foundation of knowledge and effectively tackle the diverse range of questions that may arise in the UPSC examination.

Creatively approaching Geography optional involves exploring real-world examples, case studies, and current affairs to deepen one’s understanding of geographical phenomena and their implications. Connecting theoretical concepts to practical applications and demonstrating a multidimensional perspective can further enrich the answers and make them stand out.

Ultimately, a thorough and well-integrated preparation strategy, coupled with creativity and a multidisciplinary approach, will pave the way for guaranteed success in the UPSC Mains examination with Geography optional.

UPSC geography mains syllabus in detailed

Category	Topics
Indian Geography	Basics of India, Location, latitude, longitude, time zone, etc., Neighbours, Important straits, States and their position, States with international boundaries, Physical features, The Himalayas – geological formation, climate, vegetation, soil, biodiversity, physiographic divisions, major passes, significance, The Great North Indian Plains – geological formation, physiographic divisions, climate, vegetation, soil, biodiversity, significance, Peninsular Plateau – geological formation, Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Indian Desert, Coastal plains and islands, River systems, Himalayan rivers, Peninsular rivers, River basins, Regional development and planning, Hydropower projects, major dams, West-flowing and east-flowing rivers, Interlinking of rivers, Climate, Monsoons – driving mechanism, El Nino, La Nina, Seasons, Cyclones, Minerals and industries – mineral distribution, industrial policies, location, Agriculture, Land utilisation, Types of agricultural practices, Green revolution, Soils and crops, Irrigation, Land reforms, Animal husbandry, Government schemes, Natural vegetation and fauna, Classification of natural vegetation, Rainfall distribution in India, Biosphere reserves, national parks, etc., Red-listed species, Economic infrastructure, Transportation (highways, inland waterways, etc.), Power and energy sector, Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy, Energy conservation, Human Geography, Demographics, Recent census, Economic activities – agriculture, manufacturing, industries, tertiary activities, Settlements, urbanisation, functional classification of towns, million-cities and megacities
World Geography	Major natural regions, Regional geography of developed countries, Regional geography of developing countries, Regional geography of South Asia
Physical Geography	Geomorphology, Origin of the earth, Interior of the earth, Types and characteristics of rocks, Folding and Faulting, Volcanoes, earthquakes, Interior of the earth, Weathering, Landforms formed by fluvial, aeolian and glacial actions, Climatology, Atmosphere – structure and composition, Temperature, Pressure belts of the Earth, Wind systems, Clouds and types of rainfall, Cyclones and anti-cyclones, Major climatic types, Oceanography, Ocean relief, Temperature, salinity, Ocean deposits, Ocean currents, El Nino and La Nina, Waves and tides, Biogeography, Soil – origin and types, Major biomes of the world, Ecosystem, food chain, Environmental degradation and conservation
Human Geography	Man & environment; relationship, growth and development of human geography; determinism and possibilism, Population, tribes, migration, Economic activities – agriculture, manufacturing, industries, tertiary activities, Settlements, urbanisation, functional classification of towns, million-cities and megacities