How to Approach Gs Geography

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How to Approach

G.S. Geography


What is it?

Geography is one of the major disciplines that help fulfill peoples quest for knowledge about their

surroundings.Many a times, it is geographical phenomena, which influences the social, cultural, political, economic

and technological landscape. Whether it is the social practice of migration & transhumance; cultural aspects related

to art and crafts or food and clothing; political dimensions like geopolitics and geostrategy; economic dimensions

related to the primary, secondary or tertiary sectors or technological aspects related to innovationsin the field of

mining, climate control, and transportation etc. These are all primarily related to Geographical dimensions. We can

unarguably say that Geography gives usfundamental knowledge of spatial dimensions related to whatever is

happening around us.

Why in Examination?

Thus it is hardly any surprise that UPSC has included Geography in the General Studies section of both Prelims and

Mains. A good understanding of Geography not only helps civil servants better understand the underlying reasons of

the manyhappenings in the world,but also evolve better plans and ensure efficient execution geared towards a more

inclusive and sustainable development.

The Examination Perspective

Discussing the Geography section from an examination perspective and looking at the syllabus of Prelims and Mains

in detail, as well as past few years papers (preferably since 2007), one gets a fair bit of idea on what and how to

prepare for the exam. The new NCERTs of Class IX to XII along with G.C. Leong and a good school atlasforms the

fundamental reference sources.

Given below is the list of books and other reference sources:

Class IX NCERT: Contemporary India Part-I

Class X NCERT: Contemporary India Part-II

Class XI NCERT:Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Class XI NCERT:Indian Physical Environment

Class XII NCERT:Fundamentals of Human Geography

Class XII NCERT:India, People and Economy

Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong, Oxford University Press

School Atlas by any good publisher like Oxford University press, Orient Longman, DK etc.

Keeping track of related articles in The Hindu, Yojana etc.

If one can get hold of the old Land and People series (published in the nineties), class VI, VII,VIII, and IX

NCERT books, then these could be referred for the World geography section (anyways we will be taking care of

these sections in the classroom and the content provided).

There are some secondary reference sources along with content on some current issues, which could also be

covered for a comprehensive preparation. We shall discuss this later.

Keeping the Focus Right

One important thing that needs to be constantly kept in mind is that one must go through the syllabus along with

the questions asked in Prelims as well as Mains, before and after completing each section. This will help in ensuring

that based on your understanding; you pick up the most relevant aspects from the examination perspective. This will

also help in building confidence that you would be able to answer the questions UPSC has asked from those sections.

If you could answer the present set of questions, there is no reason why you will not be able to answer the

questions that would be asked in the future. Just one more important thing - you also need to practice answer

writing and hone your presentation skills. This is where we will help you to overcome the initial inertia, and put you

in a disciplined routine of regularly answering in the classroom program.

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Another note of caution is that the data available in these books is generally old. So one should not pick the data

from NCERTs and should rather refer the latest India Year Book (published by the Government of India, Publication

Division) and Economic Survey of the given year, Census 2011 and updated government sources (websites).

Regarding the trends in recent years, the questions have not been too factual, rather mostly conceptual and

application oriented ones. So our focus should be more towards developing conceptual clarity and the application

of these concepts.

A Plan of Action (for the Classroom Students)

Now arises the question on how to complete these readings. One way to cover these would be to design your

personal study program. Try to create a schedule: an orderly, systematic approach is not only beneficial but also

critical in an examination like the UPSC CSE. Preferably dedicate a consistent block of time everyday of the week.

You can also set a few learning outcomesfor a chapter after browsing through it quickly. Then go for a thorough

reading. Once you complete it, see whether the learning outcomes you predicted made sense and helped you

answer the questions given at the end of the chapter.

Classroom students are suggested to read the following NCERT Books before attending the particular class so that

the class discussion will prove to be more fruitful.

