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GEOGRAPHY NOTES

India and World Geography notes for UPSC | TNPSC

  1. Universe
  2. Evolution of universe- themes
  3. Galaxies
  4. Dark matter
  5. Stars
  6. Solar system
  7. The sun
  8. Planets
  9. Asteroids, asteroid belt, meteorites
  10. Black hole
  1. Earth
  2. Origin and evolution of earth
  3. Geological history of the earth
  4. Geological time scale
  5. Latitude and longitude
  6. Motions of the earth and their effects
  7. Inclination of earth’s axis and its effects
  8. Local and standard time
  9. Eclipses- solar and lunar
  10. Moon
  1. Interior structure of the Earth
  2. Source of information- direct and indirect
  3. Crust- continental vs ocean
  4. Mantle
  5. Core
  6. Rocks
  7. Rocks and landforms
  8. Rocks and soil
  9. Igneous rocks
  10. Sedimentary rocks
  11. Metamorphic rocks
  12. Rock cycle
  1. Earthquake
  2. Causes
  3. Waves and shadow zone
  4. Types of earthquake
  5. Effects
  6. Measuring of earthquake
  7. Earthquake zones in the world and India
  8. Volcanoes
  9. Concept of volcanicity
  10. Mechanism and causes of volcanism
  11. Volcanic landform: extrusive and intrusive
  12. Volcanism types based on flow of lava
  13. Hotspot volcanism
  14. World distribution of volcanoes
  15. Exogenic vs endogenic forces
  16. Diastrophism- epeirogenic and orogenic
  17. Folding, faulting and isostasy
  1. Continental Drift Theory (CDT)
  2. What is CDT
  3. Evidences in support
  4. Limitation of the theory Post Drift Studies
  5. Convectional current theory
  6. Seal floor spreading
  7. Paleomagnetism
  8. Mapping of the ocean floor Plate tectonics
  9. Major and minor plates
  10. Plate boundaries- divergent, convergent and transform
  11. What is plate tectonic theory?
  12. Rate of plate movements
  13. Force of plate movements
  14. Indian plate
  1. Mountains
  2. Fold mountains
  3. Block mountains
  4. Volcanic mountains
  5. Residual mountains
  6. Mountain vs hills
  7. Important mountain ranges across the world
  8. Significance of the mountains

