DON’T FOLLOW ANY COACHING INSTITUTE BLINDLY AS ALL OF THOSE WITH GEOGRAPHY OPTIONALS

WILL END UP SCRIBBLING SAME ANSWERS IN THE EXAM. THIS WOULD BE DISASTROUS. MOREOVER
COACHING INSTITUTES JUST “COACH”, YOU ALONE ARE GOING TO PLAY. SO PLAY YOUR OWN GAME
USING YOUR WISDOM.

3. Where from can SIR possibly refer the topics mentioned in the syllabus?

Ans: These are possibly the sources that I referred to during my preparation. I missed a number of topics for the exam.
UPSC is not about learning all that you can, its about leaving all that you should. I am not suggesting to try your luck,
must asking you to have confidence to write at least 5 sentences on the topic even if you have not gone through any
material anywhere. (viz. the noise pollution question that appeared this year)

PAPER-1:

Geomorphology: I went through the notes both of Alok ranjan, and Neetu Singh—-PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY by HOW MANY QUESTIONS WILL BE
Savindra singh——-NCERT text books along with the diagrams there. APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY is a very REPEATED IN PRELIMS 2018 ?
important part, so trying searching the internet for the various applications like in dam construction, oil exploration &
surveying. etc——–Imp: Read the various other names of the same theories as in the name of the authors or any
other peculiar names.

Climatology- I read the coaching notes——SAVINDRA SINGH——–NCERT Book——-Prepare well on applied

climatology & urban climatology from internet. ——World climatic maps on the Atlases.

Oceanography: NCERT—– coaching notes——-SAVINDRA SINGH (see the diagrams especially) especially the local
variations in salinity along with the theories of tide & coral formation.—–for marine resources & pollution refer to
internet, any coaching notes & GS knowledge.

Biogeography: NCERT—-RUPA made simple for soil geography——SAVINDRA Singh for factors deciding plant &
animal distribution——–internet for some topics like gene pool centres, deforestation——-KURUKSHETRA magazine
for social & agro forestry as they come up with interesting examples & classification. 26+ REPEATED IN 2017 IAS PRELIMS
UPSC REPEATS Questions in IAS
Prelims from Previous Year Papers
Environmental geography: SAVINDRA SINGH for basic concepts on ecology & cycles————-rest please refer topic 26+ repeated in 2017 IAS Prelims
wise on internet rather than buying truckload of materials from market. Use your GS knowledge extensively in your 16+ repeated in 2016 IAS Prelims
answers. 30 + repeated in 2015 IAS Prelims
25+ repeated in 2014 IAS Prelims
Perspectives in Human Geography: I referred to Vajiram Notes, DIRECTION IAS notes but cross checked & Many question swill be repeated in
improvised & cross checked them from internet along with a lot of relevant examples. Please remember a timeline of 2017 Prelims As Well
the various developments in this topic. This is the most important topic in the entire optional. We have a document Having Prelims
1979 To 2016 , 4100+ Previous Year
Questions Arranged Subjective
Laws, Models & Theories in Geography- Coaching notes- Majid Hussain book on models in geography——diagrams Click Here To Buy @ Rs 249
very important along with the shortcomings in each models.
PRELIMS 2018 FOUNDATION SERIES
Regional Planning- Little bit of coaching institute notes but more of internet. (This was a topic which I never prepared BY XAAM TEAM
extensively). UPSC IAS Prelims 2018 Test Series Launched [
Foundation + Full Test Series ]

Population & settlement Geography: NCERT—-coaching notes——-A few topic from Majid Hussain on Human
Geography——understand the subtle difference along with diagrams between satellite towns, Rural urban fringe, sub- GET MATERIAL ON EMAIL
urban towns, metropolitan city, leap frog & ribbon settlements—–UN departments websites on population & use
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internet.———spatial map on population distribution, composition very important.

Economic geography- Read Whittakers classification & the industrial location models————try to figure out their
SEARCH XAAM.IN
current application or the reasons for non application——-UN websites for famine, hunger (like refer to the Rio+20
document or FAO website)———-internet for mineral resources & forest resources——-human resources from UNDP Custom Se

HDI website.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE

PAPER II:
TRICKS

YouTube 80K
For topics on Physical setting, agriculture, industries, trade & transportation, resources, cultural setting, settlement &
some contemporary issues:- KHULLAR ——-coaching institute notes———Yojana magazine———NCERT text books
———some latest developments from INDIA YEAR BOOK. Emphasis be given more on maps & diagrams in these
POPULAR POSTS
topics. IAS Topper Tina Dabi's Suggested Timetable For all
students siting for Prelims 2017.

