One of the most popular optional subjects for the UPSC-CSE is geography. With this choice, there have been toppers in past years. Ira Singhal, who excelled in the civil services exam in 2015, is the most well-known candidate. Additionally, Saumya Pandey, who obtained a rank of 4 in the 2016 UPSC examination, chose geography as an optional subject. Despite the fact that many candidates fervently support Geography as their optional, many others do not think this is the best option for them.
It is up to each individual to decide which optional subject to choose for the UPSC Civil Service Mains exam. Each person is diverse in their talents and constraints, as well as their educational and professional backgrounds. A candidate must assess both the advantages and downsides of each optional subject, and if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, they can choose that subject.
WHY 
- Dr. Hussain will himself coordinate the whole course.
- A topper throughout his academic career, including University Topper in Geography Hons., Delhi University (DU).
- Has thorough understanding about the demand of the examination.
Highlights of the Course (online)
- 24*7 doubt clearing session
- Rigorous training in small batches consisting of not more than 10 students
- 120 days for comprehensively completing the whole syllabus
- Preparation as per the demand of the exam
- Focus on conceptual clarity and answer writing techniques
(best use of maps, flowcharts and diagrams)
- Well-crafted pedagogy as per changing trends
- Systematic and updated class notes
- Previous years question paper discussion
- Mock Papers & Tests
- PDFs of study material
- Descriptive checking
- Current Affairs linkage with the paper
Why Geography-
Since 2012, a 7.2–5.8% success rate for the geography optional has been noted. It may be said that geography is one of the highest-scoring courses and has helped many aspirants get excellent marks in the UPSC-CSE Mains Optional Papers.
Advantages Of Geography Optional Subject For UPSC Mains
- Your mains and prelims preparation will overlap with geography, which is an optional for the UPSC. Every year, at least 25 questions in the general studies paper-1 (Prelims) will directly connect to the geography optional paper. If you don't choose geography as an optional, you will still need to prepare for questions worth 80 to 100 marks (GS-Paper II Mains).
- Having geography as an optional subject for the UPSC also benefits you in the personal interview stage, where you will undoubtedly be questioned about the geography, climate, and even vegetation of your hometown.
- Geography is a multidisciplinary subject that is easy to study and prepare for candidates from both the arts and sciences background.
- There are some theories and notions that are straightforward to understand yet that, when applied to numerous questions, can help you score highly. Furthermore, there is less room for loss of marks if your concepts regarding these theories are concrete.
- Drawing flowcharts and diagrams to support your arguments is possible when taking geography as an optional for the UPSC, and doing so can boost your mark.
- There will be a few questions based on maps that have very high scores.
Syllabus of Geography Paper - I (PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY)
Physical Geography
- Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crusts; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Volcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development; Applied Geomorphology; Geomorphology, economic geology, and environment.
- Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronts; Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climate; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change, and role and response of man in climatic changes Applied climatology and Urban climate.
- Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents, and tides; Marine resources; biotic, mineral, and energy resources; Coral reefs coral bleaching; Sea-level changes; Law of the sea and marine pollution.
- Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation, and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry, agro-forestry; Wildlife; Major gene pool centers.
- Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management, and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.
Human Geography
- Perspectives in Human Geography: Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; Radical, behavioural, human, and welfare approaches; Languages, religions, and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index.
- Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement and problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth; World agriculture: a typology of agricultural regions; Agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects, and remedies; World industries: location patterns and problems; Patterns of world trade.
- Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution of world population; Demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; Concepts of the over-under-and optimum population; Population theories, world population problems and policies, Social well-being and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology; Concept of primate city and rank-size rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural-urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable development of cities.
- Regional Planning: Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalization; Growth centers and growth poles; Regional imbalances; regional development strategies; environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.
- Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: System analysis in Human geography; Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch; Perroux and Boudeville; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location; Weber’s model of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth; Heartland and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.
Syllabus of Geography Paper - II (GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA)
- Physical Setting: Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns; Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts; Climatic regions; Natural vegetation, Soil types and their distributions.
- Resources: Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources, Forest and wildlife resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.
- Agriculture: Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors; land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability; Agro and social-forestry; Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revolution; Aquaculture; Sericulture, Agriculture and poultry; Agricultural regionalisation; Agro-climatic zones; Agro-ecological regions.
- Industry: Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertiliser, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage, and ago-based industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial regionalisation; New industrial policy; Multinationals and liberalisation; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including ecotourism.
- Transport, Communication, and Trade: Road, railway, waterway, airway, and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development; Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Trade balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones; Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society; Indian space programme.
- Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities; Major tribes, tribal areas, and their problems; Cultural regions; Growth, distribution, and density of population; Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration (inter-regional, intraregional and international) and associated problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators.
- Settlements: Types, patterns, and morphology of rural settlements; Urban development; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions; Urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; Town planning; Problems of urbanisation and remedies.
- Regional Development and Planning: Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning; Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert, drought-prone, hill tribal area development; Multi-level planning; Regional planning and development of island territories.
- Political Aspects: Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganization; Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and inter-state issues; International boundary of India and related issues; Cross-border terrorism; India’s role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.
- Contemporary Issues: Ecological issues: Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics; Issues related to environmental pollution; Changes in patterns of land use; Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management; Population explosion and food security; Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification, and soil erosion; Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities in economic development; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.
Recommended Source
Basic books
- NCERT-VIII, IX, X, XI & XII
- Made Simple Series by Rupa Publication-Vol-I & II
- A certificate course in geography by Goh Cheng Leong
Reference Books
- Physical Geography- By Savindra Singh/Majid Hussain
- Geomorphology-By Savindra Singh
- Oceanography- By Savindra Singh
- Climatology- By Savindra Singh
- Environment Geography-By Savindra Singh
- Biogeography- By Savindra Singh
- Indian Geography by D R Khullar
- Human Geography by Majid Hussain
- A Geography Of Population by R.C. Chandna
- Models and Theories by Majid Hussain
- Geographical Thought by R.D. Dixit
- Geographical thought by Sudipta Adhikary
- Settlement Geography by K. Siddhartha
Other References
- Yojna Magazine
- Kurushektra Magazine
- Geography and You Magazine
- Down To Earth Magazine
- Govt. Of India reports (NITI Aayog, Economic Survey, India Year Book)
All the above books are best for you to study for the exam for Paper 1 & 2. Also, there are many materials which are available online. Make your own notes and read it during the exam. Give mock tests regularly, which will help you to know about your skills and where you need improvement. Check the above graph to know about the success rate of the candidates having Geography as an optional subject for UPSC in the last few years.