Class 1

Tentative list of topics to be covered: The Universe, solar system, origin and evolution of the earth, earth

movements and related aspects, geological time scale, interior of the earth, formation of earths crust, oceans and

atmosphere.

Basic References ( BR): 1. Chap. 1 - The Earth and the Universe, Chap. 2 - The earths crust, G.C. Leong;

NCERT Class 11 fundamentals of Geog. - Chap. 2. The Origin and Evolution of the Earth, 3. Interior of the Earth.

Class 2

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Continental drift, seafloor spreading , endogenetic and exogenetic forces and

basics of plate tectonics, some ideas about supercontinents etc., seismicity, volcanicity, Tsunami etc. and associated

formations.

BR: Chap. 4 - Distribution of Oceans and Continents -NCERT Class 11 fundamentals of Geog.;

G.C. Leong - Chap. 3 - Vulcanism and Earthquakes.

Class 3

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Continued from previous class, mountain building, island formations,hotspots

etc. , rock types and formations, geomorphic processes, ground water.

BR: Chap. 5. Minerals and Rocks, 6. Geomorphic Processes - NCERT Class 11 fundamentals of Geog.; G.C. Leong -

Chap. 4 - Weathering, Mass Movement and Groundwater

Class 4

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Continued from previous class, different types of landforms and landscape

formation

BR: Chap. 7. Landforms and their Evolution, NCERT Class 11 fundamentals of Geog.;

G.C. Leong Chap. 5,6,7,8,9,10. ( Note: these chapters will take time so plan accordingly)

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Class 5

Tentative list of topics to be covered: India: Physical formation, physiography, drainage, structure and relief and

basics of soils etc.

BR: Chap. 2. Structure and Physiography, 3. Drainage System NCERT class 11- India Physical.

Class 6

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Composition and Structure of atmosphere, weather and its associated aspects.

BR: G.C. Leong chap 13 - weather, ;

NCERT : 8. Composition and Structure of Atmosphere - class 11 Fundamentals of Physical geog.

Class 7

Tentative list of topics to be covered: insolation, earths heat balance, different atmospheric circulations - global

winds, cyclones,

BR: NCERT- class 11 Fundamentals of Physical geog. 9. Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature, 10.

Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems

Class 8

Tentative list of topics to be covered: continued from previous class, Precipitation types, and climate and different

world climates.

BR: NCERT- class 11 Fundamentals of Physical geog. - 11. Water in the Atmosphere, 12. World Climate and Climate

Change

G.C. Leong - 14. Climate , and climate related parts of the following chapters - 15. The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate,

16. The Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates, 17. The Savanna or Sudan Climate, 18. The Hot Desert and

Mid - Latitude Desert Climates, 19. The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate, 20. The

Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate, 21. The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type) Climate, 22. The

Cool Temperate Western Margin (British Type) Climate, 23, The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate, 24.

The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin (Lauren-tian) Climate, 25. The Arctic or Polar Climate .

Class 9

Tentative list of topics to be covered: continued from previous class, miscellaneous other topics like el nino, la nina,

enso, urban climate, applied climatology, heat island etc.

BR: refer the internet and our content

Class 10

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Indian aspects of climate

BR: NCERT class 11 - India Physical environment - chap. 4. Climate

Class 11

Tentative list of topics to be covered: basics about oceans and ocean resources

BR: NCERT- class 11 Fundamentals of Physical geog. - UNIT V: WATER (OCEANS) -chap. 13. Water (Oceans), 14.

Movements of Ocean Water.

G.C. Leong : 12. The Oceans

Class 12

Tentative list of topics to be covered: continued from previous class, coral reefs, islands and Indian ocean related

aspects ( India specific)

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Class 13

Tentative list of topics to be covered: organisms, Ecology , ecosystem, food chain

BR: NCERT - Biology Class 12 - Chap 13. Organism and population, chap. 14 Ecosystem

Class 14

Tentative list of topics to be covered: biodiversity, environmental issues and climate change.

