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 2007

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300

QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should attempt all question strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each questions.

The number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question.

Illustrate your answers with suitable sketch map and diagrams.

SECTION A

1. On the outline map of Africa provided to you, mark the location of any ten of
the following. Also write in your answer script the most significant aspect of each of them in not more than 10 words. 6xl0=60
(i) Casablanca
(ii). Kimberley
(iii) Aswan
(iv) Kalahari
(v) Alexandria
(vi) Durban
(vii) Lagos
(viii) Luanda
(ix) Lake Victoria
(x) Cape Town
(xi) Niger Delta
(xii) Maputo

2. Discuss the development of local winds, and their influence on local weather,
giving three examples of the well-known local winds in the world. 60

3. Discuss the different bases for classifying the ocean deposits and give a
detailed account of pelagic Deposits of the Oceans. 60

4. Define the concept of isostasy and discuss the postulation of Airy and Pratt. 60

SECTION B

5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:
20x3=60

(i) Social Forestry and Environmental Conservation
(ii) Dualism in Geography
(iii) Eustatic changes of Sea-level
(iv) Delineation of Urban Fringe

6. Explain the concept of sustainable development and propose a model for
agricultural development. 60

7. Give an account of the functional bases of central place hierarchy. 60

8. Write a note on the parameters used to describe the demographic transitions
in the developing countries like India. 60