Dear Aspirants

 

Once again, we are extremely glad to announce the Think, Learn and Perform, online initiative for Geography optional. It is a 75 day plan to cover the entire optional syllabus in a comprehensive and innovative manner. It has been planned in a way that by investing 4-5 hours from the daily routine, one can maximize his/her output. The only thing required from your side is commitment towards this plan. If you religiously follow this initiative, we can assure you that the chances of increasing your scores would rise substantially.

About the initiative:

  1. We have already given you the detailed study plans for various components of the syllabus in terms of syllabus, approach, imperatives, resources etc. The strategy would be updated regularly to cover all the remaining portions of the syllabus.
  1. Kindly note that although we shall be providing strategies for individual components of the syllabus and in fact have already provided for most of them, the representative strategy for Physical Geography is Climatology. Therefore, through the strategy of Climatology first. But in no case avoid the detailed strategies of other portions.
  1. The relevant portions of Paper I and II have been clubbed to ease your efforts. Geography optional can’t be understood without seamless integration of topics from different components of the syllabus. For example, you can’t understand desertification without having fair idea of climatic regions of the world. Similarly, you are expected to apply the concepts of Paper I into Paper II and vice versa. There are certain topics which are repeated e.g agro and social forestry, desertification, disasters etc. We have thus integrated such topics in the plan. It will definitely give you a better and comprehensive idea of the subject. Most importantly, this approach saves a lot of your time and effort.
  1. Based on this strategy and your efforts, we shall be posting a total of 5 questions daily. These questions shall be in the following format.

Question 1.  5 map entries asking their location and a brief description

Question 2.  Terminologies related to the chapter/topic mentioned in the 100 day plan

Question 3.  Blue blooded Geography theory question to check your conceptual clarity

Question 4.  Application based descriptive/ essay type question

Question 5.  Reserved; may be of any type depending upon the requirement of topic

  1. We don’t guarantee reviews from IASbaba as we are facing recourse crunch at this moment. Still, we will try our best to review the answers of regular and sincere candidates. Last year, the strength of the feedback system was the robust peer support that was formed by the followers of the programme themselves. This year also, you can form groups of maximum 5-6 candidates and connect with each other for mutual reviews and feedback.
  1. Mini tests will be conducted every 15 days. This means that you shall have a minimum of 5 mini tests during this period.
  1. After the completion of 75 days, full mock test for both the papers will be conducted.
  1. Periodically IASbaba will come up with articles for important and tricky topics and also about improving the quality of answers.

 

 

Important

  1. Map entries and terminologies are meant for your reference. By the end of 100 days, you will be having command over 500 map entries and terminologies. It will act as pillars to your preparation. We strongly recommend you to take them very seriously.
  1. Like a proactive Public Information Officer, we are giving you a detailed check list of the requirements of an answer as expected from UPSC. Here at IAS Baba, your answers shall be reviewed by taking into account the following factors:
  • Interpretation and understanding of the question
  • Knowledge of the concept being asked
  • Presentation
  • Use of maps, flowcharts and diagrams
  • Use of examples and case studies to support the answer
  • Adherence to word limit
  1. You can upload your answers by clicking a picture of your answer booklet. The picture quality should be clear and sharp. You can also type your answers in the comment box. In fact it would be appreciated.
  1. Never hesitate in discussing among yourselves. But don’t waste your time beyond a point. Time is precious; value it.

Don’t have any doubts

 

  1. This initiative is meant for 2016 aspirants. However, others can also participate.
  1. Plan will start on Monday, 29th
  1. There won’t be any questions on Sundays
  1. There is no fee. The initiative is free of cost and open to all.
  1. It is mandatory to have a login id and user name to join this initiative.

