Geography is the only subject that is semi scientific in nature and suits the psyche and aptitude of science students most. Moreover, this is the only subject in the ‘Social’ segment that has the potential of scoring 350-395 marks in it. The science students, therefore, do not really have to get disheartened that they have to leave their subjects which had a potential of 350-395 marks.
As a result of the recent changes, the subject of Geography has become very scoring. This is because of:
Less Effort Required
The students will be required to answer three full answers (in all probability) from ten subjects. There will be many sections which the students can safely leave. For example, if the students intensively prepare geomorphology, climatology, niogeography in section A and population and settlement, economic and model and theory in section B, they can easily answer three full answers out of six subjects. The same will apply for the IInd paper as well.
Help in General Studies
The greatest advantages of the newly framed syllabus is the help it gives to the students, In any case, the student is not generally required to prepare Indian geography section of GS, but there is such a close correspondence between the Contemporary issues in the IInd paper geography and the new Current Affairs section of GS that the student is bound to get a leverage of 50 bonus marks additionally.
Labour will not go unrewarded
Some subjects are not so safe in the sense the even if the examination performance is very good, the candidate does not score good marks. This is not going to be so with geography because to prepare for the subject called geography one has to beat around the bush to collect material and once it has been done, then putting it on the examination paper will definitely call for appreciation from the examiner and consequently, one world get good marks.
Physical Geography :
Human Geography :
Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology; Concept of primate city and rank-size rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural-urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable development of cities.
Section—B
NOTE : Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects covered by this paper.
Syllabus Analysis
Candidate will have to answer five questions in all Q. No. 1 and 2 will be compulsory while the candidates will be required to answer three question choosing not more then two questions from either section.
Compulsory Questions :
The Paper-II will also reflect these changes. The typical setting of questions paper in the IInd paper will be :
Compulsory Questions.
A. Section
B. Section
How to prepare for Geography Syllabus
Since Geography is a conceptual, factual as well as analytical subject its preparation can be done by the students of science, social science as well as literature. Self-study is the best way to prepare for this examination. Although it is not simple, rather arduous process, it has many advantages. Self-study can be divided into various segments.
The preparation, actually, begins with getting to know about the topic. In Geography, this is a peculiar problem because of its multidisciplinary nature. Temperature my mean something else in physics but in geography its meaning will be very different. Similarly, biotic succession, tides, corals, economic development, human evolution, slums all will have different meaning in their respective subjects but will have an entirely different meaning in geography. Thus, a candidate has to know the limits within which one has to define the topic.
The second stage of preparation concerns itself with mastering the topic. This involves developing a concept and obtaining information. In this regard, nothing helps as much as reading good books. The essential ingredient of a good book is systematic analysis of topics, organized and structured representation, greater emphasis on illustrations, a geographical language and to the point dealing. Avoid any book that has lot of redundancy.
Your first step for self-preparation is the choice of books. The choice of books in a sense reflects the personality of candidate. Book of foreign authors are to costly and written in an analytical manner, but without Indian examples. There are many Indian authors who have tried to incorporate Indian examples with valuable information the their applied part in Indian context. Therefore, the students should be on the look out for any new and updated publication which would enrich their answers and depend not only on the traditions books.
Trend of questions asked
In Paper-I, two compulsory questions will be asked :
The four short notes that are asked are drawn almost equally from physical and human geography sections.
Out of three full answers, one has to answer questions drawn from physical and human geography sections, i.e., geomorphology, climatology, oceanography, biogeography, environmental geography population and settlement, economic Geography, Models and Theories and perspective on human geography. To be on the safer side of the preparation, one has to pick up these five sections (out of ten) and prepare them comprehensively. The five sections can be in any other combination as well.
In the second paper, the two compulsory questions will be on the locational aspects of India and a short note. For the long answers in the second paper, physical setting resources and agriculture and industry can be considered as one section and the rest of its as the second section. Here, questions will be equally asked from these two sections.
More important than these two aspects, however, is writing answers. There are three types of answers required in Civil Services-one for the short notes, one for the long answer in the first paper and an entirely different approach in the second paper.
Preparing short notes for the first paper
In the first paper, the short notes are put exactly in the same manner as they are in the syllabus. For example sea floor spreading, jet stream, ocean bottoms relief, demographic transition, limits to growth, rank size rule, etc. When short note are asked in this manner one should put everything. The topic should be composed of in an organized manner. The contents and the structure are what the examiner will be looking for in the answer. If you have been asked a short note on sea floor spreading then the components and organization will be in the following manner :
Similarly a short note on earth quakes will comprise of :
How to write long answers
There are three things the examiner is looking for in your answer.
