Ever since I cleared the UPSC Civil Services exam, I have had a lot of queries from candidates regarding the world geography UPSC paper. The most recurring of these queries have been regarding the mains optional paper. So here I pen down my experience with this subject as an optional and my strategy to ace it.
1. Why Geography for UPSC Should be Your Subject Of Choice?
A very crucial step while filling the UPSC form is the right selection of the optional subject. You will have numerous people offering all kinds of diverse advice. I too was caught in this rumble when choosing the Optional and after much deliberation, I chose geography for UPSC. My reasons were simple:
Vast Amount of Information both Online and Offline.
There is an abundance of reading material on this optional subject, as this has been one of the most chosen subjects for the Mains exam. The easy availability means that you do not have to waste precious time searching and collecting the material.
Less Time Consuming
Major portions are already covered in GS. Since a major portion of the Mains syllabus has already been covered during the prelims, you will find yourself reading the same topics again. Repeated reading will help increase retention of key terms and concepts.
Connected to Other Subjects.
While most subjects of the exam are interconnected, none enjoys the commanding position of world geography for UPSC. You will find that it is related to the environment, international relations, current affairs, ecology and even economics to some extent.
World Geography UPSC Paper is Interesting to Read and Very Scoring
There is never a dull moment when studying geography for UPSC. It is fairly easy to understand and aspirants from science as well as humanities backgrounds will be able to comprehend it comfortably. Also, it is very scoring given its largely technical nature.
Also Read: 6 Best Optional Subjects in UPSC: Guide to Choose Most Scoring Non-technical Subjects
Understanding The Syllabus
The geography for UPSC syllabus consists of Physical, Human and Indian geography. While the first two form a part of Paper I, Indian geography is a part of Paper-II.
- Physical geography consists of technical topics that require more understanding than memorizing. Topics like Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography etc., are static in nature and just require a basic understanding of the physical world.
Therefore, if the concept is clear to you, you can answer any question easily. So you either know it or you don’t, there is no scope for bluffing here.
- Human geography is very theoretical and requires mugging up. Topics like Models Theories and Laws in Human geography, Population and Settlement Geography, Economic geography can be extensive and very time-consuming.
Example:
Economic geography requires you to know the patterns of world trade, world agriculture etc., while for Population geography you need to have an understanding of migration patterns, population problems and policies of various countries, among other things. This makes the subject dynamic as well as vast.
Paper-II focuses on Indian geography and is one of the scoring parts. It requires being familiar with the Indian setting, including the physical aspects, agriculture, settlements, transport etc. A lot of it is already covered while studying for Prelims which is a big advantage in the Mains stage. You must be aware of the UPSC syllabus for scoring well.
Books Which are Most Useful for World Geography for UPSC
There is no dearth of reading material for this subject. In fact, one is bombarded with the amount of information that is available. While this is a good scenario from the point of view of an exam, the downside is that one tends to drown in this sea of knowledge.
Therefore it is very important to figure out the sources you want to read and stick to them. I am listing here the books that I referred to but I strongly believe that one must take a look at all books and choose the one which appeals to you in terms of the language, content and presentation.
Also, pick out the relevant content from these books rather than reading the entire book.
Suitable Books for Paper I
- NCERT Books (Class 8-12). This is a MUST read.
- Certificate Physical and Human geography by GC Leong. This is a bible for aspirants and will be useful in both Prelims and Mains.
- Environmental geography by Savindra Singh
- Physical geography by Majid Hussain/ Savindra Singh. Both the books are good, you can choose the one that appeals more to you.
Suitable Books for Paper II
- Human Geography by Majid Hussain.
- Models In Geography – Majid Husain.
- Economic and Social Geography Made Simple by Rupa Publication.
- India a Comprehensive Geography by Kullar – This is good for the static portions of Indian geography.
- Down to Earth Magazine. This will help gain an insight into the current issues.
Also Read: Recent GI Tags in India 2020: Current Affairs Booster for UPSC Exam Preparations
The Tough and The Easy
Like all subjects this too is a mix of tough bits and easy parts. Although this too will vary from person to person but personally I found the following tough:
Paper I
Geomorphology, various Models and Theories. Off late there has been great stress on models and theories in the Mains Paper, especially the lesser-known ones. Remembering all of them was an onerous task for me. Repeated revisions of the important ones and frequent cursory readings of the less relevant theories is the key.
Paper II
There is an emphasis on regional planning and contemporary issues. This makes the paper very dynamic and hugely increases its scope. So the tough part here is not so much the content but rather the vastness of it. Remember to stick to the syllabus and limit your sources of information, so that you don’t get carried away.
The easy parts for me were Climatology and Oceanography. These two subjects are static in nature and also covered in GS. The conceptual nature makes these papers easy to understand and remember.
The Importance of A Test Series
Joining a good test series is very important, both for practice as well as testing your knowledge. A good test series on geography for UPSC can help you identify, rectify and strengthen your weak areas. Therefore choose your test series wisely. Solve as many tests as you can to get enough writing practice for the exam.
Do Not Ignore The Diagrams
Flow charts and diagrammatic representations are what made this even more interesting for me. It is a good idea to make your own diagrams rather than follow the ones in the books. I kept a diagram bank with me, which formed a major part of my geography revision notes. Even in my exam, I made diagrams for most questions.
Getting into the habit of drawing diagrams will also be useful for other papers too as it will improve your presentation.
Maps Section
For world geography in UPSC, you must always keep the atlas with you when studying for geography and refer to it at least a couple of times regardless of the topic you are studying. This way the information enters your subconscious and you will be surprised about the things you remember!
Also Read: What are Endogenic and Exogenic Forces? IAS Geography Notes
My Three Pearls of Wisdom
It would give me immense happiness if I can help a student in their preparation for this reputed exam. My advice, in a crux, for geography for UPSC optional paper to you would be:
- Always connect the static parts of contemporary events. This will keep you on track and help you combine the two aspects of this paper better. For example, the Bali Volcanic eruption can be connected to the Plate Tectonics Theory, the discovery of the N.Bhupathi frog can be linked to the Continental Drift Theory etc.
- The mapping section in Paper II is extremely scoring and must not be left at any cost. Get into the habit of referring to the atlas starting from your Prelims geography for UPSC preparation itself. Always be curious and look for the places you read about in current affairs on the map.
- Focus on the diagrams. I cannot stress the importance of this point enough! Diagrams are crucial to this subject and must not be ignored at any cost.
Conclusion
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Greatly helpful article for all students giving UPSC.
This blog was very helpful and informative for geography, can you also help with same kind of strategy that will be used for other subjects?