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 2014

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

Q1. (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, physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry: whether 2x5= 10
(i) Guru Shikhar
(ii) Bhor Ghat
(iii) Shravanabelagola
(iv) Kalibangan
(v) Ganga Sagar

(b) Explain how eco-tourism activities could be important livelihood options in the Himalayan and North-Eastern regions of the country.[10]

(c) How is drainage pattern determined by the water divide? [10]

(d) Location of thermal power plants and coal fields in India are not mutually conducive. Analyse. [10]

(e) Why has agro and social forestry has failed to achieve its objectives? [10]

Q2. (a) Bring out the distribution of Laterite soils in India and their specific use for agriculture.[20]

(b) Suggest the measures of wild-life conservation with reference to extinction of rare species. 15

(c) Describe the problems of agro-based industries in India in general and cotton textiles in particular. [15]

Q3. (a) Highlight the socio-economic and ecological roles of River Cauvery in its riverine tract. [20]

(b)Discuss the problems and prospects of National Waterway No. 1. [15]

(c) Explain the concept of 'Make in India' and indicate the essential inputs for its success. [15]

Q4. (a) Describe the salient climatological characteristics of Rayalaseema region.[20]

(b) 'In spite of various negative impacts of Green Revolution, there is a demand for New Green Revolution'. Elaborate. [15]

(c) What are the desired possible changes in our trade policy to promote the development of cottage industry? [15]

SECTION B

Q5. (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 30 words for each entry: 2x5 = 10
(i) Mundra Port
(ii) Chandpur
(iii) Mahendragiri
(iv) Hazira
(v) Vembanad Lake

(b)Highlight the implications of declining child sex ratio in India. [10]

(c) Analyse the feasibility of 'Smart Towns' Development in India. [10]

(d) Comment on the criteria of identifying Drought Prone Areas in India. [10]

(e) Bring out the role of terrain in determining India's political influence over neighbouring countries. [10]

Q6. (a) Discuss the trends in emigration focusing on its major thrust. [20]

(b) Account for the multiple problems of urban agglomerations. [15]

(c) Evaluate the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.[15]

Q7. (a) How can a meaningful skill development programme contribute to the economic growth of hill areas? [20]

(b)Differentiate between the 'intensity' and 'magnitude' of an earthquake and explain its varying impact in different parts of India.[15]

(c) Discuss the implications of India's strategic location with reference to the Indian Ocean. [15]

Q8. (a) India is involved in a number of border disputes. Explain the reasons and remedies. [20]

(b) Discuss the concept of Command Area Development and evaluate its success with reference to Indira Gandhi Canal. [15]

(c) How has an inappropriate urban land use policy accounted for undesirable development in and around metropolitan cities? [15]