Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Paper I Section A
S. Chapter Topic
1 Geomorphology Geographical Cycle of Erosion (Davis)
Geographical Cycle of Erosion (Penck)
Isostasy
Continental drift Theory
Plate Tectonics
Polycyclic landforms (Short Note)
Volcanoes (Short Note)
Earthquakes (Short Note - Also discuss P, S & L waves)
Endogenetic & Exogenetic forces & the landforms produced
Geosynclines (short Note)
Earth's Interior & Seismic Studies
Recent Views on Mountain Building
Tsunamis
Applied Geomorphology (Short Note)
Denudation Chronology & Erosional Surfaces
Slope Development
Geomagnetism
Channel Morphology

2 Climatology Origin, movement & characteristics of airmasses

Tropical Cyclone
Temperate Cyclone
Difference between Tropical & Temperate Cyclone
Monsoon
Tricellular model of circulation
Koppen Classification & its drawbacks (For India refer Sheet 3)
Thornthwaite (1948 scheme) - (For India refer Sheet 3)
Trewartha's Classification - (For India refer Sheet 3 in excel)
Jet Streams (Short Note)
Structure & Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
Temperature Inversion (Short Note)
Global Warming & its effects at different places
Hydrological cycle (Short Note)
Types & Distribution of Precipitation
Atmospheric Stability & Instability
Applied Climatology
Urban Climate
Global Climate Change. Role & response of man
Heat Budget of the Earth

3 Oceanography Coral Reefs - theories of coral reef formation

Coral Bleaching
Ocean Currents in the Atlantic
Cursory Look at currents of Pacific & Indian Ocean
Ocean Deposits (Terrigenous & Pelagic deposits)

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Temperature distribution in Oceans (Short Note)

Salinity
Law of the Sea (Short Note)
Marine Pollution
Waves
Tides
Marine Resources - Biotic, Mineral & Energy

4 Biogeography
Soil & Its Introduction (Esp Factors Forming Soil Profile)
Soil Profile & Its Genesis
Old System of Soil Classification
New System of Classification
Major biotic regions of the world & basis for division
Social Forestry (Short Note)
Agro Forestry (Short Note)
Soil Erosion
Soil Conservation
Soil Degradation (Include Salinity, waterlogging, desertification etc)
Wildlife (Short Note)
Major Gene Pool Centers

5 Environmental Geography Ecosystem - Concept, components & functioning (Most Imp)

Biodiversity (short note)
Environmental Pollution (Including Ozone Depletion)
Environment Pollution (Water, Solid, Radioactive, Noise)
Environmental Degradation
Environment Policy & Legislation
Influence of Man on Ecology & Environment

Paper I Section B
S. Chapter Topic
Perspectives in
1 Quantitative Revolution in geography
Human Geography
Radical Approach
Humanistic Approach
Welfare Approach (short note)
Behavioural approach
Determinism (including Neo-determinism)
Possibilism
Areal Differentiation (short note)
Regional Synthesis (short Note)
Cultural Regions of the world (short Note)

2 Economic Geography World agriculture - Typology of agricultural regions (Whittlesey)

Limits to growth 7 (Short Note)
Dryland Farming (short note - Give Global Perspective in Paper I)

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Land Capability (short note - Give Global Perspective)

Resource conservation & Management

Population &
Causes & Consequence of Migration (Dig on Page 52 -
3 Settlement
Ensemble)
Geography
Internal Structure of cities
Primate City (Short Note)
Rank Size Rule (Short Note)
Rural Urban Fringe (Short Note)
Concept of optimum population (Short Note)
Sphere of Urban Influence & Its delimitation
Satellite Town (Short Note)

Concept of a region & types of region & Methods of

4 Regional Planning
Regionalization
Regional Imbalance & how to correct it. (Global not Indian)
Sustainable development
Growth Centre & growth poles.

