How to Prepare Geography
Geography as an optional subject has become very popular since the introduction of new scheme in 1979 for Civil Services Examination. The subject has a scientific flavour and is objective and analytic. It is this scientific nature of subject which has made geography a very popular optional. The past performance of candidates clearly reveals that the subject is highly scoring and reliable. Also, unlike common belief, the subject is not vast and can be easily prepared in 2-3 months time if worked systematically.
The syllabus for the Mains examination has two papers: Paper-I deals with the Principles of Geography whereas Paper-II encompasses Geography of India. Very often, these two papers are taught or studied in isolation, which is a wrong approach. In fact, the two papers are intricately related. In Paper I fundamental principles of Geography are to be learnt and in Paper-II the fundamental principles learnt in Paper I are to be applied in the context of India. Thus, Paper I is concerned with understanding of concepts and Paper II seeks the application of those concepts. Prepared this way, the subject becomes objective, analytic, less time-consuming, very little or no mugging is required, and gives advantage over all other subjects of humanities and social science.
Geography can be taken as an optional by any candidate who has a scientific temper and average level of intelligence. Elementary understanding of concepts of everyday science is an asset. It is specially recommended to Science and Social Science graduates and also for those who do not have very good command over language.
Like any other subject, guidance by properly trained subject experts, i.e. Geographers; specially those teaching in universities and who have a feel of Civil Services Examination system can greatly help students in the preparation and getting best and of limited time. Fortunately, proper guidance in geography is available in most of the major cities of India. But students must take guidance from the right persons, otherwise guidance from untrained, self-proclaimed geography expects can even harm their interest.
Besides understanding the concepts, more important from the point of view of Civil Services examination is writing answers and, if possible, getting them properly evaluated.
Paper 1
Five questions are to be attempted; out of which two questions are compulsory one on map and the second on short notes. Three full length questions to be attempted two from one section and one from the other section. For question on map, the student is given the option of World or India map. If you have familiarity with world, then you may opt for World map otherwise concentrate on India. For question on map, students should practice map filling on blank maps. Try to learn using proper symbols for map filling. Also, one has to write in 10 words about the location asked. For this, one should write the most salient feature of the location.
For other four questions students should first understand all the basic concepts given in the syllabus and then focus on the more important concepts that can be found out from past years question papers or from a proper guide.
Three full length questions are to be attempted. Students should try to attempt two questions from Section A (Physical Geography) as these questions are comparatively more scoring. The important topics are Geomorphology, Climatology, Eco-System, Settlement Geography and Economic Geography. Some questions on Political Geography and Human Geography are also very scoring.
Paper 2
As mentioned earlier, Paper II is to be taken as the case study of India i.e. application of the geographical concepts in Indian context. Thus, students should try to examine and explain the spatial patterns in India with the help of concepts learnt in Paper I.
Traditional Geography books on India are far from satisfactory; specially with respect to socio-economic aspects as books on Geography of India have narrow and limited vision and data are not recent. The students need to develop a holistic view and here a proper guidance can help a lot. In Paper II, for getting high score, a holistic approach plays a very important role. Also, students should understand and study any one region of India in detail as many questions ask to write your answer with reference to any region with which you have familiarity.
The important topics in Paper II (keeping in view scoring as well) are Physical aspect, Resources, Agriculture, Industry, Regional Development and Planning.
Book List
Basic Reading
1. Strahler, A.N. or Strahler & Strahler : Modern Physical Geography.
2. NCERT11th and 12th class Geography books.
3. Geography Made Simple series by Rupa publications.
4. Rama Chandran Urbanization and urban systems in India.
5. Five Year Plan document.
6. Yojna/Kurukshetra/Employment News.
Further Reading
1. Small, R.J.Study of Landforms.
2. EyreSoil, Vegetation and Climate.
3. Trewartha, G.T.An Introduction to Climate.
4. Sharma & VatalOccanography for Geographers.
5. Adhikari, S.Fundamentals of Geographical Thought
6. Diksh*t, R.D.Political Geography
7. NorthernUrban Geography
8. Hurst, M.E.Geography of Economic Behaviour.
9. Symons or Moryan & MuttonAgricultural Geography
10. Leong, G.S. & MorgenHuman & Economic Geography
11. Sharma & ContinhoEconomic & Commercial Geography of India
12. Chand, Mahesh & PuriRegional Planning in India.
13. Leong, G.S. Certificate to Physical Geography
14. Critch field, Elements of Climatology
15. Singh G., Geography of India
Key Points
1.(a) Subject is Scoring, reliable.
(b) Subject has Scientific Flavour
(c) Subject is not lengthy
(d) Time required for preparation2-3 months.
2.(a) Paper-I is understanding of fundamental concepts.
(b) Paper II is application of fundamental concepts
(c) In paper I, two full length question to be attempted from section A.
(d) For Paper II, holistic view needs to be developed.
(e) Question on Map in both papers, quite moving
3. (a) Guidance should be seeked from only trained Geographers.
(b) Prefereably by Geographers teaching in Universities with a feel of Civil Services Examination system.
(c) Guidance must not be sought from untrained, self proclaimed geography expects as it may prove harmful.
4. (a) Write answers of important questions that have come in the past, get the answers properly evaluated.
(b) Rewrite your answer in the light of comments from evaluation and get reevaluated
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Geomorphology
BOOKS;
Physical Geography Savindra Singh
Physical Geography Majid Hussain
(Diagrams are important)
ORIGIN OF EARTH:
Theory; Classification
a) Hot Origin/Cold Origin
b) Monistic/Dualistic /Binary Star/Trihybrid
Theory Name Profounder Name Match List
Basic Concept of Theories
Profounder s Quotation if any
GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE
Terms _ Era. Epoch., Period
Chronological order of Era, Epoch, Period
Important events in each Era, Period, Epoch, like
a) Mountain Building
b) Species Formation MATCH LIST
c) Resources Development Coal, Oil, Etc.
