Geography Optional Syllabus

Here is the official UPSC Geography Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.

Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Notif-CSP-2026-Engl-060226Rev.pdf, pp. 65–67), upsc.gov.in. The syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.

Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Paper I: Principles of Geography, in two parts – Physical Geography (5 units) and Human Geography (5 units). Paper II: Geography of India (10 units), which carries a compulsory map question on the subjects covered by the paper. Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each.

Syllabus at a glance

Paper	Unit	Topics
Paper I	1. Geomorphology	9
Paper I	2. Climatology	8
Paper I	3. Oceanography	8
Paper I	4. Biogeography	5
Paper I	5. Environmental Geography	6
Paper I	6. Perspectives in Human Geography	6
Paper I	7. Economic Geography	6
Paper I	8. Population and Settlement Geography	8
Paper I	9. Regional Planning	4
Paper I	10. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography	9
Paper II	1. Physical Setting	6
Paper II	2. Resources	3
Paper II	3. Agriculture	8
Paper II	4. Industry	5
Paper II	5. Transport, Communication and Trade	3
Paper II	6. Cultural Setting	6
Paper II	7. Settlements	4
Paper II	8. Regional Development and Planning	6
Paper II	9. Political Aspects	4
Paper II	10. Contemporary Issues	9

Paper I

Principles of Geography: Physical Geography

1. Geomorphology

1.1 Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces

• Factors controlling landform development
• Endogenetic forces
• Exogenetic forces

1.2 Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; physical conditions of the earth’s interior

• Origin and evolution of the crust
• Earth’s interior

1.3 Fundamentals of geomagnetism

1.4 Geosynclines; continental drift; isostasy; plate tectonics

• Geosynclines
• Continental drift
• Isostasy
• Plate tectonics

1.5 Recent views on mountain building

1.6 Volcanicity; earthquakes and tsunamis

• Volcanicity
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis

1.7 Concepts of geomorphic cycles and landscape development; denudation chronology

• Geomorphic cycles
• Landscape development
• Denudation chronology

1.8 Channel morphology; erosion surfaces; slope development

• Channel morphology
• Erosion surfaces
• Slope development

1.9 Applied geomorphology: geohydrology, economic geology and environment

• Geohydrology
• Economic geology
• Environment

2. Climatology

2.1 Temperature and pressure belts of the world; heat budget of the earth

• Temperature and pressure belts
• Heat budget

2.2 Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability

• Atmospheric circulation
• Stability and instability

2.3 Planetary and local winds; monsoons and jet streams

• Planetary winds
• Local winds
• Monsoons
• Jet streams

2.4 Air masses and fronts; temperate and tropical cyclones

• Air masses
• Fronts
• Temperate cyclones
• Tropical cyclones

2.5 Types and distribution of precipitation; hydrological cycle

• Types and distribution of precipitation
• Hydrological cycle

2.6 Weather and climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climate

• Koppen
• Thornthwaite
• Trewartha

2.7 Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes

2.8 Applied climatology and urban climate

• Applied climatology
• Urban climate

3. Oceanography

3.1 Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans

• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Pacific Ocean

3.2 Temperature and salinity of the oceans; heat and salt budgets

• Temperature
• Salinity
• Heat and salt budgets

3.3 Ocean deposits

3.4 Waves, currents and tides

• Waves
• Currents
• Tides

3.5 Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources

• Biotic
• Mineral
• Energy

3.6 Coral reefs, coral bleaching

• Coral reefs
• Coral bleaching

3.7 Sea-level changes

3.8 Law of the sea and marine pollution

• Law of the sea
• Marine pollution

4. Biogeography

4.1 Genesis of soils; classification and distribution of soils; soil profile

• Genesis of soils
• Classification and distribution
• Soil profile

4.2 Soil erosion, degradation and conservation

• Soil erosion
• Degradation
• Conservation

4.3 Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals

• Plants
• Animals

4.4 Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; social forestry; agro-forestry

• Deforestation and conservation
• Social forestry
• Agro-forestry

4.5 Wild life; major gene pool centres

• Wild life
• Gene pool centres

5. Environmental Geography

5.1 Principles of ecology; human ecological adaptations; influence of man on ecology and environment

• Principles of ecology
• Human ecological adaptations
• Influence of man

5.2 Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances

5.3 Ecosystem, their management and conservation; environmental degradation, management and conservation

• Ecosystem management and conservation
• Environmental degradation, management and conservation

