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 2012

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 250

QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions.
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH. The candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.

Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted Choosing at least ONE question from each Section.

The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.

Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.

Illustrate your answers with suitable sketches/maps and diagrams, wherever considered necessary. These shall be drawn in the space provided for answering the question itself. Attempts of questions shall. be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, the attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

SECTION A

1. Write short notes on the 150 words each:

(a) Palaeozoic glacial evidence for Continental Drift.

(b) Systems approach to landform analysis.

(c) Compare and contrast tropical cyclone and temperate cyclone.

(d) Major components of IGBP.

(e) Different layers of ocean water above abyssal

2. Answer the following in about 400 words each:
(a) Explain how Bosche and Halden hang lead to the Theory of Slope Replacement. [30]

(b) Classify airmasses and explain how 'cP' airmass affects global climate. [30]

3. Answer the following in about 250 words each:
(a) Discuss how different types of mining lead to different types of environmental problems.[20]

(b) Adaptation and distribution of animals in the Ethiopian realm.

4. Answer the following in about 250 words each:
(a) Characteristics of the standard epigene cycle of erosion. [20]

(b) Programmes initiated by the International Council of Science on Earth System studies. [20]

(c) "Atolls present the most challenging explanation in the evolution of coral reefs", Discuss.[20]

SECTION B

5. Write about the following in about 150 words each:12x5=60

(a) Factors affecting innovation diffusion.

(b) Linguistic diversity in North-eastern states.

(c) Geographical reasons for the variation in literacy from state to state in India.

(d) Identify Tsunami affected areas and give their management problems in India.

(e) Morphological characteristics of villages situated in hilly regions.

6. (a) Evaluate the population policy of India and examine its relevance to the nation's population control. [30]

(b) Give an account of geographical conditions responsible for the development of different types of rural settlements in India. [30]

7. (a) Examine the origin, dimensions and implications of the Sino-Indian border dispute.[30]

(b) Explain the causes, impact and remedial measures of flood-hazards in the middle Ganga plain. Represent the flood-affected areas of middle Ganga plain on a sketch map in your answer-book. [30]

8. Write about the following in about 200 words each:

(a) Examine the relevance of linkage of rivers in India with special reference to Ganga-Cauveri linkage canal. [20]

(b) How age structure affects dependency ratio? Explain with suitable examples. [20]

(c) Elucidate the role of Tribal Development Blocks in the development of Tribal areas.[20]