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(UPSC Syllabus) : Main Examination Syllabus - Subject: Geography
(UPSC Syllabus) : Main Examination Syllabus - Subject: Geography
(UPSC Syllabus) : Main Examination Syllabus - Subject: Geography
i. Geomorphology
Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; origin and
with fluvial, arid, glacial, coastal and karst cycle; groundwater; Applied Geomorphology.
ii. Climatology
Temperature and pressure belts of the world; heat budget of the earth; atmospheric
circulation; planetary and local winds; monsoons and jet streams; air masses and fronts;
climatic change.
iii. Oceanography
Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; temperature and salinity of
the oceans; ocean deposits; ocean currents and tides; marine resources–biotic,
iv. Biogeography
Genesis of soils; classification and distribution of soils; soil profile; soil erosion and
v. Environmental Geography
quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare
approaches; cultural regions of the world human and welfare approaches; cultural
of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity; food and nutrition problems;
primate city and rank-size rule; functional classificatipn of towns; sphere of urban
Concept of a region; types of regions and methods of regionalisation; growth centres and
models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch; Von Thunen’s model of
Note : Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects
Section-A.
i. Physical Setting
Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries; structure and relief; drainage
cyclones and western distrubances; floods and droughts; climatic regions; natural
ii. Resources
Land, surface and groundwater, energy, minerals, and biotic resources, their distribution,
iii. Agriculture
agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability; agro-and social forestry; green
revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications; significance of dry farming;
agro-climatic zones.
iv. Industry
Evolution of industries; locational factors of cotton, jute, iron and steel, fertiliser, paper,
drugs and pharmaceutical, automobile and cottage indusries; industrial complexes and
Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in
regional development; growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade, trade
Section-B
i. Cultural Setting
Racial and ethnic diversities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; role of
langague, religion and tradition in the formation of cultural regions; growth, distribution
policies.
ii. Settlements
cities; conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl; slums and associated
Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; integrated rural development
watershed management; planning for backward area, desert drought-prone, hill and
v. Contemporary Issues