GS-1-GEOGRAPHY SYLLABUS FOR UPSC

1. Physical Geography: Salient features of world's ⚫ NCERT – Class 11th

physical geography. (New)Fundamentals of

Physical Geography
⚫ G.C.LEONG (selective)

2. Resources: Distribution of key natural resources across ⚫ NCERT – Class 12th

the world (including South Asia and the Indian (New)Fundamentals of

subcontinent) Human Geography

⚫ NCERT – Class 12th
(New) India – People and
Economy

3. Location of Industry: factors responsible for the location ⚫ NCERT – Class 12th

of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in (New)Fundamentals of

various parts of the world (including India) Human Geography

⚫ NCERT – Class 12th
(New) India – People and
Economy

4. Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, ⚫ G.C..LEONG

Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc. ⚫ Keep an eye on current

affairs latest news on
cyclones and countries
affected and the disaster
caused.

5. Geographical features and their location- changes in ⚫ G.C..LEONG

critical geographical features (including water-bodies ⚫ Keep an eye on current

and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of affairs latest news on

such changes. cyclones and countries

affected and the disaster
caused.
 BOOKS 1 2 3 4 5 6
1) NCERT Social Science, Class 6th (New) ‘The Earth Our
Habitat’
2) NCERT Social Science, Class 7th (New) ‘Our
Environment’
3) NCERT Social Science, Class 8th (New) ‘ Resource
and Development’
4) NCERT Social Science, Class 9th (New) ‘Contemporary
India’
5) NCERT Social Science, Class 10th (New)
‘Contemporary India-Part II’
6) NCERT – Class 11th (New)Fundamentals of Physical
Geography
7) NCERT – Class 11th (New) INDIA:- Physical
Environment
8) NCERT – Class 12th (New)Fundamentals of Human
Geography
9) NCERT – Class 12th (New) India – People and
Economy
10) Atlas: Oxford School Atlas (for India) and/or Orient
Black Swan School Atlas (for World)

11) G.C.LEONG (selective reading) or MAJID HUSSAIN

12) PMFIAS website (to understand topics)

13) GEOGRAPHY MCQ BOOK

14) YOUTUBE VIDEOS (for better understanding)

15) THE HINDU / INDIAN EXPRESS & CA MAGAZINE

16) GEOGRAPHY ANSWER WRITING PRACTISE

17) PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

18)
 DETAILED SYLLABUS

TOPIC 1 2 3 4 5 6

1. Salient features of world’s physical

geography

i. Geo-morphology

a) Meaning & Scope of Geo-

morphology

b) Internal Structure of Earth

c) The Theory of Continental Drift

d) Plate Tectonics theory

e) Rocks

f) Classification of Forces affecting

the land forms

g) Mountain Building

h)Earthquakes & Tsunamis

j) Plains and Plateau

ii. Oceanography

a) Ocean Bottom Relief

b) Temperature and Salinity of

Ocean Waters

c) Ocean Currents

d) Tides

e) Coral Reefs

f) Geopolitical importance of Indian

Ocean

iii. Climatology

a) Earth’s Atmosphere

b) Weather and Climate

c) Air Mass, Fronts & Cyclones

d) Climatic division of India

2. Distribution of key natural resources
across the world (including South Asia
and the Indian sub-continent)

a) Distribution of soil

b) Distribution of minerals

c) Distribution of rivers

d) Distribution of crops

3. Factors responsible for the location of

primary, secondary, and tertiary sector
industries in various parts of the world
(including India)

a) Introduction

b) Primary sector and locations

c) Secondary sector and locations

d) Tertiary sector and locations

e) Issues in industrial development

f) GOI steps

g) Recommendation

4.Important Geophysical phenomena

a) Earthquakes

b) Tsunami

c) Volcanic activity

d) Cyclone etc
5. Geographical features and their location

a) Mountains

b) Plains

c) Plateaus

d) Other features

e) Degradation due to human activities

6. Changes in critical geographical features

a. Human impact on geographical features as

climate change, ocean acidification, water
depletion, pollution, deforestation,
desertification, erosion.