UPSC Geography Syllabus and Books for Preparation
Master the Geography optional with a detailed syllabus breakdown and topper-recommended booklist for UPSC Mains Paper I & II.
Explore the complete UPSC Public Administration syllabus for bGet the complete UPSC Geography optional syllabus for both Paper I and II, along with a strategic booklist used by toppers. Build conceptual clarity, enhance map-based skills, and boost your Mains performance with focused and structured preparation.oth Paper I & II, along with a curated booklist used by toppers. Build conceptual clarity, link theory with current affairs, and boost your Mains score with smart, structured preparation.
📘 Paper I: Principles of Geography
Part A: Physical Geography
Geomorphology
Factors controlling landform development
Endogenetic and exogenetic forces
Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust
Fundamentals of geomagnetism
Physical conditions of the interior of the earth
Geosynclines
Continental drift
Isostasy
Plate tectonics
Recent views on mountain building
Vulcanicity
Earthquakes and tsunamis
Concepts of geomorphic cycles and landscape development
Denudation chronology
Channel morphology
Erosion surfaces
Slopes
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 frontogenesis
Temperate and tropical cyclones
Types and distribution of precipitation
Weather and climate
Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s, and Trewartha’s classification of world climates
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
Agroforestry
Wild life
Major gene pool centers
Environmental Geography
Human ecological adaptations
Influence of man on ecology and environment
Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances
Ecosystem
Environmental management and conservation
Environmental hazards and remedial measures
Environmental education and legislation
Global warming
Problems of pollution
Sustainable development
Environmental policy in India
Part B: Human Geography
Perspectives in Human Geography
Areal differentiation
Regional synthesis
Dichotomy and dualism
Environmentalism
Quantitative revolution and locational analysis
Radical, behavioral, human, and welfare approaches
Languages, religions, and secularization
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
Typology of agricultural regions
Agricultural inputs and productivity
Food and nutrition problems
Food security
Famine
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 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
Concepts 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
Paper II: Geography of India
Physical Setting
Space relationship of India with neighboring 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 groundwater, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources
Forest and wildlife resources
Energy crisis
Drought-prone areas and their development
Conservation and utilization of resources
Agriculture
Infrastructure
Irrigation
Seeds
Fertilizers
Power
Institutional factors
Cropping pattern
Agricultural productivity
Agricultural intensity
Crop combination
Land capability
Agro and social forestry
Green revolution
White revolution
Blue revolution
Agricultural regionalization
Agro-climatic zones
Agro-ecological regions
Industry
Evolution of industries
Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, fertilizer, paper, chemical, and automobile industries
Industrial complexes
Public sector undertakings
Industrial regionalization
New industrial policies
Multinationals and liberalization
Special economic zones
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 program
Cultural Setting
Historical perspective of Indian society
Racial, linguistic, and ethnic diversities
Religious minorities
Major tribes
Tribal areas and their problems
Cultural regions
Growth, development, and problems of urbanization
Urban morphology
Functional classification of towns
Conurbations and metropolitan regions
Urban sprawl
Slums and associated problems
Town planning
Problems of urban pollution
Settlements
Types, patterns, and morphology of rural settlements
Urban developments in India
Functional classification of towns
Urbanization trends and problems
Regional Development and Planning
Experience of regional planning in India
Five Year Plans
Integrated rural development programs
Panchayati Raj and decentralized 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
Environmental hazards
Land degradation
Soil erosion
Deforestation
Desertification
Floods and droughts
Earthquakes and tsunamis
Cyclones
Epidemics
Climate change
Environmental pollution
Population explosion
Food security
Poverty alleviation
Sustainable development
📚 Topper-Recommended Booklist for Geography
To excel in Geography, consider the following books, widely recommended by successful candidates:
Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong
Geography of India by Majid Husain
Human Geography by Majid Husain
Models in Geography by Majid Husain
Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
Climatology by D.S. Lal
Oceanography by Sharma and Vatal
Economic and Social Geography by Rupa Made Simple Series
Oxford School Atlas by Oxford University Press
NCERT Geography Textbooks for classes 11 and 12
Contemporary Issues in Geography by various authors
Additionally, referring to previous years’ question papers, government reports, and staying updated with current affairs through newspapers and journals like Yojana and Kurukshetra will enhance your preparation.