How to prepare Geography for UPSC Exams

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Introduction about Geography in UPSC: Geography is covered in both the General Studies Paper 1 of the UPSC Mains Exam and the GS Paper 1 of the UPSC Prelims Exam. Geography for UPSC syllabus and in general classify the elements that enable human life as well as those that endanger it. To put it another way, learning about these elements will increase your chances of maintaining important resources for human life. 

Both the IAS Prelims and Mains Exams necessitate a thorough understanding of geography. Geographical studies are divided into two categories: physical geography and human geography. You will need to apply your geographical knowledge to questions on Indian geography as well as global geography for this subject. 

 (Watch: IAS 2021: GS & Geography Optional Webinar)  

Weightage & Distribution of Questions in IAS Prelims Examination: 

The table below shows the weightage of the subjects for the number of questions in General Studies I Prelims Examination from 2012 to 2020:  

Year	History	Geography	Polity	Science & Technology	Current Affairs	Environment	Economy
2012	19	17	20	9	1	17	17
2013	16	18	16	14	0	17	19
2014	20	14	14	16	8	18	10
2015	17	16	13	8	22	11	13
2016	15	7	7	8	27	18	18
2017	14	9	22	9	15	15	16
2018	22	10	13	10	14	13	18
2019	17	14	15	7	22	11	14
2020	20	10	17	10	18	10	15

Weightage of Marks in Geography & Environment from 2012 to 2020: 

The table below shows the weightage of marks in Environment and Geography for UPSC Prelims Examination from 2012 to 2020: 

Year	Geography	Environment	Total Questions	Combined Marks (Geography & Environment)	Total Marks	% of Marks from Geography & Environment
2012	17	17	34	68	200	34%
2013	18	17	35	70	200	35%
2014	14	18	32	64	200	32%
2015	16	11	27	54	200	27%
2016	7	18	25	50	200	25%
2017	9	15	24	48	200	24%
2018	10	13	23	46	200	23%
2019	14	11	25	50	200	25%
2020	10	10	20	40	200	20%

Weightage of Marks & Questions in Geography for UPSC Mains Examination for GS-1 Paper From 2016 to 2020: 

Year	No. of Geography Questions Asked	Total Questions	Total Marks from Geography	Total Marks	% of Marks from Geography
2016	8	20	100	250	40%
2017	6	20	70	250	28%
2018	4	20	45	250	18%
2019	6	20	75	250	30%
2020	8	20	100	250	40%

Weightage of Marks & Questions in Environment for UPSC Mains Examination for GS-3 Paper from 2016 to 2020: 

Year	No. of Environment Questions Asked	Total Questions	Total Marks from the Environment	Total Marks	% of Marks from the Environment
2016	3	20	37.5	250	15%
2017	2	20	25	250	10%
2018	4	20	45	250	18%
2019	2	20	25	250	10%
2020	5	20	65	250	26%

Strategy to Study Geography in UPSC: 

When someone examines the types of questions that are asked, he or she can gain a better understanding of the preparation method. On the other hand, there are some legitimate points to consider.  

There are certain rules you must follow while preparing for Geography for UPSC Examination. 

• Every time you study geography, make sure to use an atlas. Look at the map graphic to determine the position of coastlines, states, and other areas. This is one of the best techniques on how to prepare for geography for UPSC exams. 
• Geography is primarily a science, with elements of the arts and humanities thrown in for good measure. As a result, you must approach learning it in the same way that you would any other science subject; that is, you must constantly question why and how concepts work. Each reaction has a distinct cause. If you want to truly comprehend, you must investigate the reason. 
• A basic overview of the subject is provided in the first few chapters. To succeed in geography, you must know the basics of geography. Taking the time to analyze and understand these concepts will help you understand geography and also make the subject more enjoyable. You will also remove the shackles of memory loss. One of the best ways how to study Geography for UPSC would be to grasp the basics completely. 
• Avoid reading a lot of books. It is always advisable to have a solid grasp of a few quality books. Because the NCERT textbook has already helped me, any high-level book will be sufficient for my education. To support your understanding of this topic, you may want to read books written by Majid Hussain. 
• If the landscape undergoes a noticeable change or there is an important development in the world concerning geography, then you should prepare thoroughly for the topic. According to these suggestions, you will do well on the UPSC exam. 
• Assessment of your preparation will also help you identify the part of your game that you need to improve. 
• Current affairs: Subscribe to newspapers and magazines so you can follow current events. Go through the newspaper and a variety of articles thoroughly thrice a day and keep yourself abreast with all the relevant information. It will certainly help you to understand geography for UPSC Prelims as well as Mains. 

Tips to make Geography for UPSC fun and easy to understand: 

Know what information you need to understand: 

• Do the most important thing first. So that you know exactly what to learn from your UPSC study material.  
• Read the UPSC syllabus multiple times.  
• After starting with the NCERTs, progress to higher-level books. 

Be familiar with the question paper format: 

Examine the Geography from the Previous year’s UPSC Question Papers, learn from them, and incorporate what you have learned into your strategy. Knowing how the UPSC sets the papers will help you avoid surprises in the exam hall. 

