The first basic step towards success in UPSC CSE is understanding the Syllabus followed by understanding the nature of questions. I have focused on these two aspects in this post.

Watch these videos

Prelims syllabus

• Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and World

Mains Syllabus

• Salient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• 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.

Topic wise breakup of syllabus

Physical Geography

Geomorphology

• Earth’s Interior
• Tectonics

1. Continental Drift
2. Seefloor Spreading
3. Plaeomagnetism
4. Plate Tectonics

• Mountain Building [Orogeny]
• Physical Phenomena
• Earthquakes, Volcanoes, etc..
• Rocks
• Weathering & Erosion
• Erosional and depositional Landforms [No need to study in detail. Just 10-15 points under each heading]
• Fluvial landforms
• Glacial Landforms
• Marine Landforms
• Arid Landfroms
• Karst Landfroms

Climatology

• The Atmosphere
• Temperature Distribution
• Pressure systems and Wind systems
• Jet streams
• Airmasses
• Fronts
• Frontal Cyclones or Temperate Cyclones
• Humidity and Precipitation
• Geographical Phenomena
• Cyclones – Tropical and Temperate cyclones
• Climatic regions of the World

Oceanography

• Ocean relief
• Temperature Distribution
• Salinity
• Ocean Currents
• Tides
• Coral Bleeching
• Sea level change
• Marine pollution
• Laws related [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea etc..]

Biogeography and Environmental Geography

• Soil Profile
• Soil degradation and conservation
• Biotic regions [Topic closely related to Climatic regions of the world]
• Deforestation and Conservation of forests.
• Changes in critical geographical features – flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
• Environmental Pollution [Coincides with ‘Conservation, Environmental pollution …..’ topic of GS 3]

Physical Geography of India

• Topics 1-9 [Introduction to Environment] from India A Comprehensive Geography By Khullar [Don’t read from page to page. Read only necessary Headings]

Economic Geography

• Resource distribution
• Marine resources
• Water resources
• Agricultural resources
• Land resources
• Mineral and Non-mineral resources
• Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India). Mrunal.org articles
• For India Economic Geography
• Selective Headings from Kullar
• Ex: Water resources, Land utilization, Green Revolution, Mineral and Energy resources etc..
• Topics of GS 3 like Cropping Pattern, Irrigation Topics can be studied from Kullar.

Prelims Syllabus Analysis

Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and World

Booklist

• Multiple books for each subject means too much burden on your pocket as well as brain.
• So less books, more revision, more practice tests is the key.

