World Geography for UPSC Prelims

Can you tell me if World Geography is also a part of the Mains Subject – Geography – in IAS Exam conducted by UPSC as I have cleared the Prelims and now preparing for Mains?

[shikha]

The geography section in the IAS prelims syllabus gives the real depth of Indian Geography and World Geography and most of the questions are linked directly or indirectly with geography.

The questions asked in prelims are from physical, social and economic geography of India and the world.

Mains Geography Syllabus

Section-A
Physical Geography
i) Geomorphology
Origin of the earth; Geological Time Scale; Interior of the earth; Types and characteristics of rocks; Folding and Faulting; Volcanoes; Earthquakes; Weathering; Landforms caused by fluvial, aeolian and glacial actions.
ii) Climatology
Structure and composition of atmosphere; Temperature; Pressure belts and Wind systems; Clouds and rainfall types; Cyclones and anticyclones; Major climatic types.
iii) Oceanography
Ocean relief; Temperature; Salinity; Ocean deposits; Ocean currents, El Nino and La Nino; Waves and tides.
iv) Biogeography
Origin and types of soils; Major biomes of the world; Ecosystem and food chain; Environmental degradation and conservation.

Section-B
Human Geography
i) Man and Environment Relationship
Growth and development of Human Geography; Concepts of Determinism and Possibilism.
ii) Population
Races of mankind and tribes; growth and distribution of world population; migration; population problems of developed and developing countries.
iii) Economic Activities
Food gathering and hunting; pastoral herding; fishing and forestry; Types of agriculture-shifting, subsistence, commercial and plantation; Mining, Power; Manufacturing -locational factors of textile, iron and steel, sugar and fertilizer industries; Tertiary activities-trade, transport, communication and services.
iv) Settlements
Origin, types and patterns of rural settlements; Processes of urbanisation; morphology and functional classification of towns; million-cities and megacities.

Section-C
Geography of the World
i) Major Natural Regions : Characteristics, economic base and human adaptation.
ii) Regional Geography of Developed Countries : Canada, U.S.A., Western Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
iii) Regional Geography of Developing Countries : S.E. Asia, S.W. Asia, China, Southern Africa and Brazil.
iv) Regional Geography of South Asia.

Section-D
Geography of India
i) Physical Setting
Landforms, drainage, climate, soils and natural vegetation.
ii) Economic Base
Minerals & energy resources, aquatic resources, forest resources; irrigation, agriculture and industries; trade and commerce.
iii) Population
Growth, distribution and density; demographic characteristics.
iv) Environmental problems, developmental issues and regional planning.

Section-E
Geographical Thought
i) Ancient Period : Contributions of Indians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs.
ii) Pre-Modern Period : Contribution of Verenius, Kant, Humboldt and Ritter.
iii) Modern Period : Dichotomy of determinism and possibilism; contributions of Ratzel, Semple, Huntington and La Blache.
iv) Recent Period : Quantitative Revolution; Radicalism, Behaviorism and Humanism.

Section-F
Techniques of Geographical Analysis
i) Maps : Scale and types, uses.
ii) Diagrams : Types and uses
iii) Projections : Types, characteristics and uses.
iv) Remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) : Aerial photographs and imagery, GIS.