Plateaus

  1. What is plateau?
  2. Intermountain plateaus
  3. Piedmont plateaus
  4. Continental plateaus
  5. Volcanic plateaus
  6. Dissected plateaus
  7. Significance of plateaus Plains
  8. Structural plain
  9. Erosional plain
  10. Depositional plain
  11. Significance of plains
  12. Rivers and lakes
  1. Landforms made by running water
  2. Course of river- youth, mature, old
  3. Erosional landform- valleys, potholes, meanders, river terraces etc.
  4. Depositional landforms- alluvial fans, deltas, floodplains, oxbow lakes etc.
  5. Landform made by groundwater
  6. Karst topography
  7. Erosional landforms- pools, sinkholes, lapis and limestone pavements, caves etc.
  8. Depositional landforms- stalactites, stalagmites and pillars Landform made by wind
  9. Erosional landforms- yardages, Eugen, playas, deflation hollows and caves, mushroom, table and pedestal rocks etc.
  10. Depositional landforms- ripples, loess, dunes, barchans, serif etc.
  11. Coastal Landforms
  12. Coastlines of emergence and submergence
  13. Erosional landforms: cliffs, terraces, caves and stacks
  14. Depositional landforms- beaches spit and bars etc.
  15. Landform made by glaciers
  16. Erosional landforms: cirques, horns, arêtes, glacial valleys, fiords etc.
  17. Depositional landforms: moraines, drumlin, eskers, glacial tills etc.
  18. Weathering
  19. Definition
  20. Factors
  21. Major process- chemical, physical and biological
  22. Significance of weathering
  1. Composition
  2. Gases
  3. Water vapour
  4. Dust particles etc.. Structure
  5. Exosphere
  6. Thermosphere
  7. Mesosphere
  8. Stratosphere
  9. Troposphere
  10. Altitude vs temperature Climate and weather
  11. Comparison between climate and weather
  12. Importance of climate and weather
  13. Factors affecting
  1. Solar Radiation
  2. Insolation
  3. Aphelion and perihelion
  4. Variability of insolation at the surface of the earth
  5. Short wave radiation and long wave radiation Heat balance
  6. Conduction, convection, advection
  7. Terrestrial radiation
  8. Heat budget
  9. Albedo
  10. Variation in the net heat budget at the earth surface Temperature
  11. Factor controlling temperature distribution
  12. Mean annual temperature distribution
  13. Seasonal temperature distribution
  14. Inversion of temperature- types and effects in weather
  1. Atmospheric pressure
  2. Vertical distribution
  3. Horizontal distribution
  4. World distribution of sea level pressure
  5. Pressure belts
  6. Equatorial low pressure belt
  7. Subtropical high pressure belt
  8. Sub-polar low pressure belt
  9. Polar high pressure belt
  10. Factors controlling pressure system
  11. Pressure belts in January and July Wind system
  12. Factors controlling the velocity and direction of the winds
  13. Permanent winds- trade winds, westerly’s, polar easterlies
  14. Secondary winds- monsoon, land breeze and sea breeze, valley breeze and mountain breeze Local winds
  1. Circulation
  2. Jet streams and its types
  3. Rossby waves
  4. Air masses
  5. Fronts and its formation
  6. Storm surge
  7. Thunderstorm
  8. Tornadoes
  9. Polar vertex and ozone hole Tropical and temperate cyclones
  10. Evolution and development
  11. Structure
  12. Distribution
  13. Naming of cyclones
  14. impact
  15. Anti-cyclones
  16. Comparison of tropical cyclones and temperate cyclones
  17. Recent cyclones
  1. Water in the atmosphere
  2. Water vapor
  3. Humidity- absolute and relative
  4. Condensation- dew, fog, frost, mist
  5. Smog- photochemical and sulfurous smog
  6. Miscellaneous Precipitation
  7. Clouds- development
  8. Clouds- cirrus, cumulus, stratus, nimbus
  9. High, middle and low clouds
  10. Precipitation- rainfall, snowfall, sleet, hail and hailstones
  11. Types of rainfall- convectional, orographic and cyclonic
  12. World distribution of rainfal
  1. World Climatic Regions
  2. The hot, wet equatorial climate
  3. Tropical monsoon and tropical marine climate
  4. Savanna or Sudan climate
  5. Hot desert and mid- latitude desert climate
  6. Mediterranean climate
  7. Steppe climate
  8. China type climate
  9. British type climate
  10. Siberian climate
  11. Laurentian climate
  12. Polar climate
  13. Focus on distribution, climatic condition
    (mainly rainfall and temperature) and Natural vegetation
  1. Parts of ocean
  2. Seas
  3. Peninsula
  4. Cape
  5. Gulf and bays
  6. Bights
  7. Straits
  8. Isthmus
  9. Miscellaneous
  10. Relief of the ocean floor
  11. Delusion of ocean floor- continental shelf, continental slope, deep sea plain and trenches
  12. Minor relief features- mid-oceanic ridges, sea mount, submarine canyons, guyouts, atoll etc
  1. Temperature and salinity
  2. Factors affecting
  3. Horizontal distribution
  4. Vertical distribution
  5. Density of ocean water
  6. Impact Coral reefs
  7. Coral reefs- introduction
  8. Conditions for the growth
  9. Coral islands
  10. Importance
  11. Distribution of coral reefs in India
  12. Coral bleaching Marine resources
  13. What are marine resources?
  14. Marine resources- minerals, biotic and energy resources
  15. Importance
  16. Challenges
  17. Concept of blue economy
  1. Waves and tides
  2. Factor influencing
  3. Motion of waves
  4. Characteristics of waves
  5. Tidal currents
  6. Types of tides
  7. Relationship between gravitational forces and tides
  8. Importance of tides Ocean currents
  9. Factors influencing ocean currents
  10. Characteristics
  11. Surface and deep water currents
  12. Cold and warm currents
  13. major ocean currents of the world
  14. Effects of ocean currents
  1. India : An Introduction
  2. Location
  3. Size
  4. Time zone
  5. States and union territories
  6. Political geography Physiography
  7. The Himalayas
  8. Indo Gangetic plain
  9. Peninsular plateau
  10. Thar desert
  11. Coastal plains
  12. The islands
  1. Classification of drainage system of India
  2. Himalayan rivers vs. Peninsular rivers
  3. Inland drainage, Bay of Bengal drainage and Arabian Sea drainage
  4. Seasonal vs Perennial rivers Drainage system in India
  5. Himalayan- Indus River System, Ganga River System and Brahmaputra river system
  6. Peninsular- Godavari, Krishna, carvery and Mahanadi river system
  7. Narmada and Tapi River System
  8. Small rivers flowing in particular states River regime
  9. Shifting course of rivers
  10. Interlinking of rivers
  11. River pollution
  12. Other Water Resources of India
  13. Lakes- types and lakes in India
  14. Groundwater and its depletion
  15. Inland water resources
  16. Conservation of water resources
  1. Factors affecting Indian Climate
  2. Latitudinal location
  3. Distance from the sea
  4. Himalayas
  5. Jet streams
  6. El Nino, La Nina, ENSO
  7. Physiography of India Indian Monsoon- Factors responsible
  8.  Tibetan plateau
  9. High pressure cell in South Indian Ocean
  10. Subtropical jet stream
  11. Inter Tropical convergence zone
  12. Somali Jet
  13. Walker cell
  14. Indian ocean dipole Indian Monsoon
  15. Nature of Indian Monsoon
  16. Mechanism of weather in winter and summers
  17. Monsoon winds of Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal
  18. Characteristics of Monsoonal rainfall
  19. Retreating monsoon
  20. rainfall distribution
  21. rainfall variability
  22. Winter rainfall
  23. Economic impact of monsoon
  24. Classification of the climatic regions of India
  25. Koppens scheme
  26. Thornthwaite’s scheme
  27. Treswartna’s scheme