5.4 Biodiversity and sustainable development

• Biodiversity
• Sustainable development

5.5 Environmental policy; environmental education and legislation

• Environmental policy
• Environmental education
• Environmental legislation

5.6 Environmental hazards and remedial measures

Principles of Geography: Human Geography

6. Perspectives in Human Geography

6.1 Areal differentiation; regional synthesis

• Areal differentiation
• Regional synthesis

6.2 Dichotomy and dualism; environmentalism

• Dichotomy and dualism
• Environmentalism

6.3 Quantitative revolution and locational analysis

6.4 Radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches

• Radical
• Behavioural
• Human
• Welfare

6.5 Languages, religions and secularisation; cultural regions of the world

• Languages
• Religions and secularisation
• Cultural regions of the world

6.6 Human development index

7. Economic Geography

7.1 World economic development: measurement and problems

7.2 World resources and their distribution; energy crisis; the limits to growth

• World resources
• Energy crisis
• Limits to growth

7.3 World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity

• Typology of agricultural regions
• Agricultural inputs and productivity

7.4 Food and nutrition problems; food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies

• Food and nutrition problems
• Food security
• Famine

7.5 World industries: locational patterns and problems

7.6 Patterns of world trade

8. Population and Settlement Geography

8.1 Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes

• Growth and distribution
• Demographic attributes

8.2 Causes and consequences of migration

8.3 Concepts of over-, under- and optimum population; population theories

• Over-, under- and optimum population
• Population theories

8.4 World population problems and policies; social well-being and quality of life; population as social capital

• Population problems and policies
• Social well-being and quality of life
• Population as social capital

8.5 Types and patterns of rural settlements; environmental issues in rural settlements

• Types and patterns of rural settlements
• Environmental issues in rural settlements

8.6 Hierarchy of urban settlements; urban morphology; primate city and rank-size rule

• Hierarchy of urban settlements
• Urban morphology
• Primate city and rank-size rule

8.7 Functional classification of towns; sphere of urban influence; rural-urban fringe; satellite towns

• Functional classification of towns
• Sphere of urban influence
• Rural-urban fringe
• Satellite towns

8.8 Problems and remedies of urbanization; sustainable development of cities

• Problems and remedies of urbanization
• Sustainable development of cities

9. Regional Planning

9.1 Concept of a region; types of regions and methods of regionalisation

• Concept of a region
• Types of regions
• Methods of regionalisation

9.2 Growth centres and growth poles

9.3 Regional imbalances; regional development strategies

• Regional imbalances
• Regional development strategies

9.4 Environmental issues in regional planning; planning for sustainable development

• Environmental issues in regional planning
• Planning for sustainable development

10. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography

10.1 System analysis in human geography

10.2 Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models

• Malthusian
• Marxian
• Demographic transition

10.3 Central place theories of Christaller and Losch

10.4 Perroux and Boudeville

• Perroux
• Boudeville

10.5 Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location

10.6 Weber’s model of industrial location

10.7 Rostow’s model of stages of growth

10.8 Heartland and Rimland theories

• Heartland
• Rimland

10.9 Laws of international boundaries and frontiers

Paper II

Geography of India

1. Physical Setting

1.1 Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries

1.2 Structure and relief; physiographic regions

• Structure and relief
• Physiographic regions

1.3 Drainage system and watersheds

1.4 Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns; tropical cyclones and western disturbances

• Indian monsoon
• Rainfall patterns
• Tropical cyclones
• Western disturbances

1.5 Floods and droughts; climatic regions

• Floods and droughts
• Climatic regions

1.6 Natural vegetation; soil types and their distributions

• Natural vegetation
• Soil types

2. Resources

2.1 Land, surface and ground water resources

• Land
• Surface water
• Ground water

2.2 Energy and mineral resources; energy crisis

• Energy
• Minerals
• Energy crisis

2.3 Biotic and marine resources; forest and wild life resources and their conservation

• Biotic
• Marine
• Forest
• Wild life

3. Agriculture

3.1 Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power

• Irrigation
• Seeds
• Fertilizers
• Power

3.2 Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms

• Land holdings
• Land tenure
• Land reforms

3.3 Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability

• Cropping pattern
• Agricultural productivity
• Agricultural intensity
• Crop combination
• Land capability

