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 2019

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. (a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in your QCA Booklet the significance of these locations, whether
physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more than 2x10 = 20 30 words for each entry:
(i) Lothal
(ii) River Beas
(iii) Chikhaldara
(iv) Narora
(v) Lengpui
(vi) Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
(vii) Thenmala
(viii) Anamudi
(ix) Barren Island
(x) Durgaduani creek
India With Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan and Sri Lanka

1. (b) Examine the major causes of ground water depletion in India. [10]

1. (c) Why is the Indian Monsoon erratic in nature? Explain.[10]

1. (d) Explain the significance of dry farming in drought prone areas of India. [10]

2. (a) Correlate the agro-climatic zones with agro-ecological regions of India. [20]

2. (b) Critically analyse the role of multinational corporations in India's economic development with suitable examples. [15]

2. (c) Discuss how watershed management has become a tool in eradication of rural poverty in India.

3. (a) Discuss the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides in agriculture and its impact on human health. [20]

3. (b) Examine ongoing space programmes of India and their implications for national security in future. [15]

3. (c) Discuss the rainfall pattern and correlate it with spatial distribution of natural vegetation in India. [15]

4. (a) Discuss the political aspects of Himalaya. Explain how it has affected the geo-strategy, geopolitics and regional consciousness of Indian federalism. [20]

4. (b) Examine the development of information technology in India and its influence on work culture and society. [15]

4. (c) Explain the present status of age-structure and availability of workforce in India. [15]

SECTION B

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10x5 = 50

5.(a) Present the salient features of West flowing rivers of India. [10]

5. (b) Discuss the problems of wildlife conservation and management in India. [10]

5. (c) Correlate the price of land, vertical growth of cities and the growth of slums in large cities of India. [10]

5. (d) Assess the importance of foot-loose industries in the development of backward regions in India. [10]

5. (e) Examine the problems of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in India. [10]

6. (a) "Intrabodies linkages of rivers are more feasible economically, socially and ecologically". Discuss with suitable examples from India. [20]

6. (b) Provide a reasoned account on emerging conurbations in India and explain with suitable examples the problems associated with it. [15]

6. (c) Explain the relevance of green tourism for sustainable development of mountain environment in India. [15]

7. (a) Analyze the role of interstate migration in regional disparity in India.

7. (b) Give a reasoned account of high level of pollution in North Indian cities as compared to South Indian cities. [15]

7. (c) Analyse the incentive-oriented programmes for removing regional imbalances in socio-economic development of India. [15]

8. (a) With special reference to India examine the changes in the nature and patterns of international trade. Mention the major influencing factors. [20]

8. (b) Describe the altitudinal and spatial geo-environmental hazards in the Himalayas. [15]

8. (c) “India is emerging as global power in relation to Indian ocean realm.” Elaborate. [15]