The greatest emphasis is given on the organization of thinking. The heart of the matter is that the more organised your thing is the better concepts you have. Knowledge is least significant in this respect and last in the priority. How organized your thinking is best reflected in how well structured your answer is.
How to answer questions for the second paper
The second paper is completely a different ball game than the first paper. This is because of many reasons. They are :
Since the questions asked in the second paper are not always from a single topic, the preparation also requires a different strategy. The best way to prepare the second paper is writing short notes on each and every topic. This will have two advantages.
This correlationship will lead to a better analysis and will enable students to make better conclusion.
Deciphering meaning of questions
You must specifically know what all you are being asked.
How to mark location on the map
How to choose a good book
There are certain things you should look for in a good book :
It is remarkable that not many foreign authors and their books have been mentioned. Most of these books published in North America and Europe cater to the needs of the students in their own countries rather that in India. These books, therefore, fail to give any orientation to the students as far as civil services examination is concerned.
Some books written by Indian authors may not also fulfil these requirements. Most books are oriented toward the university examination. The pattern of these examinations is completely different and most of the times opposite to that of civil services examination. Essentially you have to prepare answers from these books.
Writing stereotyped answers with obsolete information and rudimentary illustrations will only spoil your attempt. To stands apart from the crowd your answer has to be novel (not radical), with a contemporary perspective (not traditional) and an approach that is multidimensional (not geographical). Thus, you should go for books written not only by geographers but also by environmentalist, economists and rationalists.
A word of caution
It must be noted that students who prepare for the civil services examination in some coaching institutes may not find that these titles in the list of books recommended by the institutes. Most of the institutes do not the best books available because they themselves teach from these books and suggesting those books would amount to losing their so-called exclusivity. Do not show haste in buying books. Go step by step.
Beginning the study of Books
The best way to begin the subject is start reading the books one had studied in IX and X standard in school. Although many people do not realize its importance but this alone can make a great difference in comprehending the subject. In the second stage, one should acquaint oneself with some locational aspects in the world and India. Then the students should begin systematically with the syllabus, starting in the following sequence : Human geography-economic geography-settlement geography-political geography-geomorphology-climatology oceanography-soils and vegetation-ecosystem and geographical thought. For Indian geography, follow the topics exactly in the manner given in the syllabus.
General Topics and Their Source
|
Sr. |
New Topics |
The best available source |
|
1 |
Factors controlling land-form development |
The Earth’s Dynamic Surface by K. Siddhartha |
|
2 |
Applied Geomorphology |
Geomorphology by W.D. Thornbury |
|
3 |
Climatic change |
Atmosphere, Weather and Climate by K. Siddhartha |
|
4 |
Sea-level changes |
Oceanography A brief Introduction by K. Siddhartha |
|
5 |
Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals |
Themes in Biogeography by A.J. Taylor |
|
6 |
Problems of deforestation and conservation measures |
The Global Ecology Handbook |
|
7 |
Global warming |
The Global Ecology Handbook |
|
8 |
Reduction in bio-diversity |
The Global Ecology Handbook |
|
9 |
Areal differentiation |
Geography its History and Concepts : Arild Holt Jensen. |
|
10 |
Regional synthesis |
Geography its History and Concepts : Arild Holt Jensen. |
|
11 |
Dichotomy and dualism |
Geography its History and Concepts : Arild Holt Jensen. |
|
12 |
Environmentalism |
Evolution of Geographical Thought by Majid Hussain. |
|
13 |
Locational analysis |
Geography its History and Concepts : Arild Holt Jensen. |
|
14 |
Radical approaches |
Perspectives in Geography Harvey and Holley. |
|
15 |
Behavioural approaches |
Geography for Preliminary Examination, Volume I, By K. Siddhartha. |
|
16 |
Human approaches |
Perspectives in Geography Harvey and Holley. |
|
17 |
Welfare approach |
Perspectives in Geography Harvey and Holley. |
|
18 |
Human development indicators |
World Development Report (UN) |
|
19 |
Urban sprawl |
Principles of Population Studies by Bhende and Kanitkar. |
Suggested Reading List
Some Dos
Some Don’ts