Geography Strategy - Geomorphology Syllabus for UPSC & IAS Exam

Geomorphology

Perhaps no other topic has intrigued the aspirants of Geography optional as much as Geomorphology. In fact, many aspirants have abandoned Geography optional because of Geomorphology. There are mainly two reasons for it. Firstly, the syllabus of Geomorphology is bulky and secondly, the topics are quite technical in nature. However, we believe that one must make this portion of the syllabus his/ her strength and play to the advantages that it has to offer.

Advantages of mastering Geomorphology

You can score a minimum of 30-40 marks in Paper I and through application at least 20-30 marks in Paper II of Geography optional.

You can be assured of 20-40 marks in GS Paper I as well.

Prelims questions from Physical Geography can fetch you 4-6 marks.

Your confidence gets a booster by covering Geomorphology. This confidence alone has a spillover effect of 10-20 marks in the Main examination. Believe us, it happens for real.

So, it is clear that we are determined to master Geomorphology. But how? Let us help you in this regard.

We recommend that you divide the entire syllabus of Geomorphology into two parts: General and Advanced. We have done that already. Kindly go through the following.

General

Factors controlling land form development
Endogenetic and exogenetic forces
Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust
Physical conditions of the earth’s interior
Continental drift
Isostasy
Plate tectonics
Recent views on mountain building
Vulcanicity
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Landscape development

Don’t proceed further without learning the aforesaid concepts. The following mind maps would give you a fair idea about the scope of these topics. Follow these mind maps carefully and learn all the associated concepts.

Basic Concepts

Internal Processes

Weathering and Mass Wasting

Fluvial Processes

Topography of Arid Lands

Karst and Hyderothermal Processes

Glacial Modification of Terrain

Coastal Processes and Terrain

Advanced

Once you are through with the general concepts, you can proceed to the advanced level. Keep in mind that these topics are technical in nature. If you understand these concepts clearly, they fetch you very high marks. Also note that no other portion of the syllabus requires the amount of revision and answer writing practice as this one. Even if it takes more time to understand these concepts, do invest that time now. If you leave them for later, they become a liability that accompanies you to the examination hall.

We at IAS Baba are working hard to provide some critical inputs for this portion of the syllabus. As and when we come up with quality modules explaining these concepts, you can have free access to them.

The topics for the advanced portion are as follows:

Fundamentals of geomagnetism
Geosynclines
Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development
Denudation chronology
Channel morphology
Erosion surfaces
Slope development
Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment

Mind maps and detailed write ups on these topics shall be provided in due course of time.

You can approach the syllabus in two phases. In the first phase, you can spend 5-6 days to master the General part. This reading shall prepare a foundation for the understanding of Advanced portion of the syllabus. You can afford 4-5 days to understand the Advanced part. In this way, within 10 days, one can cover Geomorphology.

In both the phases, there are certain imperatives that have to be kept in mind.

Definition of all the terms and terminologies
Knowing specific and relevant words that are used frequently for the topic
Diagrams,figures and presentation to aid your presentation
Examples of the phenomena; both at global and Indian levels
Spatial distribution of the phenomena i.e. maps
New developments if any
Applications and exceptions

You must have noticed that these pointers are common to Climatology and other components of Physical Geography. As already said, the template of preparing Physical Geography is best provided in our write up on Climatology. Do go through that write up if you haven’t yet.

Sources and resources