UPSC Geography Prelims Topicwise Syllabus
UPSC IAS Prelims
UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of India’s most prestigious exams and is considered among the world’s toughest. The previous year’s UPSC Civil Services Exam was held on 28 May 2023. The upcoming exam UPSC 2024 Prelims exam is scheduled for 26 May 2024. The notification for the exam is expected to be released on 14 February 2024. The exam is divided into three stages. The first one is the Preliminary Exam, also known as Prelims. Those who pass UPSC Prelims will have to appear for the Mains Examination. After successfully passing the Mains exam, the aspirants must appear for the personality test. The preliminary stage is extremely important because it acts like a screening test or first filter level. In 2023, around 13 lakh aspirants appeared for the preliminary examination, of which only 14624 qualified for the Mains. We will inform you about the topic prelims syllabus as the UPSC 2023 notification.
Geography Syllabus of Prelims
The Geography portion of the UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus reads Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. It is interesting to note that this sentence includes everything that constitutes geography. It has physical geography, human geography, India, and the world. Let us now dig a little deeper and identify the main sub-topics.
UPSC Geography Topicwise Syllabus for Prelims
World Physical Geography includes:
- Geomorphology
- Climatology
- Oceanography
- Biogeography
Geomorphology
The Earth and the Universe
- The Solar System
- Origin and Evolution of the Earth
- Old and Modern Theories of Earth Evolution
- Geological Time Scale
- Earth shape
- Earth Movements: Rotation and Revolution
- Latitudes and Longitudes
- Standard Times
- International Date Line
- Day Light Savings
Interior of the Earth
- Interior Structure of Earth
- Physical and Chemical Composition of Earth’s Interior
- Direct and Indirect Sources of Information
- Role of Seismic Waves in Knowing Earth’s Interior
Distribution of Oceans and Continents
- Continental Drift Theory
- Evidence to Support Continental Drift
- Conventional Current Theory
- Sea Floor Spreading
- Plate tectonics
Geomorphic Processes
- Endogenic Processes
- Disastrophism
- Exogeneic Processes
- Landforms Evolution
Volcanism
- Origin of Volcanoes
- Types of Volcanoes
- Landforms associated with Volcanoes
- Distribution of Volcanoes
- Hot Springs and Geysers
Earthquakes
- Origin of Earthquakes
- Earthquake Waves
- Behavior of Earthquake Waves
- Types of Earthquakes
- Measurement of Earthquakes
- Effects of Earthquakes
Weathering and Mass wasting
- Types of Weathering
- Significance of Weathering
- Impacts of Weathering
- Types of Mass Movements
Mineral and Rocks
- Major elements of Earth Crust
- Major Minerals
- Rocks
- Igneous Rocks
- Sedimentary Rocks
- Metamorphic Rocks
- Types of Metamorphism
- Rock Cycle
Types of Landforms
Fluvial – Running Water
- The Development of the River System
- Erosion Types and Mechanisms
- River Erosion and Transportation
- The Course of the River
- Cycle of Erosion
- River Rejuvenation and associated landforms
Aeolian – Arid or Desert Landform
- Types of Deserts
- How Arid Landforms are formed
- Erosional Landforms
- Depositional Landforms
- Landforms made by running water in Arid Regions
Glacial Landforms
- Types of Ice Masses
- Highland Glacial Landforms
- Glaciated Lowland Landforms
- Humans and Glaciers
Preglacial Landforms
- Permafrost
- Solifluction
- Pingo
- Hummocks
- Palsa
- Patterned Ground
Karst and Limestone Landforms
- Limestone and Chalk Formations
- Karst Regions of the World and India
- Erosional Features – Karst
- Depositional Features – Karst
Coastal Landforms
- Actions of Waves, Tides, and Currents
- Marine Erosion Mechanism
- Erosional Features – Coastal
- Depositional Features – Coastal
- Types of Coasts
Lakes
- Formation of Lakes
- Types of Lakes
- Major Lakes of the World
Climatology
Weather and Climate
- Elements of weather and climate
Composition and Structure of Atmosphere
Insolation
- Factors Affecting Insolation
- Heat Budget
- Temperature and its Variations
- Temperature Distribution
- Urban Heat Island
Atmospheric Circulation
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Distribution of Pressure at Sea Level
- Winds
- Forces Responsible for Origin of Winds
- General Circulation
- Seasonal Winds
- Local Winds
- Air Masses
- Fronts
- Extra-Tropical Cyclones
- Tropical Cyclones
Humidity
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Clouds
- Precipitation and Types
- Distribution of Precipitations
World Climate Classification
- Koppen’s Classification
- Equatorial Type
- Monsoon Type
- Savanna Type
- Mid-latitude Desert Type
- Mediterranean Type
- Steppe Climate
- China Type
- British Type
- Siberian Type
- Laurentian Type
- Polar Climate
Climate Change
- History of Climate Change
- Recent Events
- Causes of Climate Change
- Impact of Climate Change
Oceanography
Water in the Oceans
- Hydrological Cycle
- Relief of the Ocean Floor
- Ocean Water Temperature