Bring what you read to live: 

Every day, you will read about geographical phenomena in the news. Relate what you have learned in class to the natural disaster or phenomenon. Prepare for current events as well, as this will help you understand what is going on around you. Current events have a lot of geography in them these days. 

Importance of Geography in History, Economics, and a variety of other topics: 

Geography is closely linked to the history, culture, economy, and socio-political situation of a region. A good example of this is to identify which countries produce oil; you simply need to examine the socio-political conditions in that area. Both geography and anthropology are strongly linked. In other words, climates directly influence cultures, styles of dress, etc. 

Geography Syllabus for UPSC: 

The nine-word Prelims Geography syllabus focuses solely on the Geography of India and the World. This is a fair assessment. This brief may make the exam sound complicated, detailed, and frightening but you don’t need to be concerned about this. 

In an ideal world, most of our geographic knowledge would be condensed into these nine words.  

The solution is included in the syllabus for the UPSC Mains Exam. Over 45% of the General Studies paper is made up of three main points, all of which account for nearly 50% of the total. These three main points are: 

• Main geographical features of the world 
• Diversification of critical natural resources 
• Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, and so on are critical geophysical phenomena. 

As a result, to prepare for the geography portion of the main exam, you should concentrate on learning and memorizing all of the topics on the exam’s syllabus. Because focusing on mains will prepare you for prelims, this method will allow you to prepare for both at the same time. 

We must not make the mistake of failing to attempt the previous year’s question papers. For both the Mains and Prelims Exam, all applicants must attempt papers from the previous five years. This improves our understanding of the curriculum and makes us more aware of the questions that will be asked on the test. Furthermore, the exam papers assist us in determining which topics we need to investigate in addition to the syllabus, as well as the degree of focus we must place on those relevant issues.  

While considering the three major geographical areas, I would like to draw your attention to the topics being discussed:  

• Having a thorough understanding of the Atlas. Many topics related to the demography, direction, oceans, continents, and everything else are covered in depth. 

• Knowing how the land is shaped: the earthquakes, the wave shadow, the volcanic eruptions, the composition of the earth, plate tectonics, marine landforms, and coastlines. 
• Planetary system: When viewed in context to the Earth. 
• Climatic Regions: The Mediterranean (tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn, equator), and why climate varies. 
• The ocean has a wide variety of topics such as temperature, salinity, ocean currents, coral reefs, tides, and so on. 
• The distribution of natural resources across the world is linked to economic geography. 

• The countries of India, including the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland, India’s natural vegetation, India monsoons, etc 
• Indian Weather, Rainfall, Crops, and Soil 
• Although there are numerous different types of irrigation systems, there are just two major river systems: the Indus and the Ganges. 
• The resources and industries of India are derived from minerals. 

To learn about Geography for UPSC, there are some main subjects you should know about. Other relevant issues may also be discovered while you are preparing for these topics. Additionally, divert your attention toward these sectional topics. 

Booklist for Geography Syllabus For UPSC: 

1. Geographical Thought by R. D. Dixit 
2. Physical Geography by Ravindra Singh 
3. Models in Geography by Majid Hussain 
4. Cities, Urbanisation & Urban Systems (Settlement Geography) by K.Siddhartha 
5. Human Geography by Majid Hussain 
6. Fundamentals of Geographical Thought by Sudeepta Adhikari 
7. India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R. Khullar   

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the key topics to focus on while preparing Geography for UPSC exams?

Answer: The UPSC Geography syllabus covers a wide range of topics. Focus on physical geography (like landforms, climate, and natural disasters), human geography (population, migration, and urbanization), and Indian geography (physical, economic, and social aspects). Additionally, stay updated on current events related to geography.

How should I approach map-based questions in the UPSC Geography paper?

Answer: Practice is crucial for map-based questions. Regularly practice locating countries, cities, rivers, and mountain ranges on maps. Understand the political and physical geography of different regions. Use atlases and online resources to enhance your map-reading skills.

What is the role of current affairs in Geography preparation for UPSC exams?

Answer: Current affairs play a significant role in UPSC Geography preparation. Stay updated on geographical events, environmental issues, and geopolitical developments globally and within India. Relate current events to the topics mentioned in the syllabus to enhance your understanding and application during the exam.

How can I integrate map studies with theoretical concepts while preparing for the UPSC Geography optional paper?

Answer: Combine theoretical knowledge with practical map studies. While studying topics like climate, agriculture, or industry, visualize the geographical locations and understand their significance on the map. This approach helps in better comprehension and retention of information, making it easier to answer both theoretical and map-based questions.

What are some effective time management strategies for Geography preparation in the UPSC exams?

Answer: Develop a well-structured timetable allocating specific time slots to different geography topics. Prioritize areas that you find challenging, ensuring balanced coverage across physical, human, and Indian geography. Regularly practice answer writing to improve speed and accuracy, and take mock tests to simulate exam conditions and assess your time management skills.

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