For the civil services mains examination, UPSC provides 41 optional subjects. Each aspirant should select one optional paper of their choice and appear in two papers (Paper-I and Paper-II). Among these options, for a long time, Geography has been one of the most popular optional subjects among civil services aspirants. Though the syllabus is vast, it is equally preferred by engineering, science, art, and humanities graduates.
The first step to prepare for the Geography Optional is thoroughly reading and understanding the NCERT Geography Books. Even before that understanding the contents of each of the 10 NCERT Geography Books. With that in mind, the key topics covered in each of these books are given below for a high-level understanding before you dive deep into the option.
CHAPTER 1 – ENVIRONMENT
Environment; Abiotic; Biotic.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Lithosphere; Hydrosphere; Atmosphere; Biosphere; What is Ecosystem.
HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER 2 – INSIDE OUR EARTH
INTERIOR OF THE EARTH – Crust; Silica; Alumina; Sial; Sima.
ROCKS AND MINERALS – Rock; Igneous Rocks; Sedimentary Rocks; Metamorphic Rocks; Primary Rocks; Intrusive Rocks; Extrusive Rocks; Crust; Extrusive Igneous Rocks; Intrusive Igneous Rocks; Sediments; Sedimentary Rocks; Rock Cycle.
CHAPTER 3 – OUR CHANGING EARTH
Lithospheric Plates; Endogenic Forces; Exogenic Forces; Earthquakes; Volcanoes; Volcano; Earthquakes; Focus; Epicenter.
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS – Safe Spot; Stay Away from; Be Prepared.
MAJOR LAND FORMS – Weathering; Erosion; Work of a River; Waterfall; Meanders; Lake; Oxbow; Floodplain; Levees; Delta; Work of Sea Waves; Sea Waves; Sea Arches; Stacks; Sea Cliff; Work of Ice; Glacial Moraines; Work of Mind; Mushroom Rocks; Sand Dunes; Loess.
CHAPTER 4 – AIR
COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE – Troposphere; Stratosphere; Mesosphere; Thermosphere; Exosphere.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE – Climate; Temperature; Insolation; Air Pressure; Wind.
CHAPTER 5 – WATER
DISTRIBUTION OF WATER BODIES
OCEAN CIRCULATION – Waves; Tsunami; Tides.
OCEAN CURRENTS
CHAPTER 6 – NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILD LIFE
FORESTS – Tropical Evergreen Forests; Tropical Deciduous Forests; Temperate Evergreen Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests – Mediterranean Vegetation; Coniferous Forests.
GRASSLANDS – Tropical grasslands; Temperate Grasslands; Thorny Bushes; Tundra.
CHAPTER 7 – HUMAN ENVIRONMENT – SETTLEMENT, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
Settlements – Permanent; Temporary; Temporary Settlements; Permanent Settlements; Site.
TRANSPORT
ROADWAYS – Metalled; Unmetalled; Subways/Under Paths.
RAILWAYS – Super Fast Trains.
WATERWAYS – Inland Waterways; Sea Routes.
AIRWAYS
COMMUNICATION – Mass Media.
CHAPTER 8 – HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS THE TROPICAL AND THE SUBTROPICAL REGION
LIFE IN THE AMAZON BASIN – Equatorial; Mouth.
CLIMATE - RAIN FORESTS - PEOPLE OF THE RAIN FORESTS - LIFE IN THE GANGA-BRAHMAPUTRA BASIN.
CHAPTER 9 – LIFE IN THE DESERTS
THE HOT DESERT – SAHARA; CLIMATE; Flora and Fauna; People.
THE COLD DESERT – LADAKH – Cold Desert; Karakoram Range; Zanskar; Mountains; Indus; Gangri; Kargil; Flora and Fauna; People.