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(Progressive Academicians Team of Hamid)

An Institute for IAS, PSC & other competitive examinations

UPPSC
OPTIONAL GEOGRAPHY
MAINS SYLLABUS

Raipur Branch :Near C.M.House, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.) 0771-4053040

Bhilai Branch: 35/1, Nehru Nagar Chowk, Bhilai (C.G.) 0788-4013030, 8224922922, 8982222922
Web : www.pathiasacademy.com Email : pathiasacademy@gmail.com
 UPSC MAINS SYLLABUS

UPSC OPTIONLA GEOGRAPHY MAINS SYLLABUS

PAPER-I ronmentalism; Quant i tat ive revolut ion and locat ional
PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare ap-
proaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cul-
Physical Geography: tural regions of the world; Human development index.
1. Geomorphology : Factors controlling landform develop- 2. Economic Geography : World economic development:
ment; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and
measurement and problems; World resources and their
evolution of the earth's crust; Fundamentals of geomag-
distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth; World
netism; Physical conditions of the earth's interior; Geo-
agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; agricultural
synclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics;
inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems;
Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earth-
Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies;
quakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles
and Landscape development ; Denudation chronology; World industries: locational patterns and problems; pat-
Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope develop- terns of world trade.
ment ;Appl ied Geomorphology: Geohydrology, eco- 3. Population and Settlement Geography : Growth and dis-
nomic geology and environment tribution of world population; demographic attributes;
2. Climatology : Temperature and pressure belts of the Causes and consequences of migration; concepts of over
world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circula- - under-and optimum population; Population theories,
tion; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and world population problems and policies, Social well-be-
local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and ing and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types
fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues
and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Ur-
Koppen's, Thornthwaite's and Trewartha's classification ban morphology: Concepts of primate city and rank-size
of world climates; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban
change and role and response of man in climatic changes, influence; Rural - urban fringe; Satellite towns; Prob-
Applied climatology and Urban climate. lems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable devel-
3. Oceanography : Bottom topography of the Atlantic, In- opment of cities.
dian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the 4. Regional Planning : Concept of a region; types of re-
oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, gions and methods of regionalisation; growth centres
currents and tides; Marine resources: biotic, mineral and and growth poles; regional imbalances; environmental
energy resources; Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sealevel issues in regional planning; planning for sustainable de-
changes; law of the sea and marine pollution. velopment.
4. Biogeography : Genesis of soils; Classification and dis-
5. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography : Sys-
tribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation
tem analysis in Human Geography; Malthusian, Marx-
and conservation; Factors influencing world distribu-
ian and Demographic Transition models; Central Place
tion of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation
theories of Christaller and Losch; Von Thunen's model
and conservation measures; Social forestry; agro-for-
of agricultural location; Weber's model of industrial lo-
estry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.
cation; Rostov's model of stages of growth. Heart-land
5. Environmental Geography : Principle of ecology; Hu-
and Rimland theories; laws of international boundaries
man ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecol-
and frontiers.
ogy and environment ; Global and regional ecological
changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management Note : Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory
and conservation; Environmental degradat ion, manage- map question pertinent to subjects covered by this pa-
ment and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable de- per.
velopment; Environmental policy; Environmental haz- PAPER-II
ards and remedial measures; Environmental education
Geography Of India :
and legislation.
1. Physical Setting : Space relationship of India with neigh-
Human Geography :
boring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system
1. Perspectives in Human Geography : Areal differentia- and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of
tion; regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Envi- Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns, Tropical cyclones
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Progressive Academicians Team of Hamid
2 Raipur Branch : Near C.M.House, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.) 8982222922, 0771 4053040,
Bhilai Branch : 35/1, Nehru Nagar Chowk, Bhilai (C.G.) 0788 4013030 www.pathiasacademy.com
 UPSC MAINS SYLLABUS
and western distur - bances; Floods and droughts; Cli- ity; migration (inter-regional, intra- regional and interna-
matic regions; Natural vegetation; Soil types and their tional) and associated problems; Population problems
distributions. and policies; Health indicators.
2. Resources : Land, surface and ground water, energy, 7. Settlements : Types, patterns and morphology of rural
minerals, biotic and marine resources; Forest and wild settlements; Urban developments; Morphology of In-
life resources and their conservation; Energy crisis. dian cities; Functional cla ssification of Indian cities ;
3. Agriculture : Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, Conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl;
power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure Slums and associated problems; town planning; Prob-
and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural produc- lems of urbanization and remedies.
tivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land ca- 8. Regional Development and Planning : Experience of re-
pability; Agro and socialforestry; Green revolution and gional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated ru-
its socioeconomic and ecological implications; Signifi- ral development programmes; Panchayati Raj and
cance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revo- decentralised planning; Command area development;
lution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poul- Watershed management; Planning for backward area
try; agr icul tural regional isat ion; agro-cl imat ic zones; ,desert , drought prone, hill, tribal area development; multi-
agro- ecological regions. level planning; Regional planning and development of
4 . Industry : Evolution of industries ; Locational factors of island territories.
cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizer, 9. Political Aspects : Geographical basis of Indian federal-
paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage ism; State reorganisation; Emergence of new states; Re-
and agro-based industries; Industrial houses and com- gional consciousness and inter state issues; international
plexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial boundary of India and related issues; Cross border ter-
regionalisation; New industrial policies; Multinationals rorism; India's role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South
and liberalization; Special Economic Zones; Tourism in- Asia and Indian Ocean realm.
cluding eco -tourism. 10. Contemporary Issues : Ecological issues: Environmen-
5. Transport, Communication and Trade : Road, railway, tal hazards: landslides earth quakes , Tsunamis , floods
waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their and droughts, epidemics; Issues relating to environmen-
complementary roles in regional development; Growing tal pollution; Changes in patterns of land use; Principles
importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Trade of environmental impact assessment and environmental
balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones; Devel- management; Population explosion and food security;
opments in communication and information technology Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertifica-
and their impacts on economy and society; Indian space tion and soil erosion; Problems of agrarian and indus-
programme. trial unrest; Regional disparities in economic develop-
6. Cultural Setting : Historical Perspective of Indian Soci- ment ; Concept of sustainable growth and development;
ety; Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers;
minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; Globalisation and Indian economy.
cultural regions; Growth, distribution and density of NOTE: Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory
population; Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age struc- map question pertinent to subjects covered by this pa-
ture, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longev- per

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Progressive Academicians Team of Hamid
Raipur Branch : Near C.M.House, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.) 8982222922, 0771 4053040, 3
Bhilai Branch : 35/1, Nehru Nagar Chowk, Bhilai (C.G.) 0788 4013030 www.pathiasacademy.com
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Mamta Sarthi Keerti Nait

Wricha Sharma