IAS Examination Syllabus : Geography

Section-A (Physical Georgraphy)
• Geomorphology
  Origin of the earth; Geological Time Scale; Interior of the earth; Types and characteristics of rocks; Folding and Faulting; Volcanoes; Earthquakes; Weathering; Landforms caused by fluvial, aeolian and glacial actions.
• Climatology
  Structure and composition of atmosphere; Temperature; Pressure belts and Wind systems; Clouds and rainfall types; Cyclones and anti-cyclones; Major climatic types.
• Oceanography
  Ocean relief; Temperature; Salinity; Ocean deposits; Ocean currents, El Nino and La Nino; Waves and tides.
• Biogeography
  Origin and types of soils; Major biomes of the world; Ecosystem and food chain; Environmental degradation and conservation.

Section-B (Human Geography)
• Man and Environment Relationship
  Growth and development of Human Geography; Concepts of Determinism and Possibilism.
• Population
  Races of mankind and tribes; growth and distribution of world population; migration; population problems of developed and developing countries.
• Economic Activities
  Food gathering and hunting; pastoral herding; fishing and forestry; Types of agriculture-shifting, subsistence, commercial and plantation; Mining, Power; Manufacturing -locational factors of textile, iron and steel, sugar and fertilizer industries; Tertiary activities-trade, transport, communication and services.
• Settlements
  Origin, types and patterns of rural settlements; Processes of urbanisation; morphology and functional classification of towns; million-cities and mega-cities.

Section-C (Geography of the World)
• Major Natural Regions : Characteristics, economic base and human adaptation.
• Regional Geography of Developed Countries : Canada, U.S.A., Western Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
• Regional Geography of Developing Countries : S.E. Asia, S.W. Asia, China, Southern Africa and Brazil.
• Regional Geography of South Asia.

Section-D (Geography of India)
• Physical Setting
  Landforms, drainage, climate, soils and natural vegetation.
• Economic Base
  Minerals & energy resources, aquatic resources, forest resources; irrigation, agriculture and industries; trade and commerce.
• Population
  Growth, distribution and density; demographic characteristics.
• Environmental problems, developmental issues and regional planning.

Section-E (Geographical Thought)
• Ancient Period : Contributions of Indians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs.
• Pre-Modern Period : Contribution of Verenius, Kant, Humboldt and Ritter.
• Modern Period : Dichotomy of determinism and possibilism; contributions of Ratzel, Semple, Huntington and La Blache.
• Recent Period : Quantitive Revolution; Radicalism, Behaviouralism and Humanism.

Section-F (Techniques of Geographical Analysis)
• Maps : Scale and types, uses.
• Diagrams : Types and uses
• Projections : Types, characteristics and uses.
• Remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) : Aerial photographs and imagery, GIS.