 

 

Detailed 75 day plan of TLP Geography:

 

Day Date Syllabus from Paper I Syllabus from Paper II
Day 1 29th August 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
Day 2 30th August Causes and consequences of migration, Concepts of over-under-and optimum population Migration (inter-regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems
Day 3 31st August Population theories, World population problems and policies Health indicators, Population explosion and food security, Demographic Dividend
Day 4 1st September Social well-being and quality of life, Population as social capital Census 2011, Socio Economic and Caste Census, National Population Register, Census of Religion etc
Day 5 2nd September Concept of a region, Types of regions and methods of regionalisation, Growth centres and growth poles

 

 NA
Day 6 3rd September Regional imbalances, Regional development strategies, Environmental issues in regional planning, Planning for sustainable development. NA
Day 7 5th September NA Experience of regional planning in India, Five Year Plans, Integrated rural development programmes, Panchayati Raj and decentralized planning, Command area development
Day 8 6th September NA Watershed management, Planning for backward area, desert, drought prone, hill, tribal area development; Multi-level planning, Regional planning and development of island territories
Day 9 7th September NA Regional disparities in economic development, Concept of sustainable growth and development, Linkage of rivers, Special Category States, NITI Aayog
Day 10 8th September Temperature and pressure belts of the world, Heat budget of the earth, Atmospheric circulation, Atmospheric stability and instability

 

 NA
Day 11 9th September Planetary and local winds, Monsoons and jet streams

 

 Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns, Cloud burst, Uttarakhnad and J&K disasters

 
Day 12 10th September Air masses and frontogenesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones, Types and distribution of precipitation

 

 Tropical cyclones and western disturbances, Recent tropical cyclones e.g. Hudhud, Neelam etc,

 
Day 13 12th September Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates;

 

 Monsoon prediction techniques, El Nino, its consequences and prediction,  Cloud burst, Uttarakhnad and J&K disasters

 
Day 14 13th September Hydrological cycle, Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes NAPCC, Climate change negotiations at UNFCCC etc

 

 
Day 15 14th September Applied climatology and Urban climate Floods and droughts, Climatic regions
Day 16 15th September Mini test on Population Geography, RP and Climatology Mini test on Population Geography, RP and Climatology
Day 17 16th September Genesis of soils, Classification and distribution of soils, Soil profile

 

 Soil types and their distribution
Day 18 17th September Soil erosion, degradation and conservation, Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals Soil erosion, Natural vegetation
Day 19 19th September Problems of deforestation and conservation measures, Social forestry,  Agroforestry Deforestation, Desertification, Agro and social forestry

 

 
Day 20 20th September Wild life, Major gene pool centres

 

 Biotic, forest and wildlife resources and their conservation, Land capability
Day 21 21st September Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, Temperature and salinity of the oceans, Heat and salt budgets NA
Day 22 22nd September Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides NA
Day 23 23rd September Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources  Marine resources

 
Day 24 24th September Coral reefs, coral bleaching, Sea-level changes, Law of the sea and marine pollution

 

  Maritime border disputes of India
Day 25 26th September Principle of ecology, Human ecological adaptations NA

 
Day 26 27th September Influence of man on ecology and environment, Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances NA
Day 27 28th September Ecosystem their management and conservation, Environmental degradation, management and conservation Environmental degradation

 
Day 28 29th September  

Biodiversity and sustainable development, Environmental policy, Environmental education and legislation.

 

 Issues relating to environmental pollution, Landslides, Epidemics
Day 29 30th September Environmental hazards and remedial measures

 

 Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management, Environmental awareness

 
Day 30 1st October Mini test on Biogeography, Oceanography and Environmental Geography Mini test on Biogeography, Oceanography and Environmental Geography
Day 31 3rd October Types and patterns of rural settlements, Environmental issues in rural settlements Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements
Day 32 4th October Hierarchy of urban settlements, Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch Urban developments
Day 33 5th October Urban morphology: Concepts of primate city and rank-size rule, Morphology of Indian cities
Day 34  

6th October

 

 Functional classification of towns,  Sphere of urban influence, Rural – urban fringe, Satellite towns Functional classification of Indian cities
Day 35 7th October Problems and remedies of urbanization Conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl, Problems of urbanization and remedies
Day 36 8th October Sustainable development of cities  

