Geography Optional Test Series

Features

• Duration: 3 months
• No of tests: 09 total tests comprising 05 sectional tests and 04 full-length tests
• The last 2 full-length tests of both papers will be discussed in online mode but the answer paper will not be evaluated.
• Questions: based on the UPSC CSE pattern and curated by highly qualified and experienced faculty
• Evaluation:

•  Evaluation process focuses on assessing the answers in three dimensions.

1.  Conceptual clarity
2. Structure and presentation
3. Geographical inputs (maps, e.g., etc.)

• Answer papers will be evaluated, reviewed, and personalized one-on-one discussions with the students.

• Tests will be discussed online by Geography optional faculty.
• An extensive model answer key document will be provided for each test.
• Students can write the tests at Vajiram & Ravi’s Delhi and Chennai centre. Students can also appear for the tests in online mode.
• Tests will be held on Wednesdays. In case of any change of tests date, the same will be informed to the student through the portal.
• Students can write the exam up to one week from the scheduled date.
• Answer paper feedback will be provided within the timeline of 7 days to a maximum of 10 days from the date of your submission.

Daily Answer Writing Practice

• The mains test schedule is conducted at an interval of 14 days.
• Daily answer writing practice will be held in-between the mains tests.
• Syllabus/topic for the daily mains answer writing schedule will be provided which will match the subsequent test syllabus.
• The daily answer writing is a practice for structuring the optional answer to cater to the needs of UPSC.
• Every day 03 questions of UPSC Mains PYQ and potential questions will be shared with the students.
• The daily answer writing practice will be held online and students should complete the answer writing by 5 p.m and be ready for online tests discussion every day at 9 pm.
• Note: the daily answer writing practice answers will only be discussed and not evaluated.

Date of commencement

Daily answer writing practice- 12th June, 2023

Mains test series -21^st of June, 2023

Fee structure

(inclusive of GST)

Rs. 10,000

Test  No.

Date

Syllabus/ Topic

Discussion date

01

21-06-23

Paper - I

Perspectives in Human Geography: Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Systems analysis in Human geography

Economic Geography: World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies;

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location;

Resources: Land, surface and ground water,

Paper – II

Agriculture: Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability; Agro and social-forestry; Green revolution and its socio- economic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry; agricultural regionalisation; agro-climatic zones; agro- ecological regions

Contemporary Issues: Changes in patterns of land use; Population explosion and food security; Problems of agrarian unrest; Linkage of rivers;
 

28-06-23

02

05-07-23

Paper - I

Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement and problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth; World industries: locational patterns and problems; patterns of world trade.

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Weber’s model of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth.

Paper – II

Resources: energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources; Energy crisis.

Industry: Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro - based industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial regionalisation; New industrial policies; Multinationals and liberalization; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including eco -tourism.

Transport, Communication and Trade: Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development; Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Trade balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones; Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society; Indian space programme.

Contemporary Issues: Problems of industrial unrest; Globalisation and Indian economy

12-07-23

03

19-07-23

Paper - I

Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; concepts of over-under and optimum population; Population theories, world population problems and policies, Social well-being and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural settlements: Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology: Concepts 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

Regional Planning: Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalisation; Growth centres and growth poles; Regional imbalances; regional development strategies; environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch. Theories of Perroux and Boudeville;

Paper – II

Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society: Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions; Growth, distribution and density of population; Demographic attributes: sexratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration (inter- regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators.

Settlements: Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; Urban developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; town planning; Problems of urbanization and remedies.

Regional Development and Planning: Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning; Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert, drought prone, hill, tribal area development; multi-level planning; Regional planning and development of island territories

Contemporary Issues: Population explosion and food security; Regional disparities in economic development; Concept of sustainable growth and development;

26-07-23

04

02-08-23

Paper - I

Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates; Hydrological cycle, Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes, Applied climatology and Urban climate.

Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sea-level changes and marine pollution, Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources; law of the sea

Biogeography: Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry; agroforestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.

Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation

Paper – II

Resources: biotic and marine resources; Forest and wild life resources and their conservation;

Contemporary Issues: Ecological issues; Issues relating to environmental pollution; Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management; Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion; Environmental awareness;

09-08-23

05

16-08-23

Paper - I

Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development ; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development ; Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment

Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation;

Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Heartland and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.

Paper – II

Physical Setting: Space relationship of India with neighboring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns, Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts; Climatic regions; Natural vegetation; Soil types and their distributions.

Political Aspects: Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganisation; Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and inter state issues; international boundary of India and related issues; Cross border terrorism; India’s role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.

