Geography Syllabus for UPSC Prelims and Mains: Insight into Geography IAS Optional

Every year the Union Public Service Commission holds the Civil service exams to recruit civil servants. The exam is conducted in three parts such as prelims, mains and the interview aka the final round.

UPSC offers various options to the candidates for choosing their optional subjects, some of the optional subjects are botany, zoology, geography, chemistry, sociology etc. A very crucial step while filling the UPSC form is the right selection of the optional subject.

In this article, you will get to know about the geography syllabus for UPSC prelims and mains. UPSC geography optional syllabus is also given in detail below.

Geography Syllabus for UPSC Prelims

As the UPSC exam is concerned, geography is a widely chosen subject by the candidates. In UPSC prelims general studies paper geography is included as well as in the main exam’s GS paper 1. Even if someone doesn’t take geography as the optional subject, he/ she has to study this subject in order to clear the IAS exam.

In the prelims syllabus, there are four parts such as Indian, world, physical and human geography. Let’s take a clear look at this.

Civil Service Geography Prelims Syllabus – Part 1

Geography syllabus for UPSC prelims

Topics

Indian geography

1. Basics of IndiaLocation, latitude, longitude, time zone, etc.NeighboursImportant straitsStates and their positionStates with international boundaries2.Physical featuresThe Himalayas – geological formation, climate, vegetation, soil, biodiversity, physiographic divisions, major passes, significanceThe Great North Indian Plains – geological formation, physiographic divisions, climate, vegetation, soil, biodiversity, significancePeninsular Plateau – geological formation, Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau, Western Ghats, Eastern GhatsIndian DesertCoastal plains and islands.3. River systemsHimalayan riversPeninsular riversRiver basinsRegional development and planningHydropower projects, major damsWest-flowing and east-flowing riversInterlinking of rivers4. ClimateMonsoons – driving mechanism, El Nino, La NinaSeasonsCyclones5. Minerals and industries – mineral distribution, industrial policies, location6. AgricultureLand utilisationTypes of agricultural practicesGreen revolutionSoils and cropsIrrigationLand reformsAnimal husbandryGovernment schemes7. Natural vegetation and faunaClassification of natural vegetationRainfall distributionBiosphere reserves, national parks, etc.Red-listed species8. Economic infrastructureTransportation (highways, inland waterways, etc.)Power and energy sectorConventional and non-conventional sources of energyEnergy conservation9. Human Geography

• Demographics
• Recent census

IAS Geography Prelims Syllabus – Part 2

Geography syllabus for UPSC prelims

Topic

World Geography

1. Major natural regions
2. Regional geography of developed countries
3. Regional geography of developing countries
4. Regional geography of South Asia

Also Read : Pros and Cons of New Education Policy 2020: How the New Education Policy will be Implemented?

Civil Service Geography Prelims Syllabus – Part 3

IAS prelims geography syllabus

Topic

Physical Geography

1. GeomorphologyOrigin of the earthInterior of the earthTypes and characteristics of rocksFolding and FaultingVolcanoes, earthquakesInterior of the earthWeatheringLandforms formed by fluvial, aeolian and glacial actions2. ClimatologyAtmosphere – structure and compositionTemperaturePressure beltsWind systemsClouds and types of rainfallCyclones and anticyclonesMajor climatic types3. OceanographyOcean reliefTemperature, salinityOcean depositsOcean currentsEl Nino and La NinaWaves and tides4. BiogeographySoil – origin and typesMajor biomes of the worldEcosystem, food chainEnvironmental degradation and conservation

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