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 (II) EXAME 2022
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
QI. (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 no more than 30 words for each entry: [2><10=20]
(i) Tarangambadi
(ii) Mahe
(iii) Bomdila
(iv) Dhola Sadiya Bridge
(v) Talakaveri
(vi) Satkosia
(vii) Dholavira
(viii) Sonamarg
(ix) Maliku Atoll
(x) Ganga Sagar
India
Q1.
(a) With Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma),
Pakistan and Sri Lanka. [20]
(b) Why has extreme particulate pollution remained a festering issue in
Delhi NCR region? [10}
(c) How do physiography and climate of India explain the biological
diversity of the country? [10]
(d) The process of desertification. leads to soil desiccation and soil loss.
Explain. [10]
Q2
a) Critically examine the factors affecting the unpredictability of
South-West Monsoon system in India. [20]
b) Groundwater contamination in the fast-expanding urban landscape
of India appears to have become a major public health issue.
Discuss. [15]
c) The peninsular location of India provides scope for harnessing nonconventional energy resources. Discuss with examples. [15]
Q3.
(a) Discuss the recent changes brought about in institutional frameworks
of agriculture in India. Evaluate its impact on the agrarian economy of
the country. [20]
(b) Discuss the continuing disputes on water sharing between the
riparian states of North-West India. [15]
(c) Soils of India, are clear reflections of the structure and process.
Comment.[15]
Q4.
(b)India is bestowed with rich mineral resources due to its geological
structure. Correlate the above statement with large mineral belts of
India. [20]
(c) Discuss the importance of 'Dry-land' farming in the drought-prone
regions of India. [15]
(d)Incidence of extreme rainfall events and flash floods in recent times
have led to devastating consequences for people living in low-lying
areas and flood plains of the country. Discuss. [15]
SECTION B
Q5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:
(a) Discuss the impact of Forest Rights Act, 2006 on the local forest
communities in India. [10]
(b)Can the Panchayat Raj institutions play a role in grassroot level planning
in India? If yes, discuss how. [10]
(c) Discuss the significance of new ports on the Western Coast of India on
the external trade of the country. [10]
(d)How would decline in Total Fertility Rate (TFR) below the replacement
level, in many states of India affect the future population structure of the
country? [10]
(e) Kalapani dispute has opened a new front on the India-Nepal
international border. Explain.
Q6.
(a) Why do disparities in development and incomes between regions persist
in large countries like India? How does the recent ADP plan address the
issue? [20]
(b) Critically examine the role of IRNSS-NavIC programme on the satellite
navigation system of India.[15]
(c) Examine the role of high population concentration in Indian slums in
making them more vulnerable during pandemic conditions like the
COVID-19. [15]
Q7.
(a) Discuss the salient characteristics of industrial complexes of Western
India. Examine the impact of SEZ policy on the region. [20]
(b) Discuss the emergence of linguistic regions and states in India. [15]
(c) What are the drivers of urban sprawl around the major cities of the
country? How have new investments in transport projects supported
sprawl development? [15]
Q8.
(a) How do agro-climatic and land capability indicators assist in macroagricultural regionalisation of India? Illustrate with an appropriate
map. [20]
(b) Discuss the geopolitical significance of Quad in the Indo-Pacific
realm with reference to marine trade in the region. [15]
(c) Evaluate the role of the National Food Security Act, 2013 in
providing access of food to the poor in India. [15]