A Must Read for Civil Services Geography Optional of UPSC

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.

GEOGRAPHY

CIVIL SERVICES (I) EXAME 2003

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300

SECTION A

1. On the outline map of the world supplied to you mark any TEN of the following and also write in your answer script the most significant aspect of each of them in not more than TEN words: [10 × 6 = 60]
a. Stewart Island
b. Shibeli River
c. Asuncion
d. Catskill mountains
e. North Cape
f. Cape York Peninsula
g. Tsugaru Strait
h. Izmir
i. Bay of Plenty
j. Gulf of Darien
k. Uranium City
l. Zagreb.

2. Explain the sequential development of landforms associated with the coastal areas. [60]

3. Discuss the mechanism and significance of tricellular meridional circulation of atmosphere. [60]

4. Present a concise account of bottom relief of the Indian Ocean. [60]

SECTION B

1. Write short notes on any THREE of the following in about 200 words each: [3 × 20 = 60]
a. Genesis of Soils
b. Environmental Pollution
c. Concept of limits to growth
d.Regional imbalance

2. Present a critical analysis of human and welfare approaches in Human Geography. [60]

3. Examine the concept of sphere of urban influence and discuss the qualitative and quantitative methods used in its delimitation. [60]

4. Critically examine the stages of Economic Growth Model propounded by Rostov. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples. [60]