- Ocean – Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Temperature
- Ocean Salinity
- Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Salinity
Movement of Ocean Waters
- Waves
- Tides
- Ocean Currents
- El Nino and La Nina
- Indian Ocean Dipole
Biogeography
Ecology and Ecosystems
- Forest Classification (Biomes)
- Carbon Cycle
- Oxygen Cycle
- Nitrogen Cycle
- Ecological Balance
Biodiversity and Conservation
- Types of Diversity
- Why Diversity is Important
- Loss of Biodiversity
- Endangered Species
- Rare Species
- Conservation of Biodiversity
Soils
- Soil Formation Process
- Factors of Soil Formation
- Soil Profile and Horizons
- Soil Classification – V.V. Dokuchaev
- Soil Classification – USDA
Human Geography
Human Geography Nature and Scope
- Definition of Human Geography
- Environmental Determinism
- Possibilism Neo-Feterminism
- Statges and Growth of Human Geography
World Population
- Population Pattern
- Factors Influencing Population
- Components of Population Change
- Key Demography Concepts
- Demographic Transition
- Population Problems and Solutions
Human Development
- Major Factors of Human Development
- Approaches of Human Development
- Human Development Index
- Gender Development Index
- Happiness Index
Primary Activities
Economic Activities
- Hunting Gathering
- Nomadic Pastoralism
- Nomadic Herding
- Commercial Livestock Rearing
Agriculture
- Subsistence Agriculture
- Shifting Cultivation
- Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
- Plantation Agriculture
- Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation
- Mixed Farming
- Dairy Farming
- Mediterranean Agriculture
- Market Gardening and Horticulture
- Co-operative Farming
- Collective Farming
- Major Cropping Seasons
- Distribution of Major Crops
- Food Security
- Fishing
- Major Fishing Zones of the World
- World Production of Inland and Saline-water Fish
- Problems in the Fishing Sector
Minerals and Resources
- Major Metallic Minerals Distribution
- Major Non-Metallic Minerals Distribution
- Rare Earth Minerals
- Conventional Energy
- Non-Conventional Energy
- Geopolitics and Resources
Secondary Activities
Manufacturing
- Classification of Manufacturing Industries
- Locational Factors of Industries
- Key Industries of the World
- Industrial Regions of the World
Tertiary and Quaternary Industries
- Tourism
- Quinary Activities
- Digital Divide
Transport and Communications
- Road Density in the World
- Highways
- Railways
- Pipelines
- Water Transport
- Major Sea routes
- Inland Waterways
- Internet and Communication
International Trade
- Balance of Trade
- World Trade Organisation
- Emerging Trade Blocks
- Gateways to International Trade- Ports
- Types of Ports
- Major Choke Points of the World
World Political Geography
- Maritime Boundaries
- Types of Boundaries
Social Geography
- Migration
- Globalization
- Cultural Landscapes
- Urbanization and Urban Problems
- First People of the World
- Major languages and Linguistic regions of the world
India Physical Geography
India Location and Extent
- India’s Position in the Indian Ocean
- India Boundaries
- India State and Union Territories
India Geology and Structure (Very Briefly)
India Physiography
- Himalayas
- The Great Plains of India
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
India Drainage
- Drainage Patterns
- Himalayan Rivers and Tributaries
- Peninsular Rivers and Tributaries
- Major Multipurpose River Projects
India Climate
- Factors Influencing the Climate of India
- Indian Monsoon
- Mechanism of Monsoon
- Monsoon and Jet Streams
- Monsoon Role of Tibet and Himalayas
- Western Disturbances
- India Seasons
- India Heat & Cold Waves
- Climate Classification of India – Koppen
India Soils
- Soil Types
- Soil Distribution
- Soil Degradation
- Soil Conservation
India Natural Vegetation
- Classification of Forests
- Distribution of Forest Types in India
- Problems of Forestry
- National Forest Policy
- Current State of Forest in India
- Social Forestry
- Forest Conservation and Wildlife
India Water Resources
- Groundwater and Problems
- Water Pollution
- Water Conservation Measures
India Human Geography
Economic Geography
Distribution of Minerals
- Iron, Manganese, Chromite, Copper Bauxite, Lead, Zinc, Mica, Silver, Gold, Diamond
Conventional Energy
- Coal
- Petroleum Natural Gas
- Uranium
- Hydroelectricity
Non Conventional Energy
- Solar
- Wind
- Geothermal
- Tidal
India Agriculture
- Characteristics and Problems of Indian Agriculture
- Agricultural Seasons – Kharif, Rabi, Zaid
- Distribution of Major Crops
- Green Revolution
- Blue Revolution
- Pink Revolution
- Indian Fishery
- Dairy Farming
India Industries Locational Factors
- Cotton Textile
- Jute
- Woolen and Silk
- Iron and Steel
- Aluminium
- Automobile
- Pharma
- Cement
- Fertilizers
- Food Processing
- Information Technology
- Tourism
- Make in India
India Transport and Communication
- Roads
- Railways
- Pipelines
India’s Social and Cultural Geography
- Population Distribution
- Sex Ratio
- Demographic Dividend
- Population Problems
- Settlements, Types of Settlements
- Urban Problems and Slums
- India Cultural Regions
- Major Tribes of India