Regional Development & planning: Refer to internet on these specific topics——–Planning Commission Website——- Tina Dabi IAS Rank 1 Study Material Source in Detail
Topic wise
Indian Year Book———-Planning history in India from any source.(Special focus on Geographical aspect)
G C Leong Certificate Physical and Human Geography
book pdf download , a must have for physical geography
Political Aspects- GS knowledge——–international affairs websites & newspapers or magazines. (Pl. Note: All these
Profile of Nandini KR
topics must have a strong linkage to geography as in physical or human geography. Eg: discussion on india
Spectrum; A Brief History Of Modern India (Rajiv Ahir)
Bangladesh issues should mention land, rivers disputes, migration, ethnicity, their climate thus industries thus import TINA DABI AIR-1 Essay Test Paper of VISION IAS Essay
Test series 2015
export, trade & transportation links etc rather than much of political or diplomatic angles)
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Contemporary Issues- Only internet or any GS material. ———keep yourselves updated on the documents released Optional Success Rates in UPSC IAS
on important forums such as RIO+20, Cancun, BRICS on humanitarian & disaster issues, Planning commission
reports on website (not necessarily only the 12th FYP)—–Yojana magazine.
TOP OF THE MONTH

4.What should be SIR’s answer like? Salary of an IAS Officer after 7th Pay Commission

Spectrum; A Brief History Of Modern India (Rajiv Ahir)

Every SIR writing the Mains are almost or even more sound than the one who topped in geography, but the rank
G C Leong Certificate Physical and Human Geography
depends on how you market your knowledge. [JO DIKHTA HAI, WAHI BIKTA HAI] book pdf download , a must have for physical geography

109 more selected in UPSC CSE 2016 exam Reserve list

Remember it’s a geography Paper and not any GS paper. So all that you presume to be of current affairs must be published

viewed & attempted from a GEOGRAPHY angle. International Relations 2017 notes Vajiram and Ravi

Handwritten Notes Economy IAS Topper AIR 12

Its better to put diversity of points than to keep on explaining a single point.
Still aiming for UPSC Civil Services 2018? Here is your
study plan!
Give introduction in every answer even if its just a single line; the introduction should make the evaluator acknowledge
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that you have figured out which topic in being mentioned in the question. Eg: for the question that asked about impact
Tina Dabi IAS Rank 1 Study Material Source in Detail
of monsoons on climate of Gujarat Realm, you could possibly mention that Gujarat realm is one of the divisions of Topic wise
Planning commission classification and covers so and so areas, and then begin your main content.
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Once can try using both point and paragraph format of representation. Whenever there is a classification & explanation
to that, go for point wise. Detailed paragraph format could be used for short notes & like. WEEK'S POPULAR POSTS
Mind Map Constitutional History Of India
Try to put at least one pictorial representation in every answer—be it a map, a small chart, a summary diagram, a
G C Leong Certificate Physical and Human Geography
timeline or a graph etc. book pdf download , a must have for physical geography

Spectrum; A Brief History Of Modern India (Rajiv Ahir)

Try underlining important words. This need not be done using colours as many do. And underlining should not be a
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pastime in exam. Fund, Project DARPAN, MDR Subsidization, Bodhi Parva
Festival [ Mrunal ]

Show some arbitrary figures where possible such as in population, migration figures, climate change etc. UPSC is Yojana Magazine 2017 Pdf Download

surely not going to google them. International/Regional Groupings (GS paper 2 IAS Mains
,International Organisations/groupings)

Try to use the concepts of “PERSPECTIVES OF GEOGRAPHY” chapter wherever one finds a opportunity. This makes Indian Art & Culture Handwritten Notes By IAS 51 rank
Nitin Singhaniya
a matured answer. Remember, “PERSPECTIVES OF GEOGRAPHY” domain shows that you love the subject. Even if
fake, pretend to do so in exam. Who built the Indus Valley civilization?

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Please try writing to the point & don’t write the same sentence once in active voice, next time in passive voice just to DISABILITIES

show that you have filled the page. Its very necessary to underline the important words in the question itself first. XAAM CSAT Online Test Series Launched , UPSC
Prelims 2018

Map: Practice the map whenever you are done with a particular chapter. Make the most use of it while studying
resource geography. Refer Orient Blackswan & Oxford publications. Also don’t forget to pray to god in the break BLOG ARCHIVE
between Paper 1 & 2, so that the surprise names fall in your state or your GS memory. Pointing correctly matters more Blog Archive
than explanations.
CURRENT AFFAIR
Try interconnecting various topics & papers of Geography. Detailed explanation in the next answer. AIR ANALYSIS ARTICLE AUDIO

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Also TRY NOT to leave any question. Every mark counts. And anyways, you won’t be reprimanded for writing wrong CURRENT AFFAIRS DEFENCE DIPLOMACY
answers.
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5. How should SIR tackle the unconventional questions that have made the subject dreadful?
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Ans: I acknowledge to be a victim of so many surprising, bouncing questions in this optional that had made me time & EPW FOOD PROCESSING FRONTLINE
again think to doing away with the optional. But what needs to be remembered that UPSC is running out of fuel itself, GIST GNY GOI GS GS-1 GS-2 GS-3
as in new set of questions. So, it has started pouring old wine in new bottle.
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Barring some exceptions, there are no unconventional questions, there is an unconventional way of putting them. Eg:
Secondary cities asked in CSE 2012 probably was very much linked to the concepts of Satellite & Suburban towns. IR ISRO KURUKSHETRA MAGAZINE MEA

NEWS POLITY POLLUTION

Try to immediately figure out which chapter can the question be related to. In most of the cases, they cover multiple
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topics. Eg: “Earthquake zones in India & their management” is linked to contemporary issues as well as physical
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setting of geography.
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Try to mention the theories & concepts of Paper 1 while answering paper 2. This composes a beautiful, TRANSPORT UPSC VISIONIAS
comprehensive answer. Eg: in the earthquake question above, one could use concepts of Geomorphology & plate WASTE MANAGEMENT WELFARE
tectonics.
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