Contemporary Issues: Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics;

23-08-23

06

30-08-23

Forenoon

Paper – I Full length test

Recorded video

07

30-08-23

Afternoon

Paper – II Full length test

Recorded video

08

6-9-2023

Forenoon

Paper – I Full length test

(Online test discussion. Answer papers are not evaluated)

Recorded video

09

6-9-2023

Afternoon

Paper – II Full length test

(Online test discussion. Answer papers are not evaluated)

Recorded video

Date

Syllabus / Topic for Daily Answer Writing

12-06-23

Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; Systems analysis in Human geography

13-06-23

radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches;

14-06-23

Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; (and other syllabus related topics)

15-06-23

Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index

16-06-23

World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location;

17-06-23

agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies;

18-06-23

Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability;

19-06-23

Agro and social-forestry; Green revolution and its socio- economic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry; agricultural regionalisation; agro-climatic zones; agro- ecological regions

20-06-23

Land, surface and ground water,

Changes in patterns of land use; Population explosion and food security; Problems of agrarian unrest; Linkage of rivers;

21-06-23

Mains test - 01

22-06-23

Weber’s model of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth. limits to growth;

23-06-23

World economic development: measurement and problems; World resources and their distribution; World industries: locational patterns and problems;

24-06-23

Energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources; Energy crisis.

25-06-23

Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, cottage and agro - based industries;

26-06-23

Evolution of industries; Locational factors of Iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, etc

27-06-23

Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial regionalisation; New industrial policies;

28-06-23

Multinationals and liberalization; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including eco -tourism.

29-06-23

Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development;

30-06-23

patterns of world trade,

Trade balance; Trade Policy;

1-07-23

Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Export processing zones;

2-07-23

Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society;

3-07-23

Developments in Indian space programme and their impacts.

4-07-23

Problems of industrial unrest; Globalisation and Indian economy

5-07-23

Mains test - 02

6-07-23

Population theories, Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models; world population problems and policies, concepts of over-under and optimum population;

Population problems and policies; Health indicators.

7-07-23

Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes;

Growth, distribution and density of population; Demographic attributes: sex ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity;

8-07-23

Social well-being and quality of life; Population as social capital.

Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions;

9-07-23

Causes and consequences of migration;

migration (inter- regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems;

10-07-23

Types and patterns of rural settlements: Environmental issues in rural settlements;

Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements;

11-07-23

Hierarchy of urban settlements; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural - urban fringe; Satellite towns;

Urban developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions;

12-07-23

Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable development of cities

urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; town planning; Problems of urbanization and remedies.

13-07-23

Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch. Urban morphology: Concepts of primate city and rank size rule;

14-07-23

Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalisation;

15-07-23

Growth centres and growth poles; Theories of Perroux and Boudeville;

16-07-23

Regional imbalances; regional development strategies;

Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning;

17-07-23

Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert, drought prone, hill, tribal area development; multi-level planning; Regional planning and development of island territories

18-07-23

environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.

Regional disparities in economic development; Concept of sustainable growth and development;

19-07-23

Mains test -03

20-07-23

Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; Air masses and fronto genesis,

21-07-23

Monsoons and jet streams; Types and distribution of precipitation; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns,

22-07-23

Temperate and tropical cyclones; Planetary and local winds; atmospheric stability and instability.

Tropical cyclones and western disturbances;

23-07-23

Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates; Hydrological cycle,

Climatic regions;

24-07-23

Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes, Applied climatology and Urban climate.

25-07-23

Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets,

26-07-23

Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Coral reefs, coral bleaching;

27-07-23

sea-level changes and marine pollution, Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources; law of the sea.

biotic and marine resources;

28-07-23

Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures;

Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion

29-07-23

Social forestry; agroforestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.

Forest and wild life resources and their conservation;

30-07-23

Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment;

Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances;

31-07-23

Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conservation;

Ecological issues; Issues relating to environmental pollution; Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management; Environmental degradation; Environmental awareness;

1-08-23

Environmental policy; Environmental education and legislation, Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental hazards and remedial measures;  

2-08-23

Mains test - 04

3-08-23

Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior;

4-08-23

Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building;

5-08-23

Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis;

6-08-23

Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development

7-08-23

Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development ;

8-08-23

Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment, Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces;

9-08-23

Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation;

10-08-23

Space relationship of India with neighboring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds;

11-08-23

Physiographic regions; Floods and droughts; Natural vegetation; Soil types and their distributions.

12-08-23

Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics;

13-08-23

Heartland and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.

14-08-23

Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganisation; Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and inter state issues;

15-08-23

International boundary of India and related issues; Cross border terrorism; India’s role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.

16-08-23

Mains test - 05