Here are some tips and strategies to handle your Geography paper in the mains
exams for the IAS. First heres how you should write your answers.
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- You should first understand the question and only then attempt to answer
it. The question could be discussion-based or analytical or you need to
elaborate or elucidate. As a result you are needed to answer according what
the question wants. Whatever the query is, you are required to give an
orderly and logical presentation of information.
- There should not be any contradiction within or between the answers.
What the examiner is looking for in your answers is concept and how
organised your thinking is. Thinking pattern is best reflected in the
structure of an answer.
- There should not be any extreme views when you are debating an issue.
- There is no need to quote anyone.
- Answers should be well balanced. Every component of the question should
be given equal weightage.
- The idea is that you might know about all topics but you should develop
your own language to write them.
- Focus should be on memorising facts and then back up with your language.
Your expression does not require you to write difficult English words. It
should be as simple as possible.
Listed below are some of the main topics that should be covered. Since some
sections come only on alternate years, please follow the trend and exclude a
topic if it has been majorly covered in the previous year and choose another in
the same category. This does not mean short question may not come.
Paper 1
Geomorphology
Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanism are significant sections in
Geomorphology. The Union Public Service Commission keeps on alternating queries
between endogenic and exogenic forces every year.
Climatology
In this section, you can expect significant number of questions from tropical
cyclones and climatic changes.
Oceanography
Marine resources, which include biotic, mineral and energy resources and ocean
currents are few of the important areas in Oceanography.
Perspectives in Human Geography
Environmentalism
Economic Geography
Energy crisis
Population and Settlement Geography
Distribution of world population Causes and consequences of migration Functional
classification of towns
Regional Planning
Growth centers and growth poles
Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography
Systems analysis in Human Geography Central Places theories of Christaller and
Losch Laws of international boundaries and frontiers
Paper II
Physical setting
Structure and relief Natural vegetation
Resources
Energy crisis
Agriculture
Agricultural intensity Agro and social forestry Livestock resources and white
revolution
Industry
Location factor of cottage industry
Transport, Communication and Trade
Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade, trade balance
Developments in communication technology and its impact on economy and society
Settlements
Morphology of Indian cities Conurbations and metropolitan regions Urban sprawl
Slums and associated problems
Regional Development and Planning
Decentralised planning Multi-level planning Geography and regional planning
Political Aspects
Geographical basis of Indian federalism India and geopolitics of the Indian
ocean
Contemporary Issues
Environmental hazard like landslide Changes in pattern of land use Principles of
environmental impact assessment and environmental management
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