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Trend Analysis of Physical Geography (India and World)

The Civil Services (Main) Examination Syllabus is mentioned as: 

• Salient features of the world's physical geography.

• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

However, students sometimes fail to understand the sub-topics need to be read while preparing for the subject. 

Hence, hereby providing the list of sub-topics:

Geomorphology

• Origin of Earth

• Age of the Earth

• The Earth and the Universe - Exploring the Universe

• The theory of Continental drift

• Plate Tectonics

• Paleo- Magnetism

• Earth’s interior

• Earth’s endogenetic and exogenetic forces

• Volcanism and earthquakes- seismic waves

• Mountain, Plains and Plateau building

• Theory of Isostasy

• Weathering and Erosion

• Drainage System and Patterns Running Water (River) and Fluvial Landforms

• Groundwater and Karst Topography

• Continental and ocean basins

• Coastal Geomorphology 

Climatology

• Composition of the Atmosphere

• Structure of the Atmosphere

• Factors Affecting Climate

• Temperature

• Pressure

• Factors Affecting Wind Motion

• Planetary winds

• Local winds

• Jet streams

• El-Nino and La Nina

• Process of Condensation

• Forms of Precipitation

• Indian Monsoon

• Air Mass

• Fronts

• Cyclones

• Thunderstorms

Oceanography

• Ocean Bottom relief

• Temperature and salinity of ocean waters

• Types and causes of ocean currents

• Tides

• Coral Reefs

• Mangroves

• Ocean resources

Bio-geography

• Soil Characteristic

• Factors Responsible for Soil Formation

• Stages of soil Formation

• Soil Forming Processes

• Soil Profiles and Horizons

• Soil Classification

• Soil Erosion and Conservation

• Major Biomes of the World

• Social Forestry

• Agro-Forestry

Geography of India

• Location

• Main characteristics of Himalayas

• Main characteristics of Plains

• Main characteristics of Peninsular India

• Major relief features and rivers of India

• Comparison of the Himalayan rivers and peninsular rivers

• Climatic variations in India

• Factors which influence the climate of different parts of India

• Concept of monsoon

• Land, soil and vegetation resources of India

Trend Analysis of Physical Geography (India and World)

How to Prepare:

For the preparation of this topic, students need to refer to the following books apart from the books which you have already read in Prelims:

1. Geography of India by Majid Hussain

2. Geography of India by Savindra Singh

3. Fundamentals of Physical Geography by Uttarakhand University

4. Physical Geography by Rai University

5. Orient Black Swan Atlas 

Note: In IASHELPDESK we are providing the books, reports, videos, editorials and questions at one stop so that a student may concentrate on the attainment of knowledge rather than busy accessing the different sources.