Soil

  1. Soil characteristics
  2. Soil formation- factors, stages and process
  3. Soil profiles and horizons
  4. Soil classification
  5. Soil erosion and other problems
  6. Soil conservation

Soils of India-characteristics and distribution

  1. Alluvial soil
  2. Black soil
  3. Red and yellow soil
  4. Laterite soil
  5. Arid soil
  6. Saline soil
  7. Plateau soil
  8. Forest soil

Natural Vegetation

  1. Classification of forest- on basis of
    administration and leaf cover (open, dense etc.)
  2. Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest
  3. Tropical deciduous forest
  4. Thorn forest
  5. Montane forest
  6. Littoral and swamp forest
  7. Forestry
  8. Forest cover in India
  9. Grasslands

Agriculture

  1. Farming system
  2. Subsistence Farming
  3. Shifting Agriculture
  4. Plantation Agriculture
  5. Intensive farming
  6. Dry agriculture
  7. Mixed and multiple agriculture
  8. Terrace cultivation

Irrigation types- merits and demerits

  1. Well and tube well irrigation
  2. Canal irrigation
  3. Tank irrigation
  4. Drip irrigation
  5. Sprinkler irrigation
  6. Other types of irrigation- furrow surge, ditch seepage etc.
  7. Irrigation related issues

Land resource

  1. Agriculture regionalization
  2. Land use pattern
  3. Agriculture revolutions
  4. agricultural labours
  5. agricultural marketing
  6. agricultural census
  7. sustainable agriculture
  8. agriculture issues and challenges
  9. Agriculture intensity
  10. Agro climatic conditions of
    India
  11. Agricultural allied activities
  12. sericulture poultry farming dairy apiculture
    miscellaneous

