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 2011

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 250

QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

Answers must be written in the medium specified in the Admission Certificate issued to you, which must be stated clearly on the cover of the answer-book in the space provided for the purpose. No marks will be given for the answers written in a medium other than that specified in the admission. Certificate.

Candidates should attempt Questions No. 1 and 5 which are compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each Section. Wherever a question is attempted, all its parts are to be attempted.

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

Illustrate your answers with suitable sketches, maps and diagrams, where appropriate

SECTION A

1.Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each: 12×5=60

(a) Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism

(b) Rossby waves and Jet Stream

(c) Salinity patterns in Indian Ocean

(d) Soil profile in Zonal and Azonal soils

(e) Marine Ecosystem

2. (a) Name the climatically controlled agents of erosion. Explain how they differ in terms of properties of matter. Compare the landforms produced by each one of them.

(b) Explain the concept of Isostasy as postulated by Airy and Pratt. [30]

3. (a) Give an account of global distribution of precipitation. [30]

(b) "Contemporary global climate change is an anthropogenic phenomenon." Discuss. [30]

4. (a) "Temperature, salinity and density differences in ocean water are the prime causes of ocean water circulation." Elaborate. [30]

(b) Define the term biome. List the terrestrial biomes and describe the characteristics of Savanna biome.[30]

SECTION B

5. Write short explanatory notes on the following: 12×5=60

(a) Welfare Approach in Human Geography

(b) Secondary cities in the context of urbanization in developing world

(c) Isodapane in the Theory of Industrial Location Population and Food security (d)

(e) Ingredients of Sustainable Development

6. (a) Discuss the impact of positivism in paradigm shift in Geography. [30]

(b) Enumerate alternative strategies of planning for backward regions.[30]

7. (a) Distinguish between boundaries and frontiers. Identify different types of boundaries.[30]

(b) Mention the agricultural regions as classified by Whittlessey and discuss their relevance.[30]

8. (a) Discuss Systems Approach and its applicability in Geography.[30]

(b) Critically examine the salient features of Central Place Theory propounded by Christaller and Losch. [30]