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UPSC Geography Syllabus for Optional Paper-I and Paper-II

UPSC CSE Mains exam consists of Geography as one of the optional syllabi which have 2 optional papers. The two optional papers are 250 marks each, and the combined marks of optional in the IAS exam is 500. The first and foremost step of the preparation for any optional is checking its syllabus.

In this article, candidates will get to know the syllabus for UPSC CSE Mains Geography optional, UPSC CSE Geography optional study notes and much more. Check other UPSC optional syllabi for the IAS exam.

Geography Optional Paper 1 Syllabus

Following is the syllabus of UPSC CSE Geography Optional Paper 1:

UPSC CSE Mains Geography Optional Paper 1 Syllabus
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; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development; Applied Geomorphology: Geohydrology, 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 frontogenesis, Temperate cyclones and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen's, Thornthwaite's and Trewartha's classification of world climates; 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; Oceanography; 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	The 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; Agroforestry; Wildlife; Major gene pool centres.
Environmental Geography	Principle of 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: a typology of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food security; Famine: causes, effects and remedies; World industries: locational patterns and problems; Patterns of world trade.
Population and Settlement Geography	Growth and distribution of world population; Demographic attributes; Causes, types and consequences of migration; Concepts of the over-under-and optimum population; Population theories, world population problems and policies, Social well-being and quality of life; The population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology: Concepts 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 regionalization; 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	Systems 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; Rostow's model of stages of growth. Heartland and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.

Geography Optional Paper 2 Syllabus

Following is the syllabus of UPSC CSE Geography Optional Paper 2:

UPSC CSE Mains Geography Optional Paper 2 Syllabus
Geography Of India
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, natural, surface and groundwater, energy, minerals, water, biotic and marine resources; Forest and wildlife resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.
Agriculture	Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: landholdings, 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; Aquaculture; Sericulture, Apiculture And Poultry; Agricultural Regionalization; Agro-Climatic Zones; Agroecological Regions.
Industry	Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton textile, jute, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial regionalization; New industrial policies; Multinationals and liberalization; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including eco-tourism.
Transport, Communication and Trade	Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks 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, intra- regional 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 associated problems; Town planning; Problems of urbanization and remedies.
Regional Development and Planning	Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programs; Panchayati Raj and decentralized planning; Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for the 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 reorganization; 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 relating 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; Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.

Download UPSC Geography Optional Syllabus PDF

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Many aspirants took Geography as an optional subject. The syllabus of UPSC Geography optional is vast. The aspirants must start their preparation for the UPSC Geography optional as soon as possible. They must solve previous year papers to check the level of their preparation.

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*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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