Crops and Cropping Pattern

  1. Major crops in India (focus on conditions of
    growth, variety, production pattern,
    international trade etc. trade etc.)
  2. Major crops
    – Food crops- rice, wheat, maize,
    pulses, millets etc.
    – Plantation crops- coffee, tea, rubber,
    coconut etc.
  3. Cash crops- spices, tobacco, rubber, silk,
    jute, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton etc.
  4. Horticulture- Vegetables and fruits
    – other crops
  5. cropping seasons
  6. cropping pattern in India
  7. seeds and fertilizers
  8. Dry zone farming
  9. organic farming
  10. crop combinations
  11. contract farming
  12. crop concentration
  1. Minerals
  2. Mode of occurrence of minerals
  3. Agencies involved in the exploration of minerals
  4. International trade of minerals
  5. Conservation of mineral resources
  6. Significance Types of minerals
  7. Metallic- ferrous and non-ferrous
  8. Non-metallic
  9. Precious- gold, silver, platinum etc.
  10. Energy resources- coal, petroleum, natural gas etc. (Focus on distribution, production and international trade) Mineral belts in India
  11. North Eastern Plateau Region
  12. South Western Plateau region
  13. North Western Region

Classification of Industries

  1. Based on size- cottage, small scale and large
    scale
  2. Raw material based- agro, material
    chemical and forest based
  3. Product based- basic and consumer goods
  4. Ownership based- public sector, private
    sector and joint sector
  5. Important industries
  6. Iron and steel industry
  7. Textile Industry- cotton, silk, jute etc.
  8. Chemical industry
  9. Agro industry
  10. Manufacturing industry
  11. Footloose industries
  12. Other industries
    (Focus on locational factor, distribution and
    production, international trade, growth
    potential, recent trends and challenges)
  13. Industrial regionalization
  14. New industrial policy
  15. Special economic zones
  16. Liberalization of industries
  17. Tourism etc
  18. Transport, communication and trade
  19. Road transport
  20. Railways
  21. Water transport, ports
  22. Oceanic routes
  23. Air transport
  24. International trade routes
  25. Communication
  1. Demography
  2. Population distribution
  3. Factors of population distribution
  4. Population density pattern and trends
  5. Determinants of population growth
  6. Characteristics of population
  7. Theories of population growth
  8. Over population and under population
  9. Population policies of developed and
    developing countries
  10. Population pyramid

Urbanization

  1. Features and patterns
  2. Issues of urbanization
  3. Way forward to tackle issues related to
    urbanization
  4. Urbana and rural settlements
  5. Urban planning
  6. Migration and its types
  7. Factors affecting rural settlements
  8. Cities classification
  9. Displacements

Population

  1. Census 2011
  2. Migration
  3. Age structure
  4. population growth
  5. population problems
  6. population policies
  7. human development
  8. census terminology

Settlement

  1. Rural and urban settlement
  2. Urbanization problems
  3. Slums and associated problems
  4. Town planning
  5. smart cities
  6. Urban and rural poverty- comparison

Tribes in India

  1. What is a Tribe?
  2. Major tribes in India
  3. Issues related to tribes

Natural hazards

  1. Natural disasters- earthquakes, volcanic
    eruption, floods, droughts, epidemics,
    tsunamis etc.
  2. Man-made disasters- spills, fires, mining
    accidents, groundwater contamination
    structure failures, chemical explosions etc.
  3. Causes for occurrence of disaster
  4. Disaster management
  5. Challenges in disaster risk reduction

Asia

  1. Physical features- mountains, rivers, lakes,
    plateaus, deserts etc.
  2. Important countries and their capital
  3. Demographics
  4. Climatic conditions
  5. Tribes
  6. Agriculture
  7. Important industries

Africa

  1. Physical features like mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, plateaus etc.
  2. Political geography
  3. Demographics
  4. Climatic conditions
  5. Agriculture
  6. Important industries

EUROPE

  1. Physical features like mountains, rivers, lakes, Physical features like mountains,
    rivers, lakes, rift valleys, plateaus etc.
  2. Political geography Demographics
    Climatic conditions Agriculture
    Important industries Tribes
  3. Backwardness of African countries
    Miscellaneous

South America and North America

  1. Physical features like mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, plateau etc.
  2. Political geography
  3. Demographics
  4. Climatic conditions
  5. Agriculture
  6. Important industries
  7. Tribes

Australia and Antarctica

  1. Australia continent
  2. Physical features like mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, plateau etc.
  3. Political geography
  4. Demographics
  5. Climatic conditions
  6. Agriculture
  7. Important industries
  8. Tribes

Antarctica

  1. Physical features
  2. Demographics
  3. Climatic conditions
  4. Research Centres

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