Slums and associated problems; town planning, Smart Cities, HRIDAY Scheme

 
Day 37 10th October Heartland and Rimland theories Geographical basis of Indian federalism, State reorganisation, Emergence of new states
Day 38 11th October  

Laws of international boundaries and frontiers

 

 Regional consciousness and inter state issues, International boundary of India and related issues
Day 39 12th October Systems analysis in Human geography Cross border terrorism, India’s role in world affairs
Day 40 13th October Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location, Weber’s model of industrial location Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm
Day 41 14th October World economic development: measurement and problems, Rostov’s model of stages of growth Land, surface and groundwater resources
Day 42 15th October World resources and their distribution Mineral resources
Day 43 17th October Energy crisis, The limits to growth  

Energy resources, Energy crisis

 
Day 44 18th October World agriculture: Typology of agricultural regions, Agricultural inputs and productivity NA
Day 45 19th October Food and nutrition problems, Food security; Famine: causes, effects and remedies NA

 
Day 46 20th October World industries: Locational patterns and problems; Patterns of world trade NA
Day 47 21st October Mini Test on Settlement Geography, Economic Geography, Political Aspects, Models and Theories (covered till date) Mini Test on Settlement Geography, Economic Geography, Political Aspects, Models and Theories (covered till date)
Day 48 22nd October  

NA

 Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms
Day 49 24th October NA

 

 Cropping pattern, Agricultural productivity, Agricultural intensity, Crop combination, Green revolution and its socio- economic and ecological implications
Day 50 25th October NA Significance of dry farming, Livestock resources and white revolution, Aqua – culture, Sericulture, Apiculture and Poultry
Day 51 26th October NA Agricultural regionalisation, Agro-climatic zones, Agroecological regions

 
Day 52  

27th October

 

 NA Evolution of industries, Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel and aluminium industries
Day 53 28th October NA Locational factors of fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based industries
Day 54 29th October NA Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings, Industrial regionalisation, New industrial policies
Day 55 31st October  NA Multinationals and liberalization, Special Economic Zones, Tourism including eco – tourism.

 
Day 56 1st November NA  

Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development
Day 57 2nd November NA Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade, Trade balance, Trade Policy, Export processing zones
Day 58 3rd November  

NA

 Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society, Indian space programme.

 
Day 59 4th November NA Historical perspective of Indian society; Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; Religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems
Day 60 5th November Mini Test on Agriculture; Industries; Transport, Communication and Trade and Cultural Settings Mini Test on Agriculture; Industries; Transport, Communication and Trade and Cultural Settings
Day 61 7th November Factors controlling landform development, Endogenetic and exogenetic forces NA
Day 62 8th November Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust, Fundamentals of geomagnetism NA
Day 63 9th November Physical conditions of the earth’s interior, Geosynclines NA
Day 64 10th November Continental drift, Isostasy, Plate tectonics NA
Day 65 11th November Recent views on mountain building,  Vulcanicity NA

 
Day 66 12th November Earthquakes and Tsunamis NA
Day 67 14th November Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development NA
Day 68 15th November Denudation chronology; Channel morphology NA
Day 69 16th November Erosion surfaces, Slope development NA
Day 70 17th November Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment NA
Day 71 18th November Areal differentiation Space relationship of India with neighboring countries

 
Day 72 19th November Regional synthesis Structure and relief
Day 73 21st November Dichotomy and dualism Drainage system and watersheds
Day 74 22nd November Environmentalism, Quantitative revolution and locational analysis, Cultural regions of the world Physiographic regions
Day 75 23rd November Mini Test on Geomorphology, Perspectives and India: Physical Settings Mini Test on Geomorphology, Perspectives and India: Physical Settings
Mock 1 27th November Full Syllabus Full Syllabus
Mock 2 30th November Full Syllabus Full Syllabus

 

 

Final words

 

We at IASbaba expect you to take full advantage of this initiative. Be regular, sincere and confident. We are with you in your journey.

The only request that we have from you is to spread the word to your fellow aspirants so that the fruits of our efforts are shared by those who need them the most. The more we share our knowledge and resources, better our chances to excel.

All the best

IAS Baba

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