Geography Syllabus
Paper-I: Principles of Geography
Section A: Physical Geography
1. Geomorphology
1. Factors controlling landform development: Endogenetic & Exogenetic forces
2. Origin and evolution of Earth’s crust, fundamentals of geomagnetism
3. Physical conditions of Earth’s interior, Geosynclines, Continental drift, Isostasy, Plate tectonics
4. Mountain building, volcanicity, earthquakes, tsunamis
5. Geomorphic cycles, landscape development, denudation chronology, channel morphology, erosion surfaces, slope development
6. Applied geomorphology: Economic geology, environmental applications
2. Climatology
1. Temperature & pressure belts, heat budget of the earth, atmospheric circulation
2. Atmospheric stability/instability, planetary & local winds, monsoons, jet streams
3. Air masses, fronts, temperate & tropical cyclones, precipitation patterns
4. Weather, climate classifications: Koppen, Thornthwaite, Trewartha
5. Hydrological cycle, global climatic change, human response
6. Applied climatology & urban climate
3. Oceanography
1. Ocean bottom topography (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific)
2. Temperature, salinity, heat & salt budgets, ocean deposits
3. Waves, currents, tides, marine biotic, mineral & energy resources
4. Coral reefs & bleaching, sea-level changes, law of the sea, marine pollution
4. Biogeography
1. Genesis, classification & distribution of soils; soil profile, erosion, degradation, conservation
2. Factors influencing plant & animal distribution
3. Deforestation & conservation, social & agro-forestry, wildlife, major gene pool centers
5. Environmental Geography
1. Principles of ecology, human ecological adaptations
2. Influence of humans on ecology, global/regional ecological changes
3. Ecosystem management & conservation, biodiversity, sustainable development
4. Environmental hazards, policy, education, legislation
Section B: Human Geography
1. Perspectives in Human Geography
1. Areal differentiation, regional synthesis, dichotomy & dualism
2. Environmentalism, quantitative revolution, locational analysis
3. Radical, behavioral, human, welfare approaches
4. Languages, religions, secularisation, cultural regions, Human Development Index
2. Economic Geography
1. World economic development: measurement, problems
2. Resources distribution, energy crisis, limits to growth
3. Agriculture: Typology, inputs, productivity, food security, famine
4. Industry: Location patterns, problems, world trade
3. Population and Settlement Geography
1. Population growth & distribution, demographic attributes
2. Migration: causes & consequences
3. Over-, under-, optimum population, theories, policies, social well-being
5. Rural & urban settlements: types, hierarchy, morphology, primate city, rank-size rule, functional classification, urban fringe, satellite towns, sustainable development
4. Regional Planning
1. Concept, types & methods of regionalization
2. Growth centers, growth poles, regional imbalances, development strategies
3. Environmental issues in regional planning, planning for sustainable development
5. Models, Theories & Laws in Human Geography
1. System analysis; Malthusian, Marxian, demographic transition models
2. Central Place theories: Christaller, Losch
3. Perroux, Boudeville, Von Thunen (agriculture), Weber (industry), Ostov (stages of growth)
4. Heartland & Rimland theories; laws of international boundaries & frontiers
Paper-II: Geography of India
Section A: Physical Setting of India
1. Space & Structure
1. India’s location & neighboring countries
2. Relief, physiographic regions, drainage system & watersheds
2. Climate & Natural Hazards
1. Indian monsoons, rainfall patterns, tropical cyclones, western disturbances
2. Floods, droughts, climatic regions.
3. Soils & Vegetation
1. Soil types & distribution, natural vegetation
Section B: Resources of India
1. Land, water (surface & ground), energy, minerals, biotic & marine resources
2. Forest & wildlife resources, conservation
3. Energy crisis & management
Section C: Agriculture in India
- Infrastructure & Institutional Factors
- 1. Irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power.
- 2. Land holdings, tenure, land reforms.
- Agricultural Practices & Productivity
- 1. Cropping pattern, intensity, crop combination, land capability
- 2. Agro- & social-forestry, Green Revolution, dry farming
- 3. Livestock & white revolution, aquaculture, sericulture, poultry
- 4. Agricultural regionalisation: agro-climatic & agro-ecological zones
Section D: Industry in India
1. Evolution & locational factors of industries: cotton, jute, textile, iron & steel, aluminum, fertilizer, paper, chemical & pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage & agro-based industries
2. Industrial houses, complexes, public sector undertakings
3. Industrial regionalisation, new industrial policy, multinationals, liberalisation
4. Special Economic Zones, tourism & ecotourism
Section E: Transport, Communication & Trade
1. Road, railway, waterway, airway, pipeline networks & regional development
2. Ports, national & foreign trade, trade balance & policy
3. Export processing zones, IT & communication developments
4. Indian space programme
Section F: Cultural and Demographic Setting
1. Historical perspective, racial, linguistic, ethnic diversities, religious minorities
2. Tribes, tribal areas, problems
3. Cultural regions, population distribution, density & growth
4. Demographic attributes: sex ratio, age structure, literacy, workforce, dependency ratio, longevity
5. Migration: inter-regional, intra-regional, international; population problems & policies; health indicators
Section G: Settlements
1. Rural settlements: types, patterns, morphology
2. Urban settlements: morphology, functional classification, conurbations, metropolitan regions, urban sprawl, slums, town planning
3. Urbanisation problems & remedies
Section H: Regional Development & Planning
1. Regional planning experience in India: Five Year Plans
2. Integrated rural development, Panchayati Raj, decentralized planning
3. Command area development, watershed management
4. Planning for backward areas, deserts, drought-prone regions, hilly & tribal areas
5. Multi-level planning, island territories
Section I: Political & Geopolitical Aspects
1. Geographical basis of Indian federalism, state reorganisation, emergence of new states
2. Regional consciousness & inter-state issues
3. International boundaries, cross-border terrorism
4. India’s role in world affairs, geopolitics of South Asia & Indian Ocean
Section J: Contemporary Issues & Environment
1. Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, epidemics
2. Pollution, land use changes, environmental impact assessment & management
3. Population explosion, food security, environmental degradation
4. Deforestation, desertification, soil erosion
5. Agrarian & industrial unrest, regional economic disparities
6. Sustainable development, environmental awareness, river linkage, globalization