BR: NCERT - Biology Class 12 - Chap 15. biodiversity and conservation, chap.16 Environmental issues

Class 15

Tentative list of topics to be covered: International conventions and related national and international

developments.

BR: See some basics on Internet about the above mentioned issues.

World Geography: 6 Classes

Note:

1. Here we will cover the different aspects either continentwise or we will take up specific dimension and see the

global spatial pattern.

2. Cover the following G.C. Leong section as per the class topics covered, preferably before these world Geography

classes start, as the chapters have mixed the continents taking up a specific climatic region in all continent.

G.C. Leong - Non-climate related parts of the following chapters - 15. The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate, 16. The Tropical

Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates, 17. The Savanna or Sudan Climate, 18. The Hot Desert and Mid - Latitude Desert

Climates, 19. The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate, 20. The Temperate Continental (Steppe)

Climate, 21. The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type) Climate, 22. The Cool Temperate Western Margin (British

Type) Climate, 23, The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate, 24. The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin (Lauren-

tian) Climate, 25. The Arctic or Polar Climate .

3. Here one can read the Old Land and People series Geography class 6 -8 NCERT books , if available

Class 16

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Continentwise ( Physcial factors and resources, vegetation etc.) coverage :

Asia , Austalia and pacific

BR: Old Land and People series NCERTs of class 6 and 8; Related sections from G.C. Leong book.

class 17


Africa, Europe

BR: Old Land and People series NCERTs class 6 and 7; Related sections from G.C. Leong book.

class 18


North and South America and the Poles

BR:Old Land and People series NCERTs class 6 and 7 ; Related sections from G.C. Leong book.

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Class 19

Tentative list of topics to be covered: population, Settlement and development.

BR:NCERT Class 12 - Fundamentals of Human Geography: Chap. 2. The World Population Distribution, Density and

Growth, 3. Population Composition, 4. Human Development

10. Human Settlements ; Related sections from G.C. Leong book.

Class 20

Tentative list of topics to be covered: factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary industries in various

parts of the world

BR: NCERT Class 12 - Fundamentals of Human Geography: Chap. 5. Primary Activities

6. Secondary Activities; Related sections from G.C. Leong book.

Class 21

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Services sector, International trade.

8. Transport and Communication

9. International Trade

BR: NCERT Class 12 - Fundamentals of Human Geography: Chap. 7. Tertiary and Quaternary Activities, 8. Transport

and Communication, 9. International Trade; Related sections from G.C. Leong.

Indian Geography : 4 Classes - Students who face some difficulty in starting with class 11 and 12 India section can also

refer to class 9 and 10 Geography NCERT books.

Class 22

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Resources & Primary Sector

BR: NCERT Class 11 - Indian Physical Environment : Chap.5. Natural Vegetation, 6. Soils,

NCERT Class 12 - India, People and Economy: Chap. 5. Land Resources and Agriculture, 6. Water Resources, 7.

Mineral and Energy Resources

Class 23

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Secondary and tertiary Sectors, International trade

BR: NCERT Class 12 - India, People and Economy: Chap. 8. Manufacturing Industries, 10. Transport and

Communication, 11. International Trade

Class 24

Tentative list of topics to be covered: population, urban and rural issues, settlement, migration

BR: NCERT Class 12 - India, People and Economy: Chap. 1. Population : Distribution, Density, Growth and

Composition, Chap. 2. Migration : Types, Causes and Consequences, 4. Human Settlements

Class 25

Tentative list of topics to be covered: Human development, planning and development, Natural hazards, disasters

and their management

BR: NCERT Class 12 - India, People and Economy: Chap. 3. Human Development, 9. Planning and Sustainable

Development in Indian Context, 12. Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems,

NCERT Class 11 - Indian Physical Environment : chap.7. Natural Hazards and Disasters

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How to Approach Gs Geography