3.4 Agro and social-forestry

3.5 Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications

3.6 Significance of dry farming

3.7 Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua-culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry

• Livestock and white revolution
• Aqua-culture
• Sericulture
• Apiculture
• Poultry

3.8 Agricultural regionalisation; agro-climatic zones; agro-ecological regions

• Agricultural regionalisation
• Agro-climatic zones
• Agro-ecological regions

4. Industry

4.1 Evolution of industries

4.2 Locational factors of industries: cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertiliser, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based

• Cotton and textile
• Jute
• Iron and steel
• Aluminium
• Fertiliser
• Paper
• Chemical and pharmaceutical
• Automobile
• Cottage and agro-based

4.3 Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; industrial regionalisation

• Industrial houses and complexes
• Industrial regionalisation

4.4 New industrial policy; multinationals and liberalisation; Special Economic Zones

• New industrial policy
• Multinationals and liberalisation
• Special Economic Zones

4.5 Tourism including eco-tourism

5. Transport, Communication and Trade

5.1 Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their role in regional development

• Road
• Railway
• Waterway
• Airway
• Pipeline

5.2 Ports; trade balance; trade policy; export processing zones

• Ports
• Trade balance
• Trade policy
• Export processing zones

5.3 Developments in communication and information technology; Indian space programme

• Communication and IT
• Indian space programme

6. Cultural Setting

6.1 Historical perspective of Indian society; racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities

• Historical perspective
• Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities
• Religious minorities

6.2 Major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions

• Tribes and tribal areas
• Cultural regions

6.3 Growth, distribution and density of population

6.4 Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity

• Sex-ratio
• Age structure
• Literacy
• Work-force
• Dependency ratio
• Longevity

6.5 Migration and associated problems

• Inter-regional
• Intra-regional
• International

6.6 Population problems and policies; health indicators

• Population problems and policies
• Health indicators

7. Settlements

7.1 Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements

7.2 Urban developments; morphology of Indian cities; functional classification of Indian cities

• Urban developments
• Morphology of Indian cities
• Functional classification of cities

7.3 Conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl

• Conurbations and metropolitan regions
• Urban sprawl

7.4 Slums and associated problems; town planning; problems of urbanisation and remedies

• Slums
• Town planning
• Problems of urbanisation

8. Regional Development and Planning

8.1 Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans

• Regional planning in India
• Five Year Plans

8.2 Integrated rural development programmes

8.3 Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning; multi-level planning

• Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning
• Multi-level planning

8.4 Command area development; watershed management

• Command area development
• Watershed management

8.5 Planning for backward, desert, drought-prone, hill and tribal area development

• Backward areas
• Desert
• Drought-prone
• Hill
• Tribal areas

8.6 Regional planning and development of island territories

9. Political Aspects

9.1 Geographical basis of Indian federalism; state reorganisation; emergence of new states

• Indian federalism
• State reorganisation
• New states

9.2 Regional consciousness and inter-State issues

9.3 International boundary of India and related issues; cross-border terrorism

• International boundary
• Cross-border terrorism

9.4 India’s role in world affairs; geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm

• India’s role in world affairs
• Geopolitics of South Asia
• Indian Ocean realm

10. Contemporary Issues

10.1 Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics

• Landslides
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Floods and droughts
• Epidemics

10.2 Issues related to environmental pollution; environmental impact assessment and management

• Environmental pollution
• Environmental impact assessment and management

10.3 Changes in land use; deforestation, desertification and soil erosion; environmental degradation

• Land use change
• Deforestation
• Desertification
• Soil erosion

10.4 Population explosion and food security

10.5 Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest

10.6 Regional disparities in economic development

10.7 Sustainable growth and development; environmental awareness

• Sustainable growth and development
• Environmental awareness

10.8 Linkage of rivers

10.9 Globalisation and Indian economy

Note (as in the syllabus): Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects covered by this paper.

Total: 123 numbered topics across 20 units.

Last updated: 30 October 2026