INTERIOR OF THE EARTH;
Layers like Crust, Mantle, Core, Aethenosphere-DIAGRAMS
Properties of layer 1) State 2) Density 3) Temp 4) Volume 5) Mass 6) Pressure
Discontinuities of Different Layers _ Physical Geography by Tikka Match List
seismic waves-p/s/l/waves, shadow zone, low velocity zone
ROCKS;
Minerals---Order of elements in Earth Crust
Types of Rocks: 1) Igneous 2) Sedimentary 3) Metamorphic
Properties of Rocks 1) Colour 2) Density 3) Acid/Basic Lava 4) Various Sizes of Grains
Intrusive/Extrusive (A/R)
Example for different rocks
Intrusive Landforms : Laccoliths }
Batholiths } Match Diagramme
Phacolith
Lopolith
Dyke, Sill}
Fold/Fault: Chart in Savindra Singh
Dip., Strike
Types of Fold, Fault (A/R, Match List)
Diagrams
Volcano:
Types and Examples (Match)
Volcanic Materials
Acid/Basic Lava (A/R)
Magma
World Distribution of Volcanoes
Plate Tectonics and Volcano (A/R)
Earth Quake: Mechanisms
Theories Related
Scales ~ Richter, Mercalli (Difference)
Earthquake and Plate Tectonics
Tsunamis
World Distribution of Earth quakes (Combination)
Weathering: Physical, Chemical, Biotic (A/R)
Mass Movement ~ Diagrams in Majid Hussain
Landforms: Fluvial ]
Aeolian ]
Glacial ] Agents of Denudation
Coastal ]
Karst ]
Stages : Young, Mature, Old
Process: Erosion, Transportation, Deposition
(Landforms agents) Match the following, Diagrams.
CLIMATOLOGY;
Structure and composition of Atmosphere
1) Ordering of layers 2) Composition of Elements in Atmosphere ~ Order
3) Functions of each Layer (Match)
4) Classification based on composition (Homosphers, Heterosphere)
TEMPERATURE
~ Heating and Cooling of Atmosphere
~ Methods of Heating
~ Wavelength ~ Short, Long (A/R)
~ Horizontal Distribution/Factors (A/R)
~ Vertical Distribution/Factors (A/R)
~ Inversion of Temperature (Concept)
Isanomalous Temp
- Albedo (Order of Albedo)
-
AIR PRESSURE/WINDS;
Pressure Belt � Types
Coriolis Force
Geostrophic Winds
Ferrell Law, Buy Ballot Law
Easterlies, Westerlies, Polar Winds
Wind Belt Shift/Mediterranean Climate
Tricellular Circulation
Hadley/Ferrell/Polar Cell
Monsoon-Origin, Theories, El Nino, Southern Oscillation etc,.
Jet stream Types and Impacts
Local Winds Name
- - Region Affected
- - Ill Effects
HUMIDITY;-
Definition of Humidity
- Absolute Humidity
- Relative Humidity (A/R)
- Specific Humidity
- Condensation/Dew Point
- Adiabatic Heating/Cooling
- Stability/Instability/(a/r)
- Fog
- Clouds Types
- Ascending/Descending Order
- Rainfall Types
- - Convection//Frontal (or) Cyclonic/Orographic
- Air mass Define
- Properties (Warm, Cold)
- Areas affected by them.
FRONTS;
Define
Frontogenesis
Warm/Cold /Stationary/Occluded Fronts / and Associated Weather, Cloud, Rainfall, Airflow Pressure In each Front
CYCLONE:
Types Tropical/Temperate Cyclones
Origin of Cyclones
Characteristics
Differences Between them
Area affected by them
Local Names to them like Typhoon, Hurricane
MAJOR CLIMATIC TYPES
Climates of world in Certificate Physical Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
OCEANOGRAPHY;-
OCEAN RELIEF: Continental Shelf Extent
Continental Slope
Deep Sea Plain Geographical Importance etc of each
Trenches Location in Map
Hypsometric/Hypsographic Curve
Miscellaneous NCERT + 1 Old Book
Land Forms
TEMPERATURE
Daily Range
Annual Range A/R
Distribution Horizontal/Vertical
SALINITY
Unit PPT (Parts per thousand)
Composition of Seawater Order
Controlling Factors A/R
Distribution Horizontal/Vertical
OCEAN DEPOSITS
Types and Classification
Mode of Formation
Distribution
Area Occupied by Deposits in Oceans - Ascending Order
OCEAN CURRENTS;
Current/Stream/Drift
Factors Causing Currents
Currents of Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
Effects of Currents
Diagrammes
EL NINO, LA NINO
Narmadeshwar Prasad Guide Section 21 0f Physical Geography
WAVES AND TIDES
Definition, Differences
Tide Origin Factors
Duration/Interval
Types - Spring, Neap, Tropical and Equatorial,
Apogean, Perigean
Concepts of Syzygy
Conjuction
Opposition
Quadrature
New Moon, Full Moon
Theory Name and Profounder
BIOGEOGRAPHY;
Soil - Pedogenesis/Soil Genesis
Soil Profile
Types of Soil Majid Hussain
Major Biomes Certificate Geography By
Goh Cheng Leong
Terms In Pedogenesis (Leaching, Eluviation, Illuviation, Chelluviation)
Ecosystem Define
Technical Terms
Ecological Niche
Climax
Succession etc,.
Terrestrial, Aquatic (Marine/Pond) Ecosystem
Food Chain- Types and Examples
Food Web Diagram
Ecological Pyramid, Tropic Efficiency, Tropic Level
