The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts examinations for various civil services in India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and others. The syllabus for the UPSC Geography paper is divided into two papers: Paper-I and Paper-II. Below is a breakdown of the UPSC Geography syllabus paper-wise:
Paper-I:
- Physical Geography:
- Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Volcanoes: causes and distribution; Rocks and minerals; Geological time scale; Weathering and erosion; Landforms associated with fluvial, glacial, aeolian, marine, and Karst landscapes.
- Climatology: Atmosphere – composition, structure, and vertical temperature profile; Solar radiation and heat balance; Monsoon and other winds; Pressure belts and Wind systems; Air masses and fronts; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather disturbances and their characteristics; Tropical and temperate cyclones; Climatic classification (Köppen and Thornthwaite); Climate change and its impacts.
- Oceanography: Oceanic topography; Salinity, temperature, density, and waves; Tides and currents; Marine resources and pollution.
- Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Concepts of environmental ecology, biodiversity, and its conservation.
- Human Geography:
- Perspectives in Human Geography: Evolution of human geography; Scope and significance; Approaches to the study of human geography; Environmental determinism, Possibilism, and Probabilism; Quantitative revolution and Locational analysis; Radical, Behavioural, Humanistic, and Structuralist schools; Recent trends in human geography.
- Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement and problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis, the potential of renewable energy resources; Urbanization and migration: types, causes, and consequences; Concepts of national income, poverty, and unemployment; Models of development – Rostow’s stages of growth; Marxist, Dependency, and World Systems theories.
- Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution of world population; Demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; Concepts of overpopulation and underpopulation; Population policy and family planning; Types and patterns of rural settlements; Urban morphology – morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural-urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization.
Paper-II:
- Geography of India:
- Physical Setting: Physiographic divisions; Drainage systems; Climate; Soils and natural vegetation; Natural hazards and Disasters: Floods, Droughts, Earthquakes, Landslides, and Cyclones – spatial patterns and mitigation strategies.
- Human Setting: Economic structure; Resources; Agriculture and industry; Infrastructure; Cultural setting – regional patterns of Indian culture and diversity; Demographic characteristics; Rural-urban transformations; Urbanization; Problems and policies.
- Geography of the World:
- World Economy: World industries; Patterns of world trade.
- Regional Geography: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia – physical, economic, social, and environmental aspects.
This is a comprehensive overview of the syllabus for the UPSC Geography paper. Candidates preparing for this exam should delve deeper into each topic and ensure a thorough understanding to excel in the examination.
