GEOGRAPHY

PAPER-I >>PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY
SECTION-A >>PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
(i) Geomorphology- Factors controlling landform development; endo-genetic and exogenetic forces; origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; physical conditions of the earth’s interior; geosynclines; continental drift; isostasy; sea floor spreading; plate tectonics; mountain building; volcanicity; earthquakes; concepts of geomorphic cycles; landforms associated with fluvial, arid , glacial, coastal and karst cycle; ground- water; Applied Geomorphology.
(ii)Climatology- Temperature and pressure belts of the world; heat budget of the earth; atmospheric circulation; planetary and local winds; monsoons and jet streams; air masses and fronts; temperate and tropical cyclones ; types and distribution of precipitation; Koppen’s and Thornth-waite’s classification of world climate; hydrological cycle; climatic change.
(iii)Oceanography- Bottom topography of the Atlantic , Indian and Pacific Oceans; temperature and salinity of the oceans; ocean deposits; ocean currents and tides; marine resources- biotic, mineral and energy resources; coral reefs; sea-level changes.
(iv) Biogeography- Genesis of soils; classification and distribution of soils; soil profile; soil erosion and conservation; factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals ; problems of deforestation and conservation measures ; social forestry , agro-forestry.
(v) Environmental Geography- Human ecological adaptations; transformation of nature by man; environmental degradation and conservation ; ecosystems and their management : global ecological imbalances problems of pollution, global warming , reduction in bio-diversity and depletion of forests.
SECTION-B
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
(i) Perspectives in Human Geography- A real differentiation; regional synthesis; dichotomy and dualism; environmentalism; quantitative revolution and location and locational analysis ; radical behavioural , human and welfare approaches; cultural regions of the world; human and welfare approaches; Cultural regions of the world; human development indicators.
(ii) 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; famine- causes, effects and remedies; world industries- location patterns and problems; patterns of world trade.
(iii)Population and Settlement Geography- Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes; causes and consequencies of migration; concepts of over- under – and optimum population; world population problems.
Types and patterns of rural settlements; hierarchy of urban settlements; concept of primate city and rank-size rule; functional classification of towns; sphere of urban influence; rural- urban fringe; satellite town; problems of urbanization.
(iv)Regional Planning- Concept of a region; types of regions and methods of regionalisation; growth centers and growth poles; regional imbalances; environmental issues planning ; planning for sustainable development.
(v) 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; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location; Weber’s model of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth . Heartland and Rimaland theories; laws of international boundaries and frontiers.
Note- Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects covered by this paper.
PAPER-II
GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA
SECTION-A
(i) Physical Setting- Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries; structure and relief ; drainage system and watersheds; physiographic regions; mechanism of India monosoons; tropical cyclones and western disturbances; floods and droughts ; climatic regions; natural vegetacrisis.
(ii)Resources- Land , surface and ground-water , energy, minerals , and biotic resources, their distribution utilization and conservation ; energy crisis.
(iii)Agriculture- Infrastructure – irrigation, seeds , fertilizers, power; institutional factors- land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; 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; blue revolution ; agricultural regionalisation; agro- climatic zones.
(iv)Industry- Evolution of industries; locational factors of cotton, jute, iron and steel , fertilizer , paper, drugs and pharmaceutical , automobile and cottage industries ; industrial complexes and industrial regionalisation ; new industrial policy; multinationals and liberalization.
(v) Transport , Communication and Trade- Road , railway, waterway, airway and pipeline network and their complementary roles in regional development; growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade, trade balance; free trade and export promotion zones; developments in communication technology and its impact on economy and society.
Section-B
(i)Cultural Setting- Racial and ethnic diversities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems ; role of language , religion and tradition in the formation of cultural regions; growth , distribution and density of population; demographic attributes- sex –ratio, age structure , literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio and longevity; migration (inter-regional, intra-regional and international) and associated problems, population problems and policies.
(ii) Settlements- Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; urban development ; census definition of urban areas; morphology of Indian cities; functional classification of India cities; conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl; slums and associated problems; town planning; problems of urbanization.
(iii) Regional Development and Planning- Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; integrated rural development programmes; panchayati raj and decentralized planning; command area development; watershed management; planning for backward area, desert drought-prone, hill and tribal area development; multi-level planning; geography and regional planning.
(iv) Political Aspects- Geographical basis of Indian federalism; state reorganization; regional consciousness and national integration; international boundary of India and related issues; disputes on sharing of water resources; India and geopolitics of the India Ocean.
(v) Contemporary Issues- Environmental hazards- landslides, earthquakes, 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 ; problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; regional disparities in economic development; concept of sustainable growth and development. Note- Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects covered by this paper.