Analysis of books for Geography (GS) Prelims and Mains

Contents form different books.
Physical Geography Paperback by Savindra Singh	Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong		SPECTRUM GEOGRAPHY by Spectrum’s
Nature of Physical Geography Lithosphere (Geomorphology) Origin of the Earth Age of the Earth Structure of the Earth’s Interior Continents and Ocean Basins Theory of Isostasy Earth’s Movements Rocks Vulcanicty and Volcanoes Earthquakes Mountain Building Plateau Plains Lakes Weathering and Mass Movements Cycle of Erosion, Rejuvenation and Polycyclic Relief Drainage System and Patterns Running Water (River) and Fluvial Landforms Groundwater and Karst Topography Sea Waves and Coastal Landforms Wind and Aeolian Landforms Glaciers and Glaciated Topography Periglaical Processes and Landforms HYDROSPHERE (OCEANOGRAPHY) Reliefs of Ocean Basins Temperature of the Ocean Water Salinity Ocean Deposits Ocean Tides Ocean Currents Coral Reefs and Atolls Marine Resources ATMOPHERE (CLIMATOLOGY) Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere Insolation and Heat Budget Temperature Air Pressure and Atmospheric Circulation Humidity and Precipitation Air Masses Frontogenesis, Cyclones and Anticyclones Classification of Climates and Climate Types BIOSPHERE (BIOGEOGRAPHY) Biosphere Ecosystem and Ecology Biosphere: An Ecosystem Plant Community Animal Community Biomes Index	PART I PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY The Earth and the Universe 1 Exploring the Universe The Earth’s Crust Vulcanism and Earthquakes Weathering, Mass Movement and Groundwater Landforms made by Running Water Landforms of Glaciation Arid or Desert Landforms Limestone and Chalk Landforms Lakes 66 General, Coastal Landforms Islands and Coral Reefs The Oceans PART 2 WEATHER, CLIMATE AND VEGETATION Weather Climate The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate The Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates The Savanna or Sudan Climate The Hot Desert and Mid-Latitude Desert Cli-mates The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate The Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type) Climate The Cool Temperate Western Margin (British Type) Climate 23, The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin (Lauren-tian) Climate The Arctic or Polar Climate .		All the topics from the other two books present.
Advantages and Disadvantages of these books
Physical Geography Paperback by Savindra Singh	Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong	SPECTRUM GEOGRAPHY by Spectrum’s
Analysis
Degree book. Good for optional. Extensive coverage of PG	Meant for civil services. Good for GS and Optional	Meant for civil services. Good for GS Good to understand the syllabus of Optional
All topics of Physical Geography present	Most important topic of PG – Plate tectonics, See floor spreading, Continental drift etc.. Missing	All topics of Physical Geography present
Climatic regions not given enough empahasis	Climatic regions given great emphasis.	Climatic regions not explained properly
Langunage: Ok for beginner. 600 page book with only PG Lot of repetition of sentences	Langunage: Ok for beginner. 200 pages only	Language: tough for beginner. NCERT basics must before reading this book. 1000 pages All topics including Indian and Economic geography present.
Only PG No Indian Geo, Economic Geo. Must buy Kullar for Indian Geo	Only PG No Indian Geo, Economic Geo. Must buy Kullar for Indian Geo	Indian Geo present (But not explained in detail) Kullar is better for Indian Geo. Economic geo present (not given in enough detail. Should supplement with mrunal.org and internet)
Good for Prelims and Mains. But only PG	Good for Prelims Bad for Mains	Good for Prelims and Mains
The book is not revised as of 2014-15	The book is not revised as of 2014-15	The book is revised every year
India A Comprehensive Geography By Khullar
Very easy to understand All topics related to Indian Geography covered extensively. Book meant for Optional. So you need to be very choosy. 1000 page bulky book. But only 200 – 300 pages needed for General Studies

Also view analysis by mrunal.org

http://mrunal.org/2014/09/answerkey-csat-2014-geography.html

http://mrunal.org/2014/04/mains-answerkey-gs1-geography-2013-part-13-analysis-booklist-mains-2014-contiental-drift-hot-deserts-western-ghat-deltas-sample-answers-explaination.html

Personally I would recommend

• NCERT [must for basics]

• For Physical Geography: Spectrum’s Geography [Amazon and Flipkart], [Syllabus oriented topics only][]

• For climatic regions only: Certificate Physical and Human Geography [Amazon and Flipkart] (only last 50-60 pages of the book).

• For Indian Geography: If you buy Spectrum, you can look at Indian Geography topics and decide whether to buy INDIA A COMPREHENSIVE GEOGRAPHY by KHULLAR or not.

• For Economic Geography: org Notes by Mrunal and my own notes which I will be posting in few days

In simple words

• Buy Spectrum’s Geography only, complete relevant topics first and then decide whether to buy other books

Mains Syllabus Analysis

Physical Geography

Salient features of world’s physical geography.

Booklist

• NCERT [New is better] and must
• Spectrum’s Geography [Amazon andFlipkart],[Syllabus oriented topics only]Reference books

Or

• Physical geography by Savindra Singh [Amazon and Flipkart] [Syllabus oriented topics only]

Or

•  Certificate Physical and Human Geography [Amazon and Flipkart]

For Indian Geography

• Spectrum or Kullar

Economic Geography

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent);

factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

Booklist

http://mrunal.org/geography

I have compiled notes and I will be posting them on My blog http://www.pmfias.com/

Important Geophysical phenomena

Physical Geography

• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,

A combination of Physical geography, Climatology (Climate Change)

• 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.

Booklist

• Same as for Physical geography
• Current affairs play a major part here

Topicwise questions from 2013 and 2014 Mains Papers

• Some questions fall under multiple headings

Physical Geography of the World

• What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support.

Physical Geography of India

• There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why?
• Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats

Physical Geography – Climatology

• Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
• What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place?

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent);

• Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
• Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.
• How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
• With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.
• It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.

factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

• Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?
• Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification
• Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,

• Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
• The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?

geographical features and their location

• Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.
• Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.
• Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?

changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

• Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?
• Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
• Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.