Models, Theories &

5 System Analysis in human geography
Laws in Human Geo.
Malthusian, Marxian & Demographic transition theory
Central Place theory of Christaller
Losch's Central Place Theory
Von Thunen Model of agricultural location
Weber's Model of Industrial Location
Rostov's model of stages of growth
Heartland Concept (Diagram Must)
Rimland Concept (Diagram Must)
Frontiers & Boundaries
Laws of International Boundaries

Paper II Section A
S. Chapter Topic
1 Physical Setting Physiographic features of India - Himalayas
Physiographic features of India - Northern Plains
Physiographic features of India - Peninsula
Antecedent draiange of Himalayas
Himalayan & Peninsuar drainage system
Comparison of Himalayan & Peninsular Drainage System
Climatic regions of India (Kendrew & Stamp)
Climatic regions of India (Koppen, Thornthwaite)
Climatic Regions of India (Trewartha)
Indian Monsoon
Rainfall Pattern

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Floods & Droughts (Also covered in Paper II section B)

Major Soil Types of India & their distribution
Vegetation of India
Watershed (short note)
Tropical Cyclones in India (Also covered in Paper II section B)

2 Resources Fossil Fuel resources (Energy Crisis - Discuss Renewable resources)

Conservation
Non Conventional Energy Resources

3 Agriculture Role of infrastructural Factors (Irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power etc)

Role of Institutional Factors (Land holding, land tenure & land reforms)
Role of Irrigation & Irrigation pattern in India.
Green Revolution
Second Green Revolution (Short Note)
Imperatives of Ushering Second Green Revolution (Short Note)
Dry Farming (Full Length)
Agro & Social Forestry
White Revolution (Full Length)
Agricultural efficiency (Short Note)
Agricultural Productivity (Short Note)
Agricultural Intensity (Short Note)
Land Capability (Short Note)
Agro-Climatic zones of India & its basis
Animal Husbandary in India (Full Length)
Crop Combination Regions
Sericulture
Poultry
Apiculture
Aquaculture

4 Industry Industrial regions of India & their characteristics

Growth, Location & Distribution of Iron & Steel Industries
Growth, Location & Distribution of Cotton textile Industries
Growth, Location & Distribution of Fertilizer Industries
Liberalization & New Industrial Policy
Special Economic Zones
Growth of Indian Industry esp since independence
Tourism & Ecotourism

5 Tranport & Trade Road Transport of India (Cover Golden Quadrilateral from Direction)
Golden Quadrilateral (Short Note)
Rail Transport of India
Water Transport of India
Air Transport (Short Note)

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains

Pipelines
Ports & their role in foreign trade
Development of Communication technology in India

Paper II Section B
S. Chapter Topic
1 Cultural Setting Population - growth & distribution
Distribution pattern of Population density in India (Full Length)
Demographic Attributes - Sex ratio (short note)
Literacy & how to improve it (short note)
Population Policy of India
Tribal Areas of India - its problems & role of tribal devp blocks
Genesis of racial diversity (short note)
Migration (inter-regional, intra-regional & international)

2 Settlements Types, Patterns & morphology of rural settlements

Morphology & Patterns of Rural Settlements
Slums & how to address the problem
Morphology of Indian cities.
Salient Features of Indian Urbanization & Problems
Characteristic of Rural Urban Fringe in India (short Note)

Regional Development &

3 Planning Regional development planning in 5 year plans
Command Area Development (Short Note)
Watershed as a planning unit
Multi-Level Planning
Rural Development Program
Regional Disparities (Short Note)
Drought Prone Areas Programme (Short Note)
Desert Development Programme (Short Note)
Regional Planning in India

4 Political Aspects Role of India in geopolitics of the Indian Ocean

International Boundary of India & related issues
Regional Consciousness
Geographical Basis of Indian Federalism (short note)
State Reorganization since 1950s (Short Note)

5 Contemporary Issues Earthquakes

Floods
Droughts
Environment Impact Assessment
Landslides (short note)
Tropical Cyclones in India
Interlinking of Rivers

Ghanshyam Thori Important Topics for Geography Mains