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.
CIVIL SERVICES (II) 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. On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of ALL of the following for which
one (1) mark is given to each correct entry.
Write in your answer script the significant geographical relevance or strategic importance of these
locations, whether physical/commercial/economic/ ecological/environmental/cultural in not more than
30 words for each entry. Three (3) marks are allotted for each write-up. 4x15=60
(a) Manas
(b) Bachau
(c) Ganga River waterway from Allahabad
(d) Indravati river
(e) Amravati River
(f) Pir Panjal range
(g) Narkondam Island
(h) Kharkai river
(i) Kalahandi
(j) Kakarapara
(k) Murshidabad
(l) Khetri
(m) Pawapuri
(n) Kolhan highland
(0) North Koel river
2.(a) Explain the structural characteristics of the Deccan plateau. [30]
(b) Discuss the role of spatial pattern of rainfall and temperature in the delimitation of climatic regions of India, specially with reference to stamp's climatic regionalization. [30]
3. (a) Delineate the mineral belts of India and mention their distinctive features. [30]
(b) Divide India into agricultural regions and .critically examine the role of ecological and human factors responsible for transformation of agricultural economy in any one region.[30]
4. Write about the following in about 200 words each : (a) Describe the development of textile industry in India. [20]
(b) Examine the role of road transport in regional development taking suitable examples from an area you have studied in detail. [20]
(c) Identify the spatial pattern of agro-industrial regions of India. Analyse the potentiality of Malwa as an important